Stewardship - A Case Study

Malachi 3:10-12

Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the Lord Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.

I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not cast their fruit," says the Lord Almighty. "Then all the nations will call you blessed, for yours will be a delightful land," says the Lord Almighty.

My stewardship model / motto is: Helping connect the PASSIONS of God's people with His PROVISIONS for Kingdom PURPOSES. These three P's help me focus and they help me communicate how the Lord is directing me in biblical stewardship.

This past week I had the opportunity to see the process work again:

A donor-friend calls and tells me that his school teacher friend has this wonderful collection of classic resource books for early elementary students. He knows of my work in my new school and gives me their contact information.

I call and make an appointment to have them meet me at the school later in the week. The visit went great, the couple was impressed with our school and decided to bless us with all 1,100 volumes. Our school probably doubled the collection for these grades. The donors were pleased to see their collection received and used. I even received a thank-you note from the donors! This is the "bi-lateral" blessing - when both the giver and receiver are blessed by the gift.

Lessons for the stewardship officer:

1. Good friends (like the one who called me) are precious gems
2. We must keep talking about the value (and beauty) of non-cash gifts
3. Often the best gifts come at times when we least expect them - be on the lookout for them
4. When PASSIONS connect with PROVISION amazing things can happen
5. Remember to follow through - my interactions with these new donors are just beginning; we want to have them come back to read aloud to the students and let them see the other aspects of our education enterprise

The Lord says "test me". With expectation, pray that the Lord makes us available for those unplanned blessings.