Stewardship is the appreciation that we ought to be joyful witnesses of God’s love and mercy. Stewardship is the recognition that we are responsible for all the gifts we have been given.
Stewardship speaks directly to the parishioner and to his conscience. Stewardship appeals to one’s sense of spiritual values. Stewardship basically asks, “What return have you made to God for all He has given to you?”
One of the principal premises of Stewardship is that our return to God is made not from our leftovers, but from our first fruits. In other words, when we receive our weekly or monthly salary, social security check, or any kind of external assistance; before we pay any other bills, before we pay our mortgage or car payment, or the grocery bill – we set aside God’s portion and then live off the rest.
Remember the story of the poor woman who put into the temple treasury just a few pennies. Jesus said she gave more than others who had given large amounts. Why? Because they had given from their surplus, what they had left over; but she had given the first fruits, what she needed to live on. She believed that, “you cannot out give God.” She trusted with confidence that God would take care of her and her needs.
The Stewardship principle found in the Scriptures is to give a tithe of 10 percent. We recommend five percent to St. Thomas More, and five percent to the poor and needy.
We ask that you give tithing serious and prayerful consideration. Tithing is an act of faith.
Almsgiving and Stewardship … Know the Difference
The Gospels were written in Greek. When Jesus speaks of giving “alms”, the Greek work is “eleamosyna” – the root meaning is “pity”. (The English word “alms” is taken from the first few letters of that long Greek word.)
The origin of the word “alms” provides an insight into the difference between almsgiving and stewardship.
Stewardship goes one step further. It is an action caused not simply by feelings of tenderness toward a needy person; rather, it is an expression of gratitude to God for everything we have (including life itself), and of the belief that the earth and all that is in it belongs to God.
Almsgiving flows from compassion. Stewardship flows from the recognition that all human beings belong to one family. This moves us to take part of what we have (off the top) and simply donate it to the Church.
To see things that way, and to do things that way, is stewardship.
We encourage you to practice stewardship in your life. It will be the most rewarding part of your relationship to God and to others.
Imagine yourself giving to the Church and to charities based on a new paradigm. You are giving a gift because you are so grateful for the blessings in your life. Your gift comes from “gratitude”. It is not something stingy or paltry. Giving becomes an expression of how grateful you are for all you have been given.
In practicing stewardship, you are continually thankful and generous in your giving – and why not? God is continually giving to you.
You cannot, I repeat, you cannot out give God.
God bless you,
Reverend Edward A. Belczak