What is the first thing that comes to mind when you hear or read the word “stewardship?” You may say: “Oh no, not again about money. I don’t want to hear or read any more.” But wait! Did you know that in the New Testament the term “stewardship” is used to designate the “management” of everything God entrusts to His people? Yes, money is a part of that, but let us consider what else is included in everything, such as gifts. No, not the gifts we give for birthdays, anniversaries, etc., but rather the gifts with which God blesses us. What gifts?

In Scripture God tells us that we are all sinners, sinful from the time we were conceived (Psalm 51:5), unable and unwilling to help or do anything to achieve salvation, unable to do anything good. Left on our own, there is no other future except God’s wrath and punishment, to be cast away from His presence forever in hell. But don’t despair. Ever since Adam’s fall into sin, in God’s great love and mercy He promised to change your future and He did. “When the time had fully come, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons” (Galatians 4:4-5). Thanks be to God! We have received the full rights of sons and daughters of God through Holy Baptism and the Word. Through these Means of Grace we were washed clean of all our sin and made His children. At the same time the Holy Spirit created saving faith in us. Oh give thanks to the Lord for such a great gift!

Still, you may be tempted by the devil to think that you are not good enough to deserve God’s blessing of a gift or two, or that you don’t have any gifts or talents. What a lie! God says in 1 Peter 4:10, “Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.” You may have been blessed with the gift of musical talent, patience, mechanical skills, reasoning, encouraging, understanding, leadership, wealth, time and so on. Still not sure? Don’t let the devil cause you to doubt; ask the Lord to use you and your gift all to the glory of His name.

Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given us…Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord (Romans 12:4-11).

“Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity”(Ephesians 5:15-17). As God’s child, through faith in Christ, you have a limited time here on earth to show the fruits of faith: good works. “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do” (Ephesians 2:10). He would have us pray: “Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom” (Psalm 90:12). Time is very precious, every second a special gift from God. How does your daily life reflect your living for the Lord? Certainly you can at all times offer a prayer of thanks to God for the many gifts with which He continually blesses you. So, “Do not worry about your life” (Matthew 6:25). For “He who did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up for us all—how will He not also, along with Him, graciously give us all things?”(Romans 8:32). “God will meet all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19).

Thanks be to God for His Son, our Savior, who “came so that you would have life and have it abundantly” (John 10:10). Continue to use the gifts, talents and abilities with which He has chosen to bless you, whether you are at home, work, school or church. “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers” (Galatians 6:9-10).

May you thank God daily for using you, His gifted servant, to continue to be a witness for Christ and the salvation He has won for you and the world. Without you in this world as God’s faithful steward, there would be no church, no synod, no seminary, no home or foreign missions, and no Christian day schools, which are all a result of our Christian stewardship. St. Paul declares: “For none of us lives to himself alone and none of us dies to himself alone. If we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord” (Romans 14:7-8). God has blessed you with gifts, most importantly with the gift of faith, all for the glory of His name and His kingdom. “Give thanks to the Lord, for His love endures forever!”(Psalm 106:1).

Kurt Kluge is pastor of Zion Lutheran Church, Tracy, Minnesota, and a member of the Board for Stewardship.