Learning Stewardship

 by Rev. James E. Roghair

           My experience living among the Iñupiat of Arctic Alaska taught me unexpected lessons in stewardship. The whaling captains and their crews in small boats risk their lives on the ocean to hunt the 20- to 60-ton whales that provide the major nourishment for their communities. Many crews work together to tow a whale to shore, but the meat of the whale does not belong to the crews that hunted it - the whale belongs to the whole community. It is God’s gift to them. We might all gain new insight by considering whether whatever we have - money, property, skills - belongs exclusively to each of us, or whether it is all a gift of God to the community.

            Stewardship is a much broader part of our faith. In the Genesis creation stories we are reminded that Adam and Eve - all of us - are placed in God’s Garden - the earth - to care for it and keep it.  And in Psalm 24:1 we are reminded that “The earth is the Lord’s and all that is in it, the world, and those who live in it.” With that, we might note that whatever we believe is ours is not really ours, but a part of God’s great creation. We are each privileged to manage our life and our   things - which ultimately belong to God - for the few years we each have on this earth. Our stewardship is really about how we use all the time we have, and what we do with all that has been entrusted to us by God.

            Stewardship is much more than a yearly pledge, it is how we live our lives, day by day, from beginning to end. Recognizing that all of life is a stewardship becomes a part of God’s blessing to us, especially as we give to others with grateful hearts. Please prayerfully consider your individual part in the financial life of Westminster Presbyterian Church and the PCUSA as we take our part in the stewardship of the global Church of Jesus Christ.

            Please return your stewardship commitment card by November 10 and join in the celebration lunch following worship.