Stewardship, Tithing and Other Things We Never Thought We'd Do

A steward is a person who manages another's property, administers anything as the agent of another and/or has charge of the household of another by buying or obtaining food and etc. In a sense we're all stewards. We've all heard the addage

You can't take it with you.

The reality is that the things we accumulate: clothes, shoes, cars, house, money, jewelry, computers, whatever...are temporary disposable goods. The stuff that makes us comfortable, acceptable, enviable--can all be washed away, burned, lost, stolen, destroyed. If you've ever survived a fire, tornado, hurricane or other disaster you know what we're talking about. We generally don't ask people after a fire has totaled their house--"What about the stuff?" Generally we say and pray

I'm glad you made it though.

We are on a journey called harmonious wealth building. Its our intention to build wealth in five areas of our life: spirituality, physical health, intellectual wealth, financial wealth, and wealth in our relationships. We know, however, that if we are not good stewards over what has already been given to us...we can't expect to increase our fold. This journey isn't about collecting more stuff...it is about learning to care for what we've been given and to share without hesitation what is needed. Luke 16:10-12 states:

Anyone who can be trusted in little matters, can also be trusted in important matters. But anyone who is dishonest in little matters, will be dishonest in important matters. If you cannot be trusted with this wicked wealth, who will trust you with true wealth? And if you cannot be trusted with what belongs to someone else, who will give you something that will be your own?

We worry about the little stuff. We really worry about the little stuff. There have been times when Don has nearly lost it over a pair of shoes I brought home. Likewise, I'm not always crazy about his penchant for albums, video games and all things electronic. It's amazing how we'll lock down money for "the next big thing" but scrimp and scavenge for daily living. We do this even when "the next big thing" isn't even defined. Do you

Set Something Aside for a Rainy Day

What if the rainy day never comes? What if every day is a rainy day? Remember everything we have is lent to us by our Creator. If you can be a good steward over pennies, that quality will transcend into good stewardship over millions. But if you're robbing Peter to pay Paul (and who among us hasn't) the dollar figure in your bank account or piggy bank is moot. Having faith in your 'flock' is more important that counting the members of your 'flock.' This believe it or not is why we tithe.

Tithing is Spiritual Discipline...exercise for your Spiritual Muscles.

How do you build a muscle? Resistance, right? You have to pull it and stretch it to help it develop. That's what tithing is for us. Many people think about tithing in terms of 'who's getting the money and what are they doing with it.' We've decided to take another route. We tithe our talent, time and treasures. We turn these things over to God. Sometimes the recepient is 'worthy' and sometimes we wonder if God may be leading us astray (of course He's not) because we don't always know why or how come we're being led to tithe to this organization or person. But we do it. We move past the resistance and flex our spiritual muscle. In the end we've learned that when we tithe many blessings have come to us as a result. God provides each and every time. When we tithe we see an increase in our

Time, Talent and Treasure

The abundance in store waiting for us rains down. We realize how blessed we truly are in our spiritual life, our health, our intellect, our relationships and our finances. Tithing is about believing in the unseen. When you know like you know your own name that your needs are already taken care of then you're spiritual muscle is flexed and stronger. True harmonious wealth is a journey not a destination. Financial stewardship is just one of the five points of light on this path of True Fearfree Living.

What We Know About Faith We Learned from our Dogs Buster and BoDiddley

Our dogs never cease to amaze us. Whenever something happens (lightening, bloody toe, mad rabid squirrel) they just shake it off and keep right on going. No matter how small or large the scare they have an unwavering belief that what they need most will be provided. This innate sense tells them that they will be taken care of no matter what. The object of their faith is us. Have you ever seen the bumper sticker:

I want to be the person my dog thinks I am.

Faith is believing in that which we cannot see. We know that it is there, however, it has not revealed itself to us at that moment. Years ago we began a journey together. We decided it was our mission to serve. To use what we know, what we have to help someone else. We've gone in so many directions...political campaigning, teaching parenting classes, financial education seminars, breast cancer walks, AIDS awareness rallies, fighting against anti-affirmative action and even our own radio show. We believe in our hearts that God's intent for us (for all of us) is to serve. Our only question throughout these years has been:

How may we serve?

This is where faith comes in...often when we think of service we consider first the sacrifice. Right? What is it going to cost me? What will I have to give up? Just think about the clothes we cast off (at least once a year) they're always the worn, torn used up things that have gone out of style, out of shape or are no longer useful to you. We are always so concerned about there not being enough to go around. Concerned that one act of service will leave us...without. Our dogs can be very selfish somebodies. After all they're dogs, right? But let one of us feel under the weather or sad or just a bit out of sorts...it is their instinct to come to us and see what they can do to serve.

Service is the ultimate act of faith.

When you give without condition, you release and let go of the "stuff" that keeps you locked in the monotony of small thinking. Once that gets moved out of your way, you make room for something greater. Think about it...if a dog can have faith that he'll be fed, why can't we have faith that we'll be taken care of? If a dog can let go of his comfort to see about his people...why can't we and believe that everything will be okay? If our dogs can have faith then so can we. Nathaniel Branden writes

The greatest crime we commit against ourselves is not that we may deny and disown our shortcomings but that we deny and disown our greatness--because it frightens us.

Have a little faith and remember whose you are.