Stewardship
Stewardship is a basic premise of the Christian faith that recognizes that all we have in life is a generous gift from God. While we are on earth, we are stewards of all that God has given us. Stewardship includes care of one another, the wise use of natural resources, and the management of our personal property and finances.
John Wesley, founder of the United Methodist Church, spoke often on the subject of stewardship. Wesley said, “Use your God-given gifts well and wisely, to earn all you can, that you might practice frugality and save all you can, that you might have more than enough so that you are able to give all you can.”
As stewards of God’s gifts, we are called to “give back” to the church in response to God’s grace in our lives. Stewardship requires giving from an attitude of “abundance” rather than scarcity. Just as in Biblical times, we are called to give God the “first fruits of the harvest.” As good stewards we encourage the practice of tithing 10%, saving 10% and living on 80% of our overall earnings. By practicing stewardship, we can manage our resources for God’s work in the world.