The Letter "S"

What is stewardship? The ELCA website defines stewardship as “Everything we do after we say ‘I believe’.”

Wow! If you think about that, well, that’s everything. It’s not just pledging money once a year at Treasure Sunday. It’s how we act when we’re not at church, it’s how we spend our time. It’s our priorities. It’s who we associate with. And it’s what we do with the talents and gifts God has given us.

The ELCA website goes on to say, “It’s making a faithful response to God’s grace, gratitude, and generosity.” God has been extremely generous with all of us. He sent His only Son to die for us. How do we respond? Pastor Dale has preached about the landowner who left the vineyard to some tenants. Those tenants came to believe the land belonged to them and acted wrongly to make it true. Are we like that?

God has blessed us with our bodies, our health, our talents, our jobs, our houses, our cars. But are they really ours?

We are just the tenants here on earth. It’s still God’s world and always will be. I don’t know about you, but I don’t feel so good about some of the ways I’ve been managing God’s assets. Are you being a good steward?

Well, that’s what our journey this year is all about. We encourage you to join us. Holly Nelson is our tour guide on the trip of Mission and Outreach (the MOR of SMOREs). How we minister to others, share our faith, and reach out to those in need - all of that is stewardship of the talents God has given us to further His kingdom. So you see, it’s not all about money. That’s only part of it. Yes, God wants us to tithe and give him the best we have, the first fruits. That also means the first fruits of our labor, our talent, our time. So it’s our time, talents, labor, and money.

Whoa! Wait one minute! I can’t do that. It's too much. 

Is it? What has God done for you? And how can you show your gratitude? What are your talents? We will be challenging you to discover where your talents lay. In one of our ministry moments, I said that we were going on a treasure hunt. That’s the S'MOREs goal this year. Discover what God has given us. Thank Him for it. And show our gratitude by how we use our talents and treasures in His kingdom.

Where your heart is, there your treasure will be also. Do some soul searching with me this year. Dig deep to discover the treasures God has bestowed on you. And share those treasures with those around you. That’s good stewardship.

Contact: Nancy Lacher.