We will be doing a short series on Stewardship in the month of November – with specific reference to Time, Talents and our Treasures. It is a challenge to talk about stewarding in a world that is so focused on privatization of faith, ownership and control… where we spend our time, what we do with our talents and where we expend our treasures, this tells us a great deal of what is important to us. See the video intro to the series!

It is interesting that when a Christian gets baptized they take off their watch (time), take out their car keys (talents used to purchase) and they take out their wallets (treasures). This simply highlights the mindsets of many Christians – Lord you can have everything except my time, talents and treasures. Those are mine to do as I please!

A steward is defined as someone who looks after the possessions of another! David understood this when he thanked God for the provision given by the people of Israel for the building of the temple.
1 Chron 29:12-14 Both riches and honor come from you, and you rule over all. In your hand are power and might, and in your hand it is to make great and to give strength to all. 13 And now we thank you, our God, and praise your glorious name. 14 “But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able thus to offer willingly? For all things come from you, and of your own have we given you.

What are you doing with your time, talents and treasures? I trust that they are being used to ‘build’ the temple – the kingdom of God. Its amazing that throughout scripture when the people of God give generously – the presence of God comes! This is clearly seen when Moses built the tabernacle with the treasures Israel had plundered from the Egyptians and when Solomon completed the temple:
2 Chron 5:13-14 …the house of the LORD, was filled with a cloud, 14 so that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud, for the glory of the LORD filled the house of God.

My heart is that we will again consider what we are doing with all God has given us. I know that when we give of our Time, Talents and Treasures to what God is doing, we draw God’s manifest presence!
2 Corinthians 8:7 But as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all earnestness, and in our love for you—see that you excel in this act of grace (freely giving) also.