The goal of our Stewardship Ministry is to help us each strengthen our relationship with God through our actions. How do we use the TIME, TALENTS and TREASURE that God has entrusted to us? How do we become true disciples?

PART 1 - What is God’s and what is ours?

Psalm 24:1-3 – "The earth is the Lord’s and all that is in it, the world, those who live in it; for he has founded it on the seas, and established it on the rivers."

These words ring true. Look around at the miracles of the earth! In spite of our efforts to tame and control it for our own purposes, we cannot. We can abuse it and misuse it, or respect it and protect it. Ultimately we realize it is God’s creation that has been entrusted to us.

We must caution ourselves not to congratulate ourselves saying, "This is my car, my house, my ’stuff." God is the source of all that is in the world, and he has given us the abilities to gain power and wealth. Through the Bible and the teachings of Jesus Christ, he shows us how we are to use these blessings.

In Deuteronomy 8:17-18 we are warned: "Do not say to yourself, ’my power and the might of my hand has gotten me this wealth.’ But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you power to get wealth, so that he may confirm his covenant that he swore to your ancestors, as he is doing today."

We are God’s stewards. A steward is one who cares for the possessions of the owner for the benefit of the owner and for others who depend on the owner. As Christian stewards we have a position of great responsibility. This is God’s world, we are God’s creation. We are stewards, not owners. All things are God’s, before we are born and after we die. Our proper response to God’s blessings is to give thanks and humbly ask,

PART 2 – How are we blessed? Why did God bless us?

We live in an amazing world. When we take time from our self-imposed hectic lifestyle we appreciate the marvels of the world God has created.

We are each unique, and as a group, our strengths and weaknesses provide the diversity needed for the world to flourish. We are equal in God’s eyes – no one gift is better than or more important than another. We are God’s gift to each other and his greatest instruments for change in the world.

We in Berks County, PA, USA, have much for which to be thankful. Our families and friends live in a free society. Beautiful land and a temperate climate surround us. Good education and abundant opportunity abounds. By world standards we are among the most blessed. Unfortunately, we often take our blessings for granted.

Our society, although one of the most affluent, still struggles with insecurities and inequalities. Wealth has a way of tricking us into believing that without it we are nothing. Our preoccupation and obsession with material things and wealth frequently becomes an obstacle, preventing us from growing in our relationship with God. We frequently say to ourselves, "by my power and works I have earned this world and it is mine to do with as I please." Rather than taking credit for our wealth and abundance, we need to ask ourselves, "Why did God bless me?" When we die we must ask, "Is God’s world a better place because of my life?"

PART 3 – How does God want us to use our blessings? What does God expect from us?

We have truly been blessed with abundance. Unlike billions of people in the world...

• we have food today and know we’ll have food tomorrow, next week, next year
• we have shelter and warmth; we have clean water
• we have other people who care for us when we feel alone or fall ill

We have come to believe hot, running water, electricity and a soft, warm bed are necessities;
vacations, cell phones, TVs, microwaves, computers, ipods, DVDs, etc. are essentials.

The way we use our time, talents and how we spend our money is pivotal in our relationship with God. Our proper response is to give thanks and praise to God for all things and humbly ask, "How does God want me to use all I have?"

What is the responsibility of the wealthy?

In Matthew 25:31-46 Jesus gives us very concrete directions on our responsibility for the less fortunate... the hungry, the thirsty, the poor, the sick and the imprisoned, saying, "Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me."

God has entrusted us with great wealth and with that we have great responsibility to use it as he directs.