What Is Stewardship?
To be a steward is to care for and wisely use something with which you have been entrusted. Christian stewardship begins with the recognition that our lives—and everything that makes up our lives—are gifts from God. Our time, abilities, relationships, resources, and possessions are not simply things we own; they are gifts we are invited to use with purpose, gratitude, and love.
Stewardship, then, is much more than a way for the church to raise money. It is a way of living that asks us to consider how we use what we have been given and how our choices can reflect God’s love in the world.
When we practice stewardship, we become participants in God’s work of healing, hope, justice, and love. Through our generosity, our service, our presence, and our care for one another, we become the hands and heart of Christ in the world.
What the Bible Teaches about Giving & Stewardship
Throughout Scripture, we are reminded that everything we have ultimately comes from God. Creation itself is a gift and so are our lives. Stewardship is our response to those gifts.
Because money touches so many areas of our lives, the way we use our financial resources is an important part of our spiritual lives. Jesus spoke often about money and possessions—not because money is inherently good or bad, but because how we relate to our resources reveals something about what we value and where we place our trust.
Of course, stewardship extends far beyond money. We are called to consider how we use our time, our talents, our relationships, our influence, and the resources of the earth. Every part of our lives can become an expression of gratitude and an opportunity to love our neighbors.
The practice of tithing—giving ten percent of our income—is a biblical tradition that has helped generations of people make generosity a spiritual practice. At Avondale United Methodist Church, we encourage those who are able to work toward the goal of tithing as a way of growing in generosity and putting our faith into practice.
For some, a tithe may be a goal they are working toward over time. If you haven't tithed before, you could start by giving 2-3% of your income and increase that percentage each year as you work toward 10%. For others, 10% may be a starting point for even greater generosity. And for still others, faithfully giving may look different depending on their circumstances and season of life. What matters is not simply the amount we give, but the spirit in which we give: with gratitude, joy, faith, and a desire to make a difference.
A Life of Stewardship
Stewardship is not something we practice only once a year. It is a way of life.
Each fall, however, we set aside a special time to focus our attention on stewardship and to consider how we will participate in God’s work through Avondale United Methodist Church in the coming year. We invite everyone who is part of our church community to prayerfully consider what they are able to give and to make an estimate of their financial support for the year ahead.
These commitments help our church plan responsibly for the ministries and missions we share together. But they are also about something deeper: taking time to reflect on what we value, where we want to make a difference, and how our resources can become part of something larger than ourselves.
Our giving is one way we say, “Thank you” for all that we have received. It is one way we put our faith into action. And it is one way we join together as a community to share God’s love with one another and with the world.