Contemporary Exposition of Stewardship:
"Giving in Charity"
by Catherine Beecher
In 1894 Catherine Beecher wrote a Treatise on Domestic Economy. Within the treatise comes a commentary on "Giving in Charity" the following is a review of Ms. Beecher’s writing.
Ms. Beecher begins her discussion on charitable giving by recognizing that "giving" can be defined in a variety of ways. It can be looked at through a variety of "lens" to use a 21st century colloquialism. How we give and to whom we give our time, talents and efforts is done because the "Supreme Ruler" (I am assuming God) has made it part of our duty as members of God’s creation. Ms. Beecher comments that rules and principles guide our giving as we decide individually how we will participate in charitable giving. Her strong recommendation is that we make these decisions in keeping with Christian tenets. This "Christ Center/Christ-like character" that dictates the rules and principles for giving affords the giver peace and happiness.
Ms. Beecher readily recognizes that people as independent thinkers prefer to decide for themselves the manner in which they participate in charitable giving in this world. In other words, do we see our duty in giving to charity through a "narrow lens" or do we let our hearts follow the character of Christ and widen that lens and increase that giving? Do we choose to share our abundant blessings as did Christ? Widening that lens means changing the hearts of people so that we may see through Christ why we are placed on this earth and how we live out a responsive commitment to charity.
Ms. Beecher speaks of happiness coming to us in this life time through the attainment of a character like Christ. This happiness increases our giving – widens our world view/lens and transforms us into stewards like Christ. We "live to make happiness" Ms. Beecher comments. Selfless giving which breeds self denial for the good of others is character forming for "time and eternity." In 21st century language, if we widen our lens to look "out" and "up" instead of "in", we transform ourselves into people who model Christ in this world through charitable giving.
I offer this review of a1894 writing not just to fill up space for the Stewardship Committee. I offer it as a way to look at what we are doing here at CLC through our Stewardship committee endeavors. The goals and objectives which drive the work of this committee are truly about widening our lens, our view of what it means to live in a responsive state of love with the God who loved us first. During the month of April we are concentrating on the theme "BECAUSE…….THEREFORE!" as we challenge ourselves to ask the question "What are our talents and gifts as given to us by a loving God to be used for in the greater world?" In May, during Fellowship Hour we will be offering an inventory event so that we might learn what these gifts are and how to apply them to the ministry here at CLC. In the future we plan to ask the same questions about our use of treasures for the growth of God’s church in this world, at this crossroads, in this community.
Stewardship of our time, talents and treasures is a Christian act of benevolence that is given to us in Holy Scripture. Just as we cannot and do not negate the teachings of God’s Holy Word in other parts of our daily lives, let us not pick and chose if and when we will be good stewardships of all that we have been given. In seasons of plenty and in seasons of loss we are still to offer to God our first fruits of ourselves and our treasures.
