Building Nests

I read a passage this week that really hit home for me.  It described the idea of "building a nest" as a metaphor for  "people who successfully provide for their own comforts". 

For example, if someone arrives at point in their career where they are comfortable and at ease, some might say, "You've built quite a nest for yourself!"  Or when we feel comfortable at home in our workplace, we talk about being in our "own little nest".  The word "nest" reminds us of shelter, coziness, comfortable, homey.  

In fact, don't birds actually build nests for their young?  For the future and next generations?   Aren't all of the hours carrying straw, sticks and mud and endless work feeding and keeping watch day after day, night after night, really for the benefit of the new ones?  The Young, the Future? 

What if we were to consider our "nest" as the church?  The building, programs, ministries, each job description, and each mission and service we provide - are they for our own comfort and coziness?  Or are they to further the faith and to provide for future generations?  Does our giving serve us and our needs? Or does it serve God by serving the mission of the church to reach new people? 

When we place more weight on what feeds the soul, nourishes the spirit, and sustains the steps of those outside the church or new to the faith, rather than giving emphasis on what we want, prefer, or find convenient; It is then that we are truly serving God. 

Those new to the faith are as vulnerable as young hatchlings, and require a steady and dedicated effort of feeding and nurturing.  The budding faith of young people requires our committed attention; extra care; overtime in planning, teaching, encouraging, mentoring, support and generosity. 

For us to follow God by serving the mission of the church, we must realize that the nests we build are not for ourselves - they are for the next generation, those new to the faith, the future of the body of Christ.  

This week, I have re-examined my focus on generosity and giving.

How does your focus on generosity and your level of giving support the mission of reaching other people? 

"And the things you have prepared, whose will they be?"  ~Luke 12:20

Generosity Begets Generosity

As a child, I grew up hearing about “stewardship” in church. There were stewardship campaigns, stewardship drives, stewardship committees, even stewardship seminars.   As an adult, returning to church after a long absence, it seemed the term “stewardship” was somewhat insider language.    It was a language that I never heard outside of church very often.  It seemed a word that was dutiful and legalistic and that focused entirely on supporting the church financially.  

This week, I was reflecting upon a passage I read in Luke 6:38 from “The Message”.   It reads,

“Giving, not getting is the way.  Generosity begets generosity.”

Recently, I started new position at New Day UMC as the “Director of Generosity”.  This made me think.  What’s the difference between “stewardship” and “generosity”? 

I have come to view a “steward” as a sort of trustee.  Someone who has a responsibility to care for something that is generally owned by someone else.    We are stewards of the Earth.  We are stewards of our money, our possessions, and our bodies.  We are stewards of things entrusted to us, inherited by us and earned by us.

Generosity, on the other hand, is an aspect of character.  It is an attractive quality which I aspire to and desire to see cultivated in my life, my family’s life and in my church.  I suppose then, that the opposite of generosity is selfishness and greed.  There are no stories that I have found from scripture telling of people living God-related spiritual lives while fostering a greedy attitude.  Generosity extends beyond merely the use of money, although it most definitely includes that.  It is the Fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22-23).  It is an actual practice of giving.

 I admire and respect people who are generous, and I want to be like them.  Generosity focuses on the spiritual qualities of the giver.  We never describe people as generous who keep everything for themselves and only serve themselves.  I have to explain to my children what stewardship means.  They know generosity when they see it.

What has been your experience with the term “stewardship?”   With “generosity?”  Which word inspires your giving as you seek to grow in the image of Christ?

Peace.  Lauren

The Right Treasure

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.  For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

Matthew 6:19-21 (NIV)

Like most people these days, I often worry about how we are going to survive in the current economic situation.  In tough times, we may turn to possessions for comfort and enjoyment.   Sometimes in order to feel better, we spend money that we don’t have, on things we don’t necessarily need.   

I was reminded of this recently as I visited a nearby church; when I noticed a young man in the pew ahead of me.  He was dirty and unkempt, and he listened intently to the message and sang along with the music joyfully.  When the offering plate came by, I saw him drop in a few coins.  He gave without hesitation.

Often, it seems that we who are more fortunate than that young man don’t give anything.  We don’t spend time with God regularly; don’t give our time or money to help the poor and homeless.  Too often we don’t often offer a kind word to a stranger, take time to chat with a lonely person, or spend an hour a week to help at a soup kitchen. 

 I have decided to stop using so much of my time on building up treasures on earth so that I can more faithfully live out God’s word.  When we serve in Christ’s name, we store up riches in heaven.

What are some ways that you’ve stored up treasures on earth?  In heaven?

Lauren