|
Preserve Your Legacy
If you are a reader of Royal Steward, you are probably interested in stewarding all you have in a
God-honoring way. As the women of Royal Treasure have probed this issue, several surprising facts have come to light. The Bible has more to say about money than any other topic and yet our
seminaries are making only slight mention of stewardship issues as they train our pastors. Available wealth and modern transportation and technology make the sharing of the Gospel much
easier, yet we are in the 31st year of a decline of giving based on per capita income. Two hundred years ago women were very active in writing and promoting literature pertaining to missions
both at home and around the world. Often women did not get the full credit for their contributions, but they authored, funded, advised, provided content and promoted this literature. "By
the 1890's, sixty thousand women were subscribing to the three largest women's publications in the Presbyterian, Methodist-Episcopal and Baptist churches. The writer of the following article,
Mrs. Willard Larkin, urged Lutheran women to read literature of other denominations as well as their own.
"...If there were no literature, how could we carry the glad news of the
gospel of peace to lands which were to us unknown and unheard of? So, we must read. It is the duty of every woman in the Missionary Society to know something of what is going on in the
present. To know how to give, you must know to whom you are giving. To have the desire to give, you must know something of the wants. To be able to pray, you must know what is
needed..."1
Today there is very little being written on stewardship issues. Women can and must make a difference in this area once again. As women have done in previous
generations, begin where you are. Begin by writing down your own reasons for giving, how you determine the amount to give and which causes fuel your passion. Fill in with enough personal
details that succeeding generations will be able to understand your intent and values. With your personal story as a beginning, deliberately make an effort to pass on your giving philosophy
to your heirs, even if they may not currently be interested in giving.
Eventually, with enough women writing their personal stories about giving, training the younger generation,
openly discussing stewardship with one another and with their pastors, and writing articles for general publication, we should see a change in the current trend. Women can and must help
others rediscover the joy of worshipping our Lord by giving back to Him in the measure He has given to each of us.
1 "Women and Religion in America" p. 261
From
material presented by Scott Preissler, President of Christian Stewardship Association at the Royal Treasure Symposium 2001
|
