Lifestyle Stewardship
Stewardship campaigns rely on church members making gifts "over and above" their current level of giving. The best path to increased giving is the spiritual path, where you set your heart on "things above". Financial priorities then take shape from spiritual priorities.
One way of defining this is, "Lifestyle Stewardship," a term used to describe a level of giving that affects one's living. The challenge of Lifestyle Stewardship is to find ways, boldly and prayerfully, to let your giving touch your living!
Kind David declared, "I will not sacrifice to the Lord my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing." 2 Samuel 24:24(NIV)
David understood the gift that would touch the heart of God must first touch the heart of the giver! This is the spirit of Lifestyle Stewardship:
If it is for my God, my gift must have value and meaning to me.
Often, Lifestyle Giving means giving up something in one area so that you can give more of yourself in another. The three keys to effectiveness in Lifestyle Stewardship are:
- Reassess Lifestyle
- Rearrange Priorities
- Reallocate Resources
God Expects Equal Sacrifice - Not Equal Gifts
Step 1. PRAY
Make the journey in prayer before you make a decision what to give. Ask God what He would have you to give to help make this vision a reality. Remember, these gifts are above and beyond your regular tithes and gifts to First Baptist Church.
Step 2. LEAVE ROOM FOR FAITH
Trust God to provide what He impresses you to give, even if the amount is greater than the resources you initially identified. Ask God to reveal lifestyle changes that will result in sacrificial giving. Expect a miracle!
Step 3. GIVE SACRIFICIALLY
A sacrificial gift is one that affects your lifestyle - a gift that actually costs you something. It's a gift like the widow offered when she gave "all she had to live on." Though others gave more money, they gave out of abundance. Because her gift was sacrificial, Jesus said that she actually gave "more than all the others" (Luke 21:1-3)
"Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever! Amen." Ephesians 3:20-21(NIV)