Celebration of Stewardship, by Richard Massouh
Northwest Christian Church, Arlington, TX, April 21, 2013
My stewardship message this morning is going to be somewhat different and maybe a little personal and uncomfortable. I am not going to talk about the giving of our money each week in this time and in this place as we usually do. Instead, I would like to talk about the giving of our money when we are no longer in this time and place, when we have gone to be with our Lord and Savior forever.
The real question to be discussed is: “Do we have any stewardship responsibility in our estate planning and in making out our will?”
Over the past year, I have been doing a lot of serious thinking about this, and here is what I have come to believe with all my heart. While I live on this Earth, everything that I have was given to me by God and belongs to God. He only asks that I return at least 10% of what He has given me to support the ministry of His church.
Based on that, I have come to an awakening: that when I pass from this earth, nothing has really changed in this regard. Everything I have still belongs to God and I believe He still wants me to approach my giving in the same way. He still wants me to continue to be a faithful steward of what He has given me.
So as I looked at leaving an inheritance to my family, I wanted to ensure first and foremost that I included God’s church ministry in my will, which I have done. I feel blessed knowing that my legacy of love for my family as well as for the ministry of God’s Kingdom will carry on for some time after I have passed from this place.
I believe that the more we are grateful for the incredible eternal inheritance that we have already received from our Lord’s sacrifice on the cross, the more faithful we will be in sharing our own worldly inheritance to extend His kingdom.
Dear Lord,
In our daily life here on Earth, You are our Shepherd, and we do not want for anything because of that. You lead us to green pastures and still waters. You restore our soul. You allow our cup to overflow with goodness and mercy all the days of our life. Please help us, Lord, to be more and more grateful for how You have provided for us; and to be eternally responsible stewards of all that we have. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.