STEWARDSHIP NOTES
In the coming months, the Stewardship Team is providing you with devotions to read and to contemplate. These devotions have been developed by the Evangelical Outreach and Congregational Mission Unit of the ELCA. They are provided as prayerful reflections about money leadership. Based on years of personal struggles and experiences in congregations, these devotions have been written to address receiving, struggling, and giving.
Money leadership begins by recognizing that everything we have comes from God and belongs to God. This begins by recognizing the gift of life and the gift of Jesus Christ. Yes, each person has first received, and this is where the process begins. Once a gift is received, one often struggles with how to use or manage these gifts. The struggle is the second part of the process. Some familiar struggles are shared, along with guiding Scripture. The third part is giving. This is our response to God’s giving, yet a response that often does not become a generous spirit without fir experiencing some struggles. Each devotion offers some questions for personal reflection … Devotion number 1.
Being open to God’s will - Sometime people contrast giving with receiving. In fact, it seems that learning to give often depends on having first learned to receive, both giving and receiving depend on being able to focus on something other than oneself. Who has taught you to be good at receiving? Mary is a good example. In Luke 1:26-38, we read the account of the annunciation. In the last of these verses, (v. 38), we hear Mary’s response, “Here I am, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.” Like many others in Scripture, Mary’s heart is open to God and God’s purposes. Because her heart is open, she does not oppose God’s will with her own will. To receive Gods’ gifts we must first be open to God’s will. Our will must be subjected to God’s will. Our will must not stand in the way. How are you opening your heart to God’s will today? Prayer: O God of abundance, open my heart to receive your good will for my life. Amen.