Conservative Congregational Christian Conference
Where Your Treasure Is Masthead
Monthly Stewardship Update
MARCH 2012
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Author
Cliff Christensen is a former Conference Minister who faithfully served the CCCC from 1981 - 2003.  He currently serves the Lord as an Interim Pastor.

A stewardship devotional from the CCCC-
because our Lord has said much about Stewardship to His listening people.   

 
Trusting God in everything
A lifestyle of obedience and stewardship
 

As a boy growing up in Sunday School and Church, I heard a lot about tithing.  I can still remember the first dollar I earned.  The first thing I did was go to the corner drug store to get change so that I would have a dime for church.  To the best of my memory, that was my first personal financial gift to the church.

Even though Carol and I still practice the principle of tithing, I no longer believe in it as a particularly Christian principle.  Jesus calls us to a higher standard.  He requires our all.  We are stewards, not owners.  Each of us must prayerfully decide for ourselves how to work that out in our lives, and it isn't always easy.

If we are stewards and not owners, it means we are responsible to God for how we spend what He has entrusted to our care.  That should help us determine the kind of house we buy, car we drive, and entertainment, leisure and hobbies we enjoy.  Since we also have a responsibility to our families, it should help us determine how much of our inheritance to leave to our children, and how much to set aside for retirement so as not to be a burden on them and others.  The problem is that we tend to be far more generous towards ourselves and our families than we are towards the Lord, and it's His money.

Like the rich ruler, most of us would go away sorrowful if the Lord told us to sell what we have and give it to the poor.  Most of us would hesitate if there was no place to lay our head.  Most of us would balk at the idea of going out in ministry without some money in our pockets, a suitcase and a few things we would consider necessities.  I acknowledge that these are not general rules for us to obey, but aren't there some general principles here?

The most important principle is one of trust.  Do we, and can we, really trust the Lord for our daily bread.  We pray regularly in the Lord's Prayer, "Give us this day our daily bread," but we would be scared to death if that was all we had.  It's hard to live from hand to mouth.  I haven't fully learned this principle myself, but I've discovered some places we can begin.  First, remember you are a steward and not an owner.  Second, pray about what you do with God's resources.  Third, live frugally.  Fourth, give generously and wisely.  Fifth, remember the poor.  Sixth, trust God to supply all your needs.  And whatever you do, "do it all for the glory of God."

Cliff Christensen