Little  Britain  Presbyterian  Church

Pastor Tom's Bi-Monthly Message

July & August,  2010

Stewardship:

Everywhere we look Being Green is in style, from the clothes we wear to the cars we drive.  As Christians how are we to respond to this?  I think that there are a few things to keep in mind.  First, we do not worship creation.  Second, we do worship the Creator of nature.  Third, we are placed to care for creation.  So taking care of creation is important for us as Christians. When we think about caring for creation the environmental issues come to mind first.  And the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico is something that we do care about.  Since we humankind are to care for the fish, birds, and plant life, we are concerned about the damage that is being done, as well as concern for the livelihood.

We are stewards of all of God's creation.  For All things belong to God.  All things from toothpaste on your toothbrush to Mt. Everest, from the blades of grass to all the items at Costco belong to God.  As stewards, we are given the privilege to care for it all.  How do we make a difference?  It is through the little choices that we make each day.  By using less water in the shower and turning off lights that we are not using, we are taking care of God's world.

We are to care for more than just the environment.  We are to care for our bodies.  Even our bodies do not belong ultimately to ourselves.  We are God's.  1 Corinthians says that "you are not your own, you are bought with a price.  Therefore, honor God with your body." It is important to be a good steward of our bodies.  Not that we worship our looks, but that we properly care for them.  Our bodies need proper nutrition, rest, and exercise.  Our minds and our emotions also need care and attention.

Our money is also something that we are to be good stewards of.  It is difficult sometimes to accept that our money is not our money, it belongs to God.  Our finances have been entrusted to us by God, and we are to manage them well.  How we spend and save and give our money is all a matter of being a good steward of God's money.

Jesus tells a parable about a man who left his property in his servant's hands while he went away.  When the master returned how the servants had cared for the property became known. The point is that God is the master of all things and we are simply stewards of all that he owns.

Let us think and act in ways that show that we are good stewards.  Let's begin small and add to our good habits as we go.  The mission committee will be giving us suggestions on how we can better take care of our world, let us rejoice and care for it, together.

What makes us different from the world around us?  We believe that we are not God, but that we serve the true and living God, and joyfully are here on earth to take care of what God has made and what he has given to us.

Your Fellow Caretaker,

Tom Milligan