From Stewardship to Generosity
Monday, October 17, 2011
From Stewardship to Generosity
The Word: “Giving, not getting, is the way. Generosity begets generosity.”
—Luke 6:38, The Message
Reflection: What is the difference between “stewardship” and generosity”? We are stewards of the earth. We are stewards of our possessions and physical bodies. Outside of the church the words steward or stewardship are not often used, seems like they have become “insider language”. Generosity, though, is an aspect of character. There are no stories from Scripture that talk about living out God’s plan and being greedy or selfish. Generosity is more than just spending money. There are people who are generous with their time, their talents, their skill, their wisdom and their love. Generosity sounds better than stewardship, friendlier, more “real”. An explanation has often accompanied my use of the word stewardship. But I do not need to explain generosity to most people; they know it when they see it. It is not something gained by reading a book or going to church. Generosity comes from the actual practice of giving. This does not mean that we should not be good stewards. We should understand both terms and apply the principles in our lives wisely. Have you been confused by what stewardship means? Which word best helps you in your personal journey of spiritual growth and service to Christ?
Pray: Lord God, Creator of all that was, that is and that ever will be, open my heart to a greater understanding of faithful service to you. Guide me to be generous in all that I do and say. In the name of our Savior, Jesus Christ, Amen.
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