“In the church it is important to create a culture where stewardship is a big picture. Stewardship includes money, but it is more than preoccupation with the budget, giving, and all other money matters of the church. Christians everywhere, as individuals and congregations, must heed the fullness of the call to discipleship…
This is a growing challenge, particularly in Western culture, where rugged individualism and the love of money are idealized; this does not always weave well with Christian values of compassion, caretaking, and community building.
Our calling as leaders in the church remains squarely where it has been for centuries: to call God’s people into an awareness of and commitment to the ways in which we are all interconnected in this world, not separate, isolated, or alone. We are to call and form people as followers of the Way—the Jesus Way.”
Erin Matteson in “Talk about Stewardship” in Giving: Growing Joyful Stewards in Your Congregation, Vol. 15 (Blaine: ESC, 2013) 11-12. For further exploration of “the Way”, see Acts 9:2, 18:25, 19:9, 19:23, 22:4, 24:14, and 24:22.
I just returned to my room having preached on Luke 12:13-21 in three Korean churches today. Few stewardship texts illustrate the clash between culture and Christ more than this one. Pray with me that God’s people will be known for “compassion, caretaking, and community building” rather than foolishly stockpiling for themselves. May this Scripture stir those with ears to hear to live out the gospel despite cultural values that are contrary to the Jesus Way.