(OSV News) - What is "stewardship"? Stewardship is perhaps one of the most misunderstood words in the church today. Some people think it is all about money. Others think it means only time, talent and treasure. Some wonder if it is just another word for fundraising or tithing.
In reality, "stewardship" is the word that describes our entire relationship with God. God loved and trusted us so much that he made us his stewards. Our challenge is to strive to be good stewards by recognizing that everything we have is a gift from God, taking time to be grateful for the gifts that God has given us, realizing that God gives each of us all we need plus enough to share, and turning to the Holy Spirit for guidance in sharing our gifts as God intended.
Stewardship, therefore, is linked to our life of following Jesus.
"Once one chooses to be a disciple of Jesus Christ, stewardship is not an option," the bishops state in their pastoral letter "Stewardship: A Disciple's Response," first published in 1992.
Anyone who wants to be good at any task must study it and practice it. Stewardship, too, takes practice. Society tempts us to triumph in our material accomplishments and continually strive for more. At times resisting this pull toward self-centered materialism requires practice, prayer and careful study of God's teachings.
At the Last Supper, Jesus Christ gave us important final messages: "I no longer call you slaves, because a slave does not know what his master is doing. I have called you friends, because I have told you everything I have heard from my Father. It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you and appointed you to go bear fruit that will remain, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name he may give you. This I command you: Love one another" (Jn 15:15-17).
This simple message from Our Lord gives us five keys for living as good stewards: spend time with God, realize God has chosen us, contribute something for God, trust in God's abundance, and love and serve.
1. Spend time with God: God is the owner and master of everything. Yet, we are not his slaves. We are the stewards he trusts, the ones he invites to know him and his will. Stewardship draws us closer to God. When we embrace the role of steward, we open ourselves to know God more fully.
We foster that relationship by attending Mass more frequently; weaving more prayer into and throughout our busy days; finding time to study Scripture and religious books, articles or websites; participating in faith-enrichment activities in our parish; and stopping into a church or chapel for quiet time alone with God.
2. Realize God has chosen us: How awesome it is to realize God, through our Lord Jesus Christ, has chosen us. Everything we are, everything we do and everything we have is a result of God choosing us, loving us and blessing us.
God chooses each one of us to be the stewards of different gifts. We may have a musical talent, financial aptitude, a generous spirit or a positive attitude. Even our faith is a gift from God.
God does not give us all the same gifts. We could look around and see people who have more gifts than we have and become jealous. Or, we could look around the world and see people who have much less than we have, and learn to be compassionate. The choice is ours.
3. Contribute something for God: Based on the unique combination of gifts God has given us, each of us is called to make a contribution that is uniquely ours to make. We can contribute in a variety of ways by providing a helping hand or a strong back; leadership, knowledge or wisdom; financial support; a listening ear or a gentle smile; a new idea; and special skills or talents.
Only we, through prayer, know what God is calling us to contribute.
4. Trust in God's abundance: It can be difficult for any of us to give away something that we think we need. However, stewardship teaches us to look at our financial situations in a new way. When we believe our own needs will be met, it is easy for us to give.
Unfortunately, the endless advertising so prevalent in today's media convinces us we have endless needs. However, the things the world tempts us to have are not needs. They are wants. God may not give us all we want, but we must trust that he will give us what we need, when we ask. In turn, we generously share with the world what God has entrusted to us.
5. Love and Serve: When we share our resources more generously with the parish, we take the focus off the parish's financial burdens. In this way, stewardship encourages ministry and a more loving parish community. When we love and serve others in our parish, we build up a community that will also love and serve us. We become part of something greater than ourselves. We feel a sense of belonging. We also develop a sense of compassion when we reach out to those who are most in need. Belonging and compassion are two of the many unexpected benefits of living as God's stewards.
Stewardship is not a gift we give to God, but rather a gift God gives to us.
From the earliest disciples of Jesus Christ, Catholics made the work of the church, Christ's body, a priority in their lives. The great cathedrals and simple country churches where people worship, schools where countless children are educated, hospitals that care for the sick, and charitable institutions that serve the needs of many, have been built by generations of the faithful.
They gave, even when they had little to give, because they knew Jesus had called them as his disciples to be good stewards of the resources God entrusted to them.