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Jewels In His Crown
Lu Dunbar
The recent annual symposium in Atlanta presented a holistic view of stewardship with a focus on not only wise giving but on the Biblical mandate of managing all our resources in a
God-honoring way. To be a wise and faithful steward we looked at ethical ways of investing, opportunities as stockholders to impact corporate policy and effect changes and significant ways to
improve our world by "loving our neighbors as ourselves." For some, it was a new idea that investing in global developing countries could be a Biblical way of caring for the poor as
our investments help those economies to care for their citizens.
One of the highlights this year was a panel of young women who had grown up with affluence. They shared how the
heritage of giving has been passed on to them through the demonstration of their parents and grandparents and the way they lived their lives. The two young married women told that seeing
Christ lived out in the lives of their prospective husbands reassured them that the young men were not just interested in them for their money.
Another woman shared that her father
thought that he would not be considered a "good provider" if she were "math literate." He showered her with things that she wanted, but did not teach her anything about
money management. She loved having diamonds and other things and gave no thought to her spending habits. The day her daughter said, "Mom, just put it on your card" was a wakeup
call! She knew then that she had to live and model the wise handling of money, especially before her children.
On March 7, my 98 year-old mother entered eternity in a very quick and
gentle way. At her funeral my sisters and I learned of the impact her life had had on others. It is my prayer that each of us will live our lives before others in such a way that our legacy
will live beyond our generation. My mom had impacted at least four generations through her love for missions and for people in her community. May each of us live as well.
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