Stewardship
Spirituality
The Four Needs
A congregation attentive to the spiritual needs of its members ultimately is concerned about stewardship. This is at the heart of spirituality. Who gives what to whom? God first, last, and always is the giver and the people are the recipients. As John wrote:
See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God; and that is what we are…. Beloved, we are God’s children now … (J John 3: 1a, 2a).
Christians offer back to God what God has given to them. Being stewards means being responsible caretakers of that with which they have been entrusted, their bodies, minds, gifts, possessions-all that they are and have. Giving, then, is a way to express appreciation of God’s love. Christians give to God because of their gratitude and love for God, not from obligation and guilt. Giving is a spiritual act. People who understand that they return to God what God has given to them are spiritually fed through giving.
God calls all in the church to offer themselves and all that they have, including money. “Money follows mission,” Kennon Callahan says. [Kennon L Callahan. Twelve Keys to an Effective Church (San Francisco: Harper & Row. 1983). p. 111.] If the members are excited about the congregation’s mission and leaders have educated them about being stewards of all they have, then financial backing will be solid. One of the ways congregations encourage good stewardship and mission is to “put faces on” as many ministries as possible. Mission needs to be particularized by telling about or showing some of the people who will be helped. When people see specifically the worthwhile ministries that are going on inside and outside of the congregation, financial support follows.
A gloom-and-doom, “give or we’ll die” approach to raising funds is likely to fail and also leave a bad taste in the mouths of members. The better approach is: “This is where we are making a difference. This is where your investment is going. We appreciate your contributions.”
