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STEWARDSHIP: FROM GRACE TO GENEROSITY
(Luke 19:1-10—Ps Paw Liang)

Stewardship is an integral part of Christian discipleship. “The earth is the Lord’s and all that is in it, the world, and those who live in it . . “ (Psalm 24:1). Stewardship is one God’s greatest gift for us when He invites us to share in God’s own life and mission by being a steward. Stewardship is not only about our monthly tithes or money, but it’s about “the way we live our lives.”

Zacchaeus is a good example to see the differences between a person’s life without Christ and a person who knows Christ. Verse 8 shows us his turning point:  “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possession to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.” Before coming to Christ, he tried his best (justly or unjustly) to acquire and accumulate his wealth. Once the grace of God break into his heart, it drives him to be generous and compassionate towards others, especially the poor. Compared to the rich young ruler at chapter 18, Zacchaeus doesn’t let his wealth blocking him to come to the Lord. He chose Jesus over his wealth.

Stewardship is always an integral part of Methodism that is summed up in John Wesley’s sermon, the Use of Money (1872). 

Earn all you can: our vocation is part of God’s salvation and healing plan. We are to apply honest wisdom and unwearied diligence to earn as much as we can. But, earning through our vocation is not so only for personal gain but it should be our ‘giving’ for the ‘common good’ – salvation and healing of creation.  Therefore: NO EXPLOITATION, no gaining from the pain, nor inflicting suffering of oneself and others. The challenge is how can we promote life through our vocation in this devastated time?

Save all you can: How do we manage and use our money? Stewardship is not only to be wisely chosen what to have but also what not to have. Living in this consumerism era the challenge for us is “how to live simply.”

Give all you can: 30 years after he preached this sermon, John Wesley noticed that Methodists were very good with the 1st and 2nd rules but not the 3rd. The more we practice the 1st & 2nd rules the richer we’ll become and the danger is wherever riches increased, for most people, the pride and greed will also increase and the mind that’s in Christ will decreased in proportion. Therefore it’s necessary for us to practice the third rule, give all you can.


Thank God for His generosity! For inviting us to share the earth and all its resources! For trusting us to manage and use it for the salvation and healing of the earth! May His grace continue to uphold us to become good stewards; living in His abundant grace, modest and generous in making the access for everyone to enjoy the table of God’s abundance grace. (PLT)

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