The "joy and celebration" of stewardship
Ever since I can remember I have gone to church and have given my tithe each Sunday. This was something that was taught to me by my parents and grandparents from the time I was old enough to understand. Over the years I have practiced this along with my daily prayers/meditations, my weekly observance of the Lord's Supper, and worship.
My grandfather, the late Rev. José Ferrer Colón, who was an itinerate preacher and pastor with the Baptist Church in Puerto Rico and one of the pioneers of the missionary movement on the island at the turn of the 20th century, learned well the teachings of the early north American missionaries. He received not only the Gospel of Jesus Christ, but also the challenges to responsibility as a new Christian. He passed this on to his children and the congregations he served during the 55 years he was in active ministry. During my own lifetime I have heard story after story of how this discipline in stewardship blessed my grandfather, his family and many others throughout their lives.
But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able to make this freewill-offering? For all things come from you, and of your own have we given you. I Chronicles 29:14
I learned early in my life from abuelo Pepe, grandfather Pepe, that we receive blessings from God each and every day of our lives and that it is our responsibility as Christians to give in gratitude to God. It is not from our surplus that we offer but from the first fruit of our labors, all that we receive. Abuelo Pepe was very adamant that it was the tithe and more, which we took from the top of what we received and set it aside first, before any other distributions, as our offering of thanksgiving to God.
When they were growing up, my children learned this same principal for their lives, as did the children and members of the congregations I served during my 40 years in ministry. Today my blood grandchildren and adopted children/grandchildren witness to the joys and blessings that are theirs through their continued practice of tithing and stewardship of gifts and their lives.
What a wonderful family tradition! There are so many stories that can be told of how we reap added resources/blessings as we practice our stewardship in gratitude to God.
Eva, a two-year-old child in the congregation we currently attend, Iglesia Hermandad Cristiana in Indianapolis, is the daughter of a young immigrant Mexican family. Each Sunday I am amazed by Eva's happy and celebrative spirit when it comes time in our worship service for the children to bring their tithes and offering to the front of the church. It is called the "change for a change" offering. This is an outreach offering that the children bring each Sunday and at the end of the year they pick some outreach ministry to forward the offering to. Every Sunday Eva runs to the front of the church with joy and celebration to make her contribution. Oh what we can learn from children!
Stewardship however, is more than just our tithes and offerings, according to abuelo Pepe, it also includes giving of our time, talents and all that we have, in gratitude to God each and every day of our lives. In this manner we are blessed personally, and the Church is blessed and empowered to better carry forth its mission and God is glorified. ¡Gloria a Dios! Praise be to God!
The Rev. Luis E. Ferrer is a retired Disciples minister, General Board Member and Honorary National Hispanic Pastor. |
