Eric Hulstrand writes in Leadership magazine: "While I was preaching one Sunday, an elderly woman, Mary, fainted and struck her head on the end of the pew. Immediately, an EMT in the congregation called an ambulance. As they strapped her to a stretcher and got ready to head out the door, Mary regained consciousness. She motioned for her daughter to come near. Everyone thought she was summoning her strength to convey what could be her final words. The daughter leaned over until her ear was at her mother’s mouth, ’My offering is in my purse,’ she whispered."
This scene could have happened on any given Sunday here at Asbury, right? Well, maybe…
Aside from setting an example of remarkable dedication, the story illustrates a true attitude of stewardship. Speaking on this topic, minister and evangelist Jeff Strite uses the parable of the Good Samaritan to illustrate three prevalent attitudes of stewardship:
The 1st attitude is: What’s yours is mine and I’m going to take it.
The thieves along the road have this attitude. This is clearly the wrong attitude. If we believe all that we have and all that we are comes from the grace of God, how can we keep from Him? Even though a gift to God may not be “required of us,” giving back is a powerful demonstration of how important God really is to us.
The 2nd attitude is: What’s mine is mine and I’m going to keep it.
The religious leaders that walked by the victim leaving him in the ditch display this attitude. They are the leaders of the church. Their lives have been dedicated to serving God. But, they are not going to help a beaten man in a ditch. Their time, their resources and their personal comfort are too important to give up. Given an opportunity for real ministry, they cannot release that which (in their minds) belongs to them. They have the wrong attitude.
The 3rd attitude is: What’s mine is yours.
The Samaritan shows this attitude. Nothing in the parable indicates the Samaritan has more than the ministers, and yet he stops while they walk by. He gives of his time, his possessions and despite the inconvenience cares for the helpless man until he is well. His attitude makes the parable worth telling.
So, what attitude should a good steward have?
A steward is someone who takes care of something for someone else. If you’re a steward, you don’t own what you have. So, if I’m going to be a “steward for God” I need to make up my mind that I don’t own:
1. My Time
2. My Money
3. My Possessions
4. My Relationships
They’re all His. They belong to Him. I just manage them. IF I MASTER THIS ATTITUDE - I’m a Good steward.
