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BLOG; On Stewardship: What does the Bible have to say on this subject? What did the Lord Jesus Christ have to say? Actually a lot! Out of His 38 parables 16 seem to deal with the Stewardship, with the handling of money and possessions. In the Gospels, 1 in 10 verses – 288 – focus directly on money. The Bible offers us 500 verses on prayer, less than 500 verses on faith, and then devotes more than 2000 verses to money and possessions. Why? From investigations the Bible deals with finances in time, talent, and treasure because it does matter, then money does matter. Stewardship is really about how to deal with one another our relationship. Our relationship to God, our relationship to each other, our relationship to the world as reflected in our relationship to the Church, which contributes significantly to the lifestyle of our mindset. This can be about how we relate to God, each other, and “others” through the Church shows our maturity, character, and faith, as we exhibit Christ in our life, how we give the “first fruits” of our work to God. Is it; simply 10% of our monies, or 22% of your values in life?

Genesis 12:1-3

God's call of Abraham is a summons to the people of God not to let old ways of living and conventional belief prevent moving into a quality of life far "richer" than heretofore known, promise and blessing meant for others too. "By you [better than, in you'] all the families of the earth shall bless themselves," (v. 3) in the helpful alternative rendering of the NRSV. God's people are the means but not the end or sole example of blessing and being blessed.

Deuteronomy 8:17-18

The wealth or "abundance" of our lives is a gift, not just a given. That is, no more than with life itself do we have this as something we can earn or deserve. It is not entitlement but blessing in which others are meant to share.

Matthew 6:19-21

"Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." (v. 21) Faith and money are two sides of the same coin. Where the one is, the other is also. We seem to easily pretend otherwise, making faith immaterial, or money unspiritual.