In his first letter to Christians living in the ancient city of Corinth, Paul the apostle wrote these words: “So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31). What Paul wrote nearly 2000 years ago is just as true today as it was when he first penned it. We’re not Jesus’ disciples on Sunday only, when we are in worship or Bible class. The truth is that we are Jesus’ disciples 24/7, wherever we go, whatever we do. God’s claim upon us is round-the-clock. Believing that this is true, how is my life honoring the God of all creation who “so loved the world that He gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life?” (John 3:16).

During the month of October, we will be exploring what this looks like in a 3-week series on Christian stewardship based on that passage of Scripture above from 1 Corinthians 10:31, and entitled “Whatever You Do.” Week by week, we will examine aspects of who God calls us to be as his consecrated stewards –  managers who are set apart for God’s special purposes. All of this is based on the appointed Gospel readings from Luke’s Gospel. The truth is, everything we are and have comes from God’s hand and through his gracious providing. It all belongs to God, and is just on loan to us for a time. We really can’t give anything to God that is not already his! If we’re looking at Sunday-only Christianity, then our stewardship takes on an Ebenezer Scrooge-like quality: miserly, tight-fisted, and stingy. God wants so much more for us!

All of life is stewardship – not just Sunday morning. Our work and leisure, our time and possessions, our talents and abilities, our relationships (family, friends, neighbors, co-workers, etc.), our education and money, our health and well-being, our food and drink – all of these are God’s gifts to us. How we make use of them becomes our offering that comes in response to all that God in Christ has done, and continues to do, for us. It is an offering rooted and grounded in love. As Paul writes elsewhere to the Corinthians: “He [Jesus] died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves, but for Him who for their sake died and was raised” (2 Corinthians 5:15).

The schedule for our 3-part stewardship series, “Whatever You Do,” is as follows:

• Sunday, October 12 – “A New Lease on Life” based on Luke 17:11-19
• Sunday, October 19 – “Holy Persistence” based on Luke 18:1-8
• Sunday, October 26 – “Free Indeed” based on John 8:31-36 (Reformation Sunday)

A chili cookoff will take place on Reformation Sunday, October 26, in the Fellowship Hall after the worship service. This fellowship event will bring our congregation together to cap off our stewardship series. Be thinking about your best chili recipe and bring that to share on October 26!

Christian stewardship seeks to help the people of God grow in their understanding and practice of managing God’s gifts in daily life. The goal is for God’s people to celebrate His gifts and grow in the joy of giving and serving. “So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God,” Paul tells us. That’s what we’re aiming for in stewardship; that our whole life becomes an offering of thanks and praise to the Lord.