Looking for the real IT
A friend has been pretty successful in
business, but restless - changing companies every couple of years. As he was
talking about the latest change, he shook his head and looked down. "I don't
know. None of this really is IT." By IT he meant a work that
gives him a sense of joy and fulfillment.
Spiritual emptiness. It's the human race's
number one problem - the root cause of war, addiction, crime, oppression,
greed, gluttony, selfishness and on and on. But in the United States spiritual
emptiness takes on a particularly ironic expression because as a nation we are
wealthy enough and educated enough to have multiple options for almost
everything - and we often choose the one that will give us spiritual
emptiness.
We choose spiritual emptiness whenever we
opt for something we want today, even though we know it will bring us
unhappiness in the long term.
--For example, some people choose unwise
sex because it's what they want now, but then they live with unwanted
pregnancy (or abortion) and a life sentence of sexually transmitted diseases.
Sex is not IT.
--Others choose to eat lots and lots of
fattening food because they want it now, only to live with the consequences of
obesity: shorter life, higher illness, more misery. Food is not IT.
--Still others - like my friend -- choose
careers because they pay well, only to endure emptiness and questioning. Money
is not IT!
Last week the lectionary reading from the
Old Testament addressed this very issue. In Isaiah 55:2, God asks, "Why do you
spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which
does not satisfy?" Why DO we, indeed?
All of this, of course, is a stewardship
issue. In every area of our lives, we need to expend our energies and talents
and time on those things that are "bread," that is, all things that are good
and nourishing of body, mind or soul. And that which truly satisfies --
satisfies our spiritual hungers. Things like church. Humility. Charity.
Generosity. Teaching. Caring for yourself and your family. Loving God with all
your heart, mind and soul, and your neighbor as yourself. And that, friends,
is IT!
-Rob Blezard, editor and webmaster
New This Week:
17
Steps
Here is a
good guide for church stewardship leaders and pastors alike. It's a handy
list that covers the basics of stewardship.
Click
here for "17 Steps." Adapted from the larger book "Step by
step: Fostering financial stewardship in your congregation," which is
available for free in PDF format.
Click here for "Step by step." Part of
ELCA
Stewardship Resources.
Growing
stewards
"September is just around the corner and for a Fall appeal the foundation has
to be laid. October and November are upon you before you have time to turn
around. NOW is the time to put your plan together!" Click
here for Tuck Aaker's column, part of
ELCA's
Stewardship Resources.
When you're looking for God's financial provision
By
RICK WARREN: "God is staking his character and his reputation on it. 'I
will meet your needs.' ... Why is it that you have financial needs? Why do so
many believers struggle in this area? We all know people who are believers who
have financial needs. Did God fail? Did he lie? Exaggerate?"
Click here for Warren's essay, from
Pastors.com.
Climate
change and the unraveling of creation
By BILL McKIBBEN:
"We are engaged in the swift and systematic decreation of the planet we
were born onto. And does God look at our actions and pronounce them good? I
doubt it. Forget the sterile debates about whether we were given dominion over
his planet. Grant that we were. The question is, what have we done with that
dominion?"
Click here for "Climate change," from
Religion
On-line.
Can stewardship be more inviting?
"All
stewardship talk which begins with money starts at the wrong place. The place
to begin meaningful stewardship conversation is with the concept of freedom.
... God’s love is freely given to us simply because we are God’s children,
simply because God loves us apart from our worthiness or unworthiness. When we
learn this truth and appropriate it at the center of our being, then we are
truly free."
Click here for "Can stewardship be
more inviting?" The essay is by Prof.
William O. Avery of Gettysburg Seminary. This week's
Treasure Chest item.
Aug. 15 - 21, 2005