Moana: Where You Are

Sunday’s Scripture ~ Luke 4:1-11.

One of South Shore’s Small Groups is working their way through Andy Stanley’s Study Breakthrough. One of Stanley’s sessions subjects breaking through finances and the small group thought I would appreciate hearing his thoughts on stewardship. I found Stanley’s sharing quite helpful, and will therefore use his thoughts to help frame my blog posts throughout South Shore’s Stewardship Series. Each week the blog post will share the Scripture for that week’s worship service. In addition, the blog post will share and offer reflections on a passage from I Chronicles. 

Stewardship Focus ~ I Chronicles 28:1-2.

David is King. The once boy shepherd and conqueror of giants is now king of Israel. Within his purview is the whole nation of Israel – all its peoples and assets. And within his view – all Israel’s neighbors.

As King David observes Israel’s neighbors, he observes that their gods are at home in vast temples while Israel’s God is housed in a tent, known as the Tabernacle. Considering interreligious dialogue – which in those days were also dialogues of international politics – David felt that Israel’s God looked quite homely or plain, which is not – in any way – the manner in which David had come to know or experience the one true God of Israel.

Deeply rooted in a desire to honor God with a fine residence that would serve as the house of worship for the people of Israel, David endeavors to build the Temple. Early on David realizes that this vision will only be accomplished by gathering people around it – by engaging their senses, their resources, their passions, and most especially, their faith.

As we begin this stewardship season, I think it wise that we prepare ourselves to engage this time of study and discernment in that same spirit as David and the people of God. As we gather around a vision of being called to stewardship as a way of discerning where God is calling us in our stewardship, may we employ our senses, resources, passions, and most especially, our faith to this prayerful work.

I look forward to this time of study with you and anticipate with joy where God will lead our acts of faithfulness.

Prayer:

“Open my eyes, that I may see  glimpses of truth thou hast for me;

place in my hands the wonderful key

that shall unclasp and set me free.

Silently now I wait for thee,

ready, my God, thy will to see.

Open my eyes, illumine me,

Spirit divine!”*

Amen.

*“Open My Eyes, That I May See,” The United Methodist Hymnal 454.