Pastor’s Column: What is financial stewardship?
1) It is primarily a relationship between a person and Jesus Christ. Each of us responds to the sacrificial love of Jesus Christ by what we give.
2) This response can be a percentage of income, which is Biblical. In the prophet Malachi’s day, the standard was the traditional10% or tithe. The people were not giving this amount, and God accused them of robbing him. Interestingly, researchers have found in recent years that if church members do not intentionally tie their giving to percentage of income, they wind up giving an amount that turns out to be only 1.5% of income. If they intentionally tie giving to percentage of income, they give on average 4.7%, or three times as much.
3) Another way of going about financial stewardship is by paying one’s share. To keep the doors open at Grace, it presently costs $45/worship per Sunday based on our average worship attendance. ($45 for 52 Sundays/year, i.e.,$2,340.) Paying one’s way, plus helping pay the way of others who aren’t able, or paying as large a portion of one’s way if one is on limited income, is a responsible thing to do.
4) Financial stewardship is one of the ways we grow in faith, as is worship,
Bible study, prayer, volunteering, etc. There is integrity in giving as large a percentage as possible, or paying what one can to keep the doors open, and trying to increase this one year to the next.
5) Your financial commitment to Jesus Christ can be reported on the 2011 Commitment Card on Sunday, Nov. 7. The only person other than you who will know this amount is church secretary, Liz McClain.
6) After we have informed Liz of our financial commitments, she will add it all up and give the total to the session, who will then finalize the budget for 2011.
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