Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash. Matthew 7:24-27
“I find that our models of stewardship in the church are designed for preservation and limited risk (trust in ourselves) rather than helping Christians to live freely, simply, generously, and courageously (trusting in God). Of course, there is a difference between living courageously and living foolishly. In another of Jesus’s parables, He describes the wise man who built his house upon a rock in contrast to the fool who built his house on shifting sand (Matt. 7:24-27). Wisdom comes from building a solid foundation…
Stewardship is not merely a church word associated with fundraising, pledging, and annual budgets. Stewardship is a theological word that leads us to cling to God’s promise for the future, to announce that vision to the world, and to live into this vision by working for that change right now. When living courageously, we can wait expectantly upon the Lord, risking the safety and comfort of the status quo for the chance to live into the role that God calls us to play in the ongoing creation, redemption, and transformation of this world.”
David King in “Take a Risk” in Giving: Growing Joyful Stewardship in Your Congregation, volume 20 (Richmond: EMS, 2018) 6-7.
Is your house built on rock or sand? Rocks and sand are on my mind, as we paused yesterday from meetings to travel just outside Cairo to Giza to see the Pyramids. What an experience to tread where Moses likely trod! Rocks solidly placed together have stood for centuries, while sand blows away (or into your eyes and mouth) with every gust of wind. Those that build their lives on the world’s way of thinking will be blown away. Alternatively, those who cling to God’s promises and trust in God rather than themselves will remain fixed to the only firm foundation!
Our day ended with a dinner meeting and evening worship and communion at Kasr El Dobara Evangelical Church, the largest evangelical church in Egypt and the Middle East. The Egyptian Christians have humbled us by their courageous living and generous hospitality. Perhaps what inspires us most is their willingness to risk “the safety and comfort of the status quo” to follow Jesus. Actually, the greatest risk for Christians everywhere is staying in the safety and comfort of the status quo while sitting on wealth that belongs to the Master, as such behavior reveals misplaced trust.