stewardship

Pastor Dave spent the month of September on stewardship and in light of current financial trends, I think we need to evaluate our stewardship as a lead-worshipers.

A steward is a person who manages another's property or financial affairs. As members of the Body of Christ, we are stewards of God's property and financial affairs here on earth. And part of our stewardship as members of the Body of Christ includes stewardship as members of Willow Bend.

If you keep up with your bulletin, you are somewhat aware that we have met our monthly budget only 4 months this year. As a result, by the end of September we had dipped into our savings for over $35k in expenses.

My personal focus is to get out of debt. I designed a budget plan and asked God to help me achieve his best - being debt-free. But, I realized I was not being faithful in the amount I was consistently giving to the ministry of wb. How can I ask for more of God's blessing if I'm not being obedient to what He has already asked me to do? Do I reward Camille for her disobedience? Don't think so (ask her).

Not only that, I wasn't being very cheerful about giving either!

So, I increased my tithe and started giving cheerfully and consistently, according to what God spoke into my heart, and turned it into a form of worship and faithful trust of His promise of provision to me. And you know what? Life didn't get any easier! BUT, God's economy of giving and receiving continues to amaze me because the bottom line reality is this... I'm not in need.

Are we being faithful stewards of what God has entrusted to us (which is everything, by the way)? Are we being faithful & cheerful givers?

These are questions I am asking myself as a man, a father, a member of wb and as a pastor (in that order). I'll be talking to some of you over the next few weeks about some changes I'm considering in the CA Ministry to keep us faithful stewards.

It may cost us a little bit of comfort but I would much rather be obedient.