Stewardship: It's Not Just Paying For The Lights

*Disclaimer* A bit of this material is recycled from a comment I made in response to an earlier blog here on the Shiloh Stewardship Blog, but at the time I was writing that, I didn't know I would be writing this which covers the same basic topic.

For whatever reasons we may have, the word "Stewardship" seems to strike a negative chord within many of us. This negative energy associated with the word seems to steer us away from actually practicing what would be considered "good" stewardship, or possibly even from understanding what "good" stewardship for us could be. There was a time, as recently as a few years ago, when the word "Stewardship" would send me running. My personal experiences (and those of my family) with what I will call "misguided" stewardship had piled on top of what has become the socially "normal" version of stewardship ($$$) to paint a very dark portrait of "stewardship" in my mind. "Stewardship" to me, appeared to be a "Cookie Monster"-like creature, arms flailing wildly around its plastic eyes, screaming, "Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!" Stewardship was not at all about one's spiritual development, but instead all about the nickels and dimes. Until a few years ago, that is.

At the occasional morning service I would attend, I began to hear stewardship talked about using these "Three T's" (time, talent, and treasures). And as over time I processed what was being said, and began to understand this change in perception of the word "Stewardship" that the folks here at Shiloh were trying to make, I thought to myself, "Finally. Someone is getting it right." To break it down to pretty much it's most basic components, stewardship is discerning what you've been blessed with, and finding out how to share those blessings with others. It's living your life in a way that will help to bring about this Kingdom idea we keep talking about. It's finding and seizing opportunities to develop your spiritual relationship. It is, as our motto so perfectly states, "Living the word by serving the world."

And yet, this idea of "Stewardship" that spoke so well to me seems to still be lost upon so many others. When I was approached to join up with the Stewardship Ministry Team, I had no idea what the team would actually be doing, so I asked around a little bit. Tried to do my homework. The response I was getting seemed to be, "They try to get people to give money." So again, I found myself disheartened. The "Cookie Monster" seemed to rear his ugly head once again. Luckily, those early responses I got held little truth, and now, here I am.

I'm not here to tell you what YOU should do. I'm not here to tell you what "good" stewardship is, because only YOU know what YOU are capable of. Don't underestimate yourself. It's YOUR stewardship, Shiloh. It's YOUR spiritual relationship's growth and evolution. Like our quote at the top of the page from Francis of Assisi says, "It is everything I do after I say I believe." It is whatever YOU choose to do to express YOUR relationship with God. So think about what YOU have to offer. What YOU have been blessed with. And think about the opportunities that YOU have to share those blessings with others.

It feels like there are too many people who feel that their spiritual relationship with God is fully explored in around an hour every Sunday morning. What may be surprising is that your spiritual growth doesn't have to stop when you get in your car to leave the church parking lot! So take some time to think about what stewardship means to you. How would you describe YOUR stewardship? How do YOU express the development of YOUR spiritual relationship with God? This is, after all, YOUR spirituality we are talking about. This is YOUR church. YOUR stewardship. Now's as good of a time as any to take the control back from tradition, and wash some of that negative energy away from the word "Stewardship."

Justin Sierschula

Opportunities For Stewardship

Yes hopefully by now with our second post and a mention in the worship service today everyone will now have their opportunity to share their thoughts about stewardship. That's right we all have the OPPORTUNITY. I myself will take this opportunity to share my thoughts on what stewardship means to me. I feel that we have the task of sharing our time, talent and treasure in ways that brings the kingdom to this church, community, nation, world. Now before you stop reading and think that what I stated is too much, let me reassure you and give you the opportunity to see stewardship in a different light. How many times in a week do you give your time with someone else? How do you share your talents with others? I can't think of a day that goes by where my time, and talents isn't used in some way or another. Or when there isn't an opportunity for me to give some treasure to someone in need. Stewardship is everything we do in every way. I am grateful each and every day the opportunities that are before me to practice my stewardship. Now let us look at ways that we all can practice our stewardship and take the opportunities of your time, talent and treasure to new levels.
Just because we have approached the summer months doesn't mean that the opportunities take a break. This time of year is a time for us all to recharge and renew our stewardship drive in the world. Have you ever thought to yourself what more can I do for my church, my community, the youth, a mission project, a neighbor, or just someone who happens to pass by. These are the opportunities before us all. The church will be hard at work in the next few months creating ministry that you can plug into. We have several ministry teams where you can lend your time and talent to. Here is a listing of those: Stewardship, Media, Hospitality, Health and Wellness, Library, Safety and Security, Neighborhood Ministry, or if you see a need to create one let's git r done. The opportunity is ours for the taking, we are empowered by God, to bring the kingdom and lend our time, talent and treasure in the world. Join with the Stewardship Ministry Team if you would like to be a part of something that will be empowering and will provide for you the opportunity to bring about God's kingdom. May God continue to bless you all in your opportunities, and may your time, talent and treasure be a light into this world.

God Bless
Pastor Jay

Kickoff to STEWARDSHIP

Yes that's right folks, here at Shiloh Church we are involved in a whole new ballgame. The stadium is filling up with anticipation and excitement for what is about to happen. The Shiloh Stewardship Ministry Team would like for you to be a part of this team and to help share with the community of how the OPPORTUNITIES for STEWARDSHIP are upon us all. Yes Shiloh, the word opportunity and Stewardship are being used together, oh what a rush! Now before you think this is all about just money, let me put your mind at ease and say that it's more than just money that we will talk about. The Opportunities for Stewardship are on the field of play for us and we need to discern and create the excitement of what God provides for us, so that we may share those blessings with others. How do we spend your time in service to others? What talents do we lend to the community and to Shiloh? How has our treasures been shared in the mission and ministry that we all have been called? These are just a few questions to ask ourselves in preparation for bringing Stewardship from the dugout to the playing field. And it's time for us to get involved in the game. The tools needed have already been given to us, and with God's strength and power we will win the game because Stewardship Happens! Blog to the Shiloh Stewardship Ministry Team and share with us your ideas on what Stewardship means to you and how you share your time, talent and treasures. The game has just started and we are ready, as a team led by God, to have Stewardship become the focal point in bringing God's kingdom and Good News to all those in this world.

God Bless,
Shiloh Stewardship Ministry Team