SPARK: Stewardship as Our Witness

We also get to make a witness by making our gift “the first fruits” by being intentional about that being the first item to be paid when we get our biweekly paycheck. I realize it doesn’t make a difference to the church’s financial statement whether it comes on Friday or Monday, but it feels different to me. I don’t want to give to God from what’s left over, but to make that gift first.

When I was a young pastor and visited homebound church members, I was always impressed when they handed me a stack of offering envelopes, one for each Sunday and each filled with the bills they wanted to add to the church offering. I knew it would be easier to catch up with one check in one envelope, but it was their way of marking the Sunday, and it was their witness. It was a witness to me, whether they knew it or not, and something I have never forgotten.

Here is a question to ponder: “What kind of witness does my giving to Christ’s mission and ministry make? If to no one else, how does it make me feel?” I’ve never liked the expression, “Give until it hurts.” I’ve always found that if it hurts, I need to do a little better and give until it feels better -- where I feel good about the witness my stewardship is making!