December 11-17, 2006

 SOLI/Update 

  www.stewardshipoflife.org


And the crowds asked [John the Baptist], ‘What then should we do?’ In reply he said to them, ‘Whoever has two coats must share with anyone who has none; and whoever has food must do likewise.’ Even tax-collectors came to be baptized, and they asked him, ‘Teacher, what should we do?’ He said to them, ‘Collect no more than the amount prescribed for you.’ Soldiers also asked him, ‘And we, what should we do?’ He said to them, ‘Do not extort money from anyone by threats or false accusation, and be satisfied with your wages.’
--Luke 3:10-14

What then should we do?

In announcing the coming Messiah and the Reign of God, John the Baptist stirred the crowds that came to him for a baptism of repentance -- preparation for the new reality that was to break upon humankind with the coming of Jesus the Christ. In the passage cited above, part of the Gospel lection for this Sunday, the people are convicted and convinced in their souls of the truth of John's message. They cry to John for guidance how they are to live faithfully in response: "What then should we do?"

The general crowd asks John, but then also tax collectors and soldiers -- the two groups widely scorned in Jesus's day for their oppressing, extorting and stealing from everyday people.

Stewards and preachers of stewardship should take notice of John's reply. Every question John answers in purely economic terms. As Luke describes John's essential message, faithfully preparing for the Reign of God means primarily embracing a new understanding of possessions and money, not in themselves, but rather as they affect our neighbors around us.

John' tells us that in the Reign of God, possessions and money are for us to earn honestly and fairly regardless of our occupation. There is no room for personal gain at the expense of others. And once earned, we are to share with those who are in need. Not merely to share generously, but sacrificially.

John's message of radical generosity comes to us in the middle of Advent, as we ourselves prepare our hearts for the coming of the Messiah. But coinciding as it does with our culture's annual Christmas shopping frenzy, John's message gives us much to think about as we travel to the malls and big-box retailers to buy presents for our family and friends, many of whom have much more than they ever could need, or even want.

Maybe the best way to prepare for the arrival of the Messiah is to ask ourselves and our congregations, "What then should we do?" And taking John's answers to heart, we can change our Christmas list. Instead of buying a coat for Uncle Fred who already has a closet full of them, we can give a nice warm winter coat to a child whose family cannot afford one. Or we can donate money on behalf of Grandma or Aunt Harriett to a local soup kitchen, homeless shelter or food pantry. Or we can give to ELCA World Hunger, Lutheran Disaster Response or Lutheran World Relief.

Those would be gifts worthy of the Reign of God.

--Rob Blezard, Editor and Webmaster
(Want to reprint this article in your church newsletter? Rights eagerly granted for local nonprofit use. Please just include this note: "Copyright (c) 2006, The Rev. Robert Blezard, www.stewardshipoflife.org. Used by permission.")

New this week:

(Note: Please bear with us as our website undergoes revision and we work out technical bugs. For that reason Dana Reardon's column and Joke of the Week were not printed this week. -- Webmaster)

The Privacy of Financial Giving
“Financial giving in the church should be kept private, but not secret! Almost always, secrecy about members' financial giving is a symptom of unhealthy, poor giving. Secrecy is really a cover for individual or collective shame about how little we give.” Check out this resource to find out how your church is doing – and could do better. Click here for “The Privacy of Financial Giving.” From the United Methodist Church’s Center for Christian Stewardship.

Kids and consumerism
The Episcopal Church ventured to the Mall of America to explore how children use money and how the church can teach them the value of material possessions. “Our country now faces a crisis because children are growing up without balanced financial values or a well-thought approach to how they use money,” said Nathan Duncan, president of Share Save Spend. Click here for “Kids and consumerism,” from Episcopal Life magazine.

When the Holidays Hurt: 10 ways to cope with loss :
"For many people, the holidays are a traditional time of happiness and festivity. However, for those who are grieving the loss of a loved one, the holidays are a time of mixed emotions. There can be pleasure, but there is also much pain, because the season magnifies the sense of loss." Great advice for individuals or congregational leaders whose parishioners suffer the holiday blues. Click here for “When the Holidays Hurt,” from Today's Christian magazine. This week’s Treasure Chest offering.