Stewardship is a way of life. It is a way of living each day in gratitude for all the blessings that God has given to us. We do not own the gifts God gives to us. We are only here on earth to use those gifts to do God's work. The roots of stewardship can be found in the Bible, which tells us over and over that God is the Creator and Giver of all gifts. It is our responsibility to show our gratitude to God for these gifts, by giving back to Him a truly grateful share.
In 1992 the U.S. Catholic Bishops released a pastoral letter on stewardship entitled Stewardship: A Disciple's Response. The Bishops described a Christian steward as one who:
- Receives God's gifts gratefully
- Cherishes and tends them responsibly
- Shares them in justice and love
- Returns them with increase to the Lord
Sharing our gifts and returning them to God means giving generously of our time, talent and treasure. We give to God by sharing with our Church and with those in need. Time and talent can be shared by becoming involved in parish life, volunteering and offering a helping hand. Treasure can be shared by making a conscious effort to make a financial gift to God first, before we pay the bills and buy the things we want. When we give to God only after all of our personal spending we end up throwing Him the loose change or having nothing left at all to give. When we give to God first we are making a gift of faith, trusting that God will provide for our needs.
We are truly giving Him the "first fruits" just as God asked us to do in the Bible.
The difference can be seen in several areas of our lives. The life of a Christian steward models the life of Jesus. It is challenging and even difficult, in many respects, yet intense joy comes to those who take the risk to live as Christian stewards.
First, the difference is in the focus of giving. Instead of focusing on the needs of the group to whom we are giving financial support or helping with our time and talent, the focus is primarily on God and our relationship with the Lord.
Second, the difference is in the motivation for giving. Stewardship is an integral part of our spiritual life and we give in that context because we are grateful to God for what the Lord has already given to us. We give freely because we want to, not because we have to.
Third, the difference is in the result of the giving. As we practice Stewardship, we find that we grow spiritually and that our faith is deepened. In fact, we find that our lives are changed for the good.
Sharing of one's time involves being with God in prayer and worship, sharing our love with family and friends. It means volunteering our time in church and community activities that helps others.
Sharing our talents means that God has given each of us the ability to do certain things well and we have the responsibility to develop those talents for the good of others. Below are a few suggestions of ways to give your time and talent back to God in gratitude.
| Stewards of Faith | Stewards of Family |
|---|---|
| Performing Individual prayer
Reading Scripture Attending a parish bible study Studying Faith-related books and Church periodicals Attending daily and Sunday Mass Participating in the Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament |
Participating in Family Prayer together
Spending time together Eating meals together Helping a sibling with school work Playing or reading together Performing household tasks Going on family outings Visiting family Visiting cemeteries |
| Stewards of our Parish Community | Stewards in our Civic Community |
| Teaching religious education classes
Being a sponsor for the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults Volunteering in the ministry programs in the parish: - St. Vincent de Paul - Bereavement Committee - Landings - Respect Life Being involved in parish liturgical ministries: - Eucharistic Minister - Lector - Music - Hospitality - Altar Server Offering skills for parish use (carpentry, plumbing, electrical, etc.) |
Chaperoning activities
Coaching teams Supervising or helping with extracurricular activities (e.g. music, drama, yearbook, etc.) Serving on councils/committees Volunteer fire department, rescue squad Leadership to scouts, 4-H, etc. Volunteer at hospitals and homes for elderly Neighborhood groups |
God has blessed you with talents that allow you to work and earn financial resources that pays for many necessities such as food, shelter and clothing. Do you show your appreciation for these wonderful and powerful blessings by returning a generous portion? Our Biblical roots describe the response of God's chosen people to His goodness as a return of 10%. This tradition of returning 10% of God's bounty has been followed through time.
Here at St. Thomas More, we ask parishioners to return 5% of their income to the parish, 1% to the diocesan Catholic Services Appeal and 4% to other charities. The scriptures tell us that those who really share will be rewarded a hundred fold.
"Give and gifts will be given to you; a good measure, packed together, shaken down, and overflowing, will be poured into your lap. For the measure with which you measure will in return be measured out to you." Luke 7:38