Rector’s Message
The Rev. Hugh Magers
About Stewardship
This is the wrong time of the year to write about Christian giving since we seek pledges in the fall. Being perverse and contrary by nature, it suits me to write about it right now.
First principle:
Stewardship is everything you do after you say yes to Christ. You may be a good, bad, indifferent or resentful steward, but you are a steward. The word steward evolved in England and Scotland, where English was spoken, in about the 10th or 11th century. The nature of agriculture and cooking changed. Kitchens were developed and hogs were raised intentionally. Salted pork became a primary source of winter protein. The person who managed the loop of kitchen wastes to pigs, pigs to slaughter and salt, salt pork to kitchen was the "sty ward." Since that styward managed that loop they soon managed other things and became the managers of about everything. By the 14th century, the royal family of Scotland was the Stewart family. So a steward manages things that he doesn't own on behalf of others, for their benefit.
The second principle:
We don't own anything, God does. He entrusts it to our stewardship for our span of years. Or as one of my friends, Harwell Barber, who manufactures shrouds for a living says, "I haven't put a pocket in a shroud yet."
The third principle:
The obedient, loving and simple way to resolve all stewardship issues is to tithe. If you tithe you will not ever have to think about it again. The tithe is an English word that is a direct translation from the Hebrew and it means "tenth". Before or after taxes? I don't care, if you are trying to figure out how much your tithe is, God has won. Must it all go to St. David's or can some of it go to other Godly things? Who cares? If this is what you are pondering, God has won. In my opinion it does need to be Godly. I don't count the money we give the Democratic Party, or Texas A&M as Godly giving.
The fourth principle:
Christian stewardship blesses God, blesses the world, and blesses those who practice it. St. Paul said that "God loves a cheerful giver." I suspect he loves grumpy, sullen givers too. The word cheerful in Greek is "ilaros". It can also be translated as hilarious. I think it ought to be. I have never regretted a gift to God. And, when I hear the stories of what our giving does to change and save lives and gain relationships for eternity, I am doubly blessed.
This Rector’s Message appeared in the June 13, 2004 St. David’s newsletter, The Star, while Hugh Magers was serving as interim rector.
An example of teaching stewardship year-round.
