November 17, 2019
Dear Church
“Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be” (Matthew 6:19-21).
Churches teach that there are certain practices that we can do regularly to maintain our spiritual health. Praying before a meal and attending church services are common spiritual practices. Stewardship is also a spiritual practice. Mark Powell writes in Giving to God: the Bible’s good news about living a generous life: Jesus said where you put your treasure – that’s where your heart will end up. The point isn’t that how you spend your money reveals what sort of person we are, but that how you spend your money determines what sort of person you will become.
Powell continues, treasure is not just money. Our treasure is whatever we value – our money, our time, our possessions, our skills and talents, our families, our physical bodies. Whatever we value - that is our treasure. Jesus says that what we do with our treasure affects our hearts – it determines who we are inside. It determines what sort of people we become.
There is a connection between spiritual health and faithful stewardship. As you fill out your pledge cards and Time and Talents sheet this year, I invite you to think about how you will be part of sharing and caring for the future of Lynnhurst United Church of Christ. Is your giving a spiritual practice that draws you closer to God and helps you grow as a disciple of Jesus? What current and new ministries will your treasure help us accomplish for God?
Blessings on the journey,