Stewardship Leader:
The Stewardship Leader is ready to help members become effective stewards and to assist in the implementation of God's plan of systematic benevolence throughout the church. Since stewardship responsibility includes the proper management of the entire life, stewardship concepts encourage the proper care and use of the body temple, time, abilities, and material possessions. The Stewardship Leader gives assistance in the planning and organization of church resources for a completed work.
"When they shall arouse and lay their prayers, their wealth, and all their energies and resources at the feet of Jesus, the cause of truth will triumph."-Testimonies, vol. 4, p. 475.
Here are the first two articles in a series of articles about stewardship from Richard Wical (Health and Temperance Leader):
Stewardship - Part 1
There is a lot of talk today about the state of the economy and where we are going from here. Stewardship is defined as a person who is acting for the owner. We as Christians understand that GOD is the owner and he has appointed each and every one of us as a steward of the things he has created.
According to Genesis 1:26, Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, according to our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth."
Based on current monetary system, we don't deal in the exchange of physical goods (Barter) to live. Okay maybe somewhere in the U.S. this still occurs, but most of us have to do our day-to-day living with the use of money.
Depending on who you are, what you make, where you live, how high your self-esteem is, and a variety of other factors, money can either empower you or strangle you. Have too little money and that factor alone can bring out other possible critical flaws. Have too much and a totally different set of problems arises. (Need to Know Basics - Money, Barbour Publishing, 2003)
From the shoes on our feet to the money in our accounts, God gives us everything. We are simply "stewards" of the things he has provided. As stewards, it is our job to account for, care for, and maintain the things that HE has provided. I love the story of Joseph and how he was made the manager of Potiphar's house (Gen 39:4). Joseph really knew how to be a good steward.
The most important things about being a good steward are: having a having a budget, tithing, saving, investing, understanding money and your children, education, purchasing, debt management, loans, rent or mortgage, taxes, insurance, retirement, basic financial terms (Need to Know Basics - Money, Barbour Publishing, 2003).
Over the next few months, we will take a few minutes each month to explore these concepts and hopefully help to get ourselves back on the right track to being good stewards for the things that GOD has provided in our lives.
Stewardship - Part 2
With the economy on the fritz and fiscal discipline "out the window", we as a people, nation and planet are at an all time high with consumer debt. Housing foreclosures and bankruptcies are at record levels. I have constantly told my children that you must live within your income. The main problem is people are spending far more money than they make. More money out than in is a recipe for a fiscal disaster. The concept of "fiscal discipline" has been lost in today's generations.
There really is a simple solution to fiscal irresponsibility. It's called a "Budget." A budget is a giving/saving/spending plan that if utilized correctly keeps us accountable and gives us the power to make life more enjoyable. The book "Need to know basics - Money" points out four advantages to using a budget:
- Putting yourself on a budget helps you to see why you're in financial trouble and how you got there - It is kinda like the law of God points out sin in your life. A budget will help you to find the problem spots in your current financial spending.
- A budget can help get you out of current financial trouble - Likewise the spiritual guidance in God's Word can help point out the sources of personal trouble in your life.
- A budget can help keep you out of future financial trouble - The Word of God and the Holy Spirit can help keep you on track and walking with the Lord each and every day.
- A budget can help you reach your financial goals and economic security - The ultimate goal of every Christian is to get to heaven. Who knows along the way you can store up treasure in heaven if you follow the plan.
In order to setup a budget, a person needs to do the following:
- Pray - If you ask for God's help, he will send the help you need. Remember, that as workers for Christ, we need to put forth an effort to work for God and not expect God to do everything. Like Joseph in Egypt, we must work hard to produce results.
- Get a legal pad and several sharpened pencils - When I started doing my first budget it took several drafts and revisions. When you think you've captured all your income and expenses, you'll be surprised. Remember one side of the paper represents "money in" and the other side represents "money out". If you are like me, you will probably have a bigger number on the "money out" side of the paper.
- Determine you total inflow - If you have dual incomes or a part-time job, be sure to capture all sources of income. Speculative or questionable sources of income should not be included or expected increases until they happen.
- Determine an amount for tithes/gifts/charitable giving - "Honor the Lord with you wealth, with the first-fruits of all you crops: then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine." Proverbs 3:9-10. If you have children and home you have probably been "nickled and dimed" to no end with additional school costs.
- Determine your tax liabilities - The Bible states to return unto Caesar that which is Caesar’s. Be careful when computing your tax liability. You don't want to undercut and end up paying taxes in April. However, you don't want to overestimate and loose the benefits of having that additional income during the year to cover monthly expenses.
- Determine your level of savings - A good rule of thumb is ten percent of your income for savings. For example, if you make $50,000 per year. Then you would need to save $5,000.00 per year in savings. This may seem like a big challenge. However, if you look at it from a weekly or monthly perspective, you would end up putting aside $96.00 per week or $425.00 per month. This may seem like more than you can handle. If you need to start small and before you know it your savings will grow by leaps and bounds.
- Determine your spendable income -Your spendable income is the money left over after all the tithe/savings/bills have been paid. If you are like most people you will not have any money left.
- Set up the specific budget categories that fit your family - A simple list will be needs and wants. Needs are those things you have to have in order to live. Wants are simply anything else you can do without. A need would be food, clothing, shelter, transportation etc. Wants could be the latest video game, TV, or toy.
- Make your best guess on monthly expenses - There are some expenses that have a fixed amount. Where others may vary like water, electric and phone. Don't worry; after a few months or a year you will be able to refine your guess to a more realistic amount.
- Add up your expenses - This where you find out if your family is living in the "Black" or in the "Red". I'll tell you that being in the RED is not where you want to be.
- Adjust your spending to match your income by prioritizing and analysis of your spending habits - This is where you have to make some hard choices as to what is really a "Need" or a "Want" for your family.
The most important part to any budget is DISCIPLINE. When training for an athletic event, you must stick to the work-out plan consistently in order to see results. Likewise, the fiscal athlete must stick to the budget and make tough choices each and every day in order to see the results of the fiscal plan that has been implemented.