Stewardship of possessions
Possessions. We surely love them, don't we. And money is one of the possessions we love the most. We do nearly anything to gain more money. Then we want to hold it tight, almost groaning when we have to let any of it go. And voluntarily part with a large share of it? Never! Sound like someone you know?
In New Testament times, Paul collected donations from remote churches to help the impoverished Christian church at Jerusalem. Today's United Methodism is also a "connectional" denomination. We use part of our donations to help others, for example fledgling churches, far-flung missionaries, and victims of disasters. Providing that support, evangelism, and spreading the Word requires donations. Donations of goods and donations of funds as well as some donation of time.
"Understanding the Grace of Giving" (The Good Steward)
In 1899, more than 500 titles were compiled in a bibliography on "Tithing and Systematic Proportionate Giving." Today, if we searched the world’s bookstores, libraries and the world wide web, we would find that teaching on giving is the "silent subject" of the Christian community.
Christians sit on untold quantities of wealth never before imagined. Even the average Christian teenager in America has more disposable cash income ($1500) than 50 percent of the world’s population.
Yet, while our wealth has increased, most Christian leaders of the last few generations have ignored teaching the biblical imperatives of giving. This departure is seriously impacting our ability to further the gospel to a hurting, confused and broken world. A materialistic undertow is threatening the spiritual vitality and financial stability of Christians and Christian ministries everywhere.
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"No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money"
- Matthew 6:24 [NIV]
In the spirit of good financial stewardship of your own funds, you may want to check out potential charities to which you might donate money. A couple of good sites are Charity Navigator and the American Institute of Philanthropy
Things
"Keeping up with the Jones"
"The grass is always greener in the other fellow's yard"
"Status".
All terms for greed. For wanting more than we need. Would Jesus wear a Rolex? Would He drive a "Beemer"? We lust for bigger homes, fancier cars, luxury vacation trips to exotic locales, a veritable flood of "Christmas" presents. He who rode into Jerusalem on a lowly donkey would surely shudder at our greedy society.
So how do we be good stewards of things? Perhaps by starting from the mindset that we don't really need more, bigger, and fancier things. And by praising God and being thankful for what He has already given us.
Money at home
Being good stewards of finances starts at home. Don't make yourself a slave to money. Don't lust for it. But do plan. Don't spend more than you earn. Balance is the key. "Neither a miser nor a spendthrift be." Avoid accumulating large credit card debt. It can take years to pay off and the net cost of a purchase plus all the interest can then be staggering. If you need help, seek out budget counselors. Save money, even if you have to live more simply. Give to God first, your savings plan second, then to your daily needs.
eHows:
Money at church
Being good stewards of the church's finances includes giving, but means more than that. Here are a few things to "get into":
Voluntary giving
Give out a sense of love, joy, and thanksgiving for all that God has done and will do for you, not out of guilt or to garner public acclaim. We praise God through our financial offerings as well as through giving of our time and talents.
First fruits
Take God's portion "off the top", before you use income for your personal savings or daily needs.
Proportionate giving
Think percentage, not amount. We cannot all give large amounts to the church. But we can all give a pretty similar percentage of our gross income to further God's work. The traditional Biblical standard is 10 percent -- a tithe. If you are not already tithing, start increasing the percentage you give each year. Remember, a tithe goal is a tithe of gross income (before taxes), not the lesser "net" amount. Jesus encouraged giving in proportion to what we have received. Remember the widow's mite (Luke 21:1-5)? Teach tithing to your children and explain it to others.
Systematic giving
When you cannot attend church one week, drop off or mail in your offering. It's a very good habit to give to the church a predetermined amount as you receive it.
"On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income..."
- 1 Corinthians 16:2 [NIV]
Changed lives
A good mindset counts. Give "through" the church, not "to" it. The ultimate aim of the church is to change the lives of people here on earth.
Sacrificial giving
If our monetary gifts to God don't hurt a little, they are not truly a sacrifice, are they?
Read the fine print
Carefully read the monthly church financial statements. Look for changes that are out of the norm, not expected, or significantly different from the budget. Ask to have them explained.
A balanced budget
If you don't want to "go into the red" at home, should that be acceptable for your church? At the same time, don't hesitate to put some "faith" into income estimates. God gave us a brain to use, so we shouldn't stray wildly out of touch with reality, but church members need to also have faith that the future will be sunny.
Keep cool
Deal with negative financial information calmly and logically. Work to resolve the financial challenge, but avoid getting "down" or getting into heated arguments with fellow Christians. Pray for guidance, praise God, and charge ahead into the future with practical optimism.
Financial Planning for Caring Christians - More than one way to give. (UMC)