Stewardship is . . . acknowledging God.

When the children of Israel were ready to build the tabernacle in the desert, Moses invited the people to make donations for the materials that were needed. Their outpouring of gifts was so much that Moses finally had to tell the people to stop giving. Just think how their giving would have been tainted if Moses would have given them a budget.

When we give our first fruits, our tithes, and our offerings to the Lord we give them to the Lord, not to a budget. Budgets are good. They are especially important in planning, but they are not our master. Far be it for us to be the slaves of our budget.

When we give to a budget we limit ourselves, because, unfortunately, there are many who would like to run a church as a business which sees finances as a balance sheet. In a church we have that unseen variable of the power of the Holy Spirit moving in the hearts of people to give to do the work our Lord has for us to do.

We give to acknowledge and confess that all we have is a gift from God. Just think, if we all gave according to what God has given to us we could easily double, triple and even quadruple our “budget.” And just think what the potential for building the Lord’s kingdom that would be. Would it not be wonderful to hear God come to us and say, “Hold on, you are giving too much.”

We cannot and do not give of our own initiative. We can and do give because the Holy Spirit stirs in us to give. Pray that the Holy Spirit might stir in you the desire to give, not toward a budget, but according to what you have first been given to by the Lord.

22 of 52 © Rev. Ronald A. Bogs