Stewardship

Ten Stewardship Principles

Our role as God’s stewards is one of many dimensions - grateful, responsible, self-sacrificing, willing, sharing, proportionate, committed, regular, genuine, and challenged. By generously giving of ourselves, we discover joy in Christ. “ … you must give as you have made up your mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” (2 Corinthians 9:7)

  1. Respond gratefully to what God has first given us. All that we do is a response to God’s grace. Everything we are, have, and use comes from God. Best of all, God gives the gift of Jesus Christ and the community of believers. It all begins with God. Our confession of faith in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior is not of our doing. Grateful stewards put God first.
    “...but they gave themselves first to the Lord.” (2 Corinthians 8:5)
  2. Obey responsibly to glorify God as a faithful proclamation of God’s word. We acknowledge our faith and show our faith in the gospel for the glory of God and for the building up of the body of Christ. This takes courage. It involves our life-long obedience, including the ways we treat our families, others, and ourselves.
    “...you glorify God by your obedience to the confession of the gospel of Christ.” (2 Corinthians 9:13)
  3. Sacrifice proportionately as Christ sacrificed for us. For our sake Jesus gave up everything to make us rich through the cross and the resurrection. We are called to sacrifice so others may share in God’s word and blessings.
    “...gave according to their means, and even beyond their means.” (2 Corinthians 8:3)
  4. Give willingly as moved by the Holy Spirit. We have been prepared to give of ourselves. We give our time, talents, and resources freely. “For, as I can testify, they voluntarily gave...” (2 Corinthians 8:3)
  5. Share abundantly as we have received. The purpose of these gifts is for the good of the community of God. We give to build up the body of Christ. We use and share our gifts for the benefit of all.
    “...and God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance, so that by always having enough of everything, you may share abundantly in every good work.” (2 Corinthians 9:8)
  6. Give proportionately is our way of giving in relation to our abundance. We are to give according to our “means,” not according to an income or a budget.
    “If the eagerness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has—not according to what one does not have,” (2 Corinthians 8:12)
  7. Commit intentionally means making a statement about your intent and following through. As members in the body of Christ, we are asked to make a commitment of our time, talents, and resources as a faithful response to God and as a statement of support for God’s work.
    “...arrange in advance for this bountiful gift that you have promised.” (2 Corinthians 9:5)
  8. Contribute regularly means practicing our stewardship on a daily basis. By doing so this becomes a lifestyle. Paul instructs us:
    “On the first day of every week, each of you is to put aside and save whatever extra you earn.” (1 Corinthians 16:2)
  9. Live genuinely means putting your faith into action. This is the tangible demonstration of what is sincerely on our hearts and where our treasure is, not simply a verbal expression. The Macedonians set an example that Paul called to the attention of the Corinthians.
    “I am testing the genuineness of your love against the earnestness of others.” (2 Corinthians 8:8)
  10. Accept a challenge means recognizing the dynamic nature of our faith. As our faith grows so will our blessings, and our responsibilities. Paul writes,
    “...the one who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the one who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.” (2 Corinthians 9:6)

-- From ELCA Stewardship materials