Money is considered a bad word by some people. At least, it's not a word we say out loud in church. Instead, we use words like "stewardship."

The definition of stewardship, in the church sense, is "what we do with what we've got." So stewardship certainly means more than money. It involves the way we use our time, our talents, our energy, our skills, our earth and anything else we have.

Still, our most important symbol of "What we've got" is money. So, money is what I'm going to talk about this stewardship morning.

You can find lots of people who say the church should concentrate on spiritual things. But, it's interesting how much the Bible talks about money. Jesus had plenty to say about money. So did St. Paul.

Jesus challenges the rich man to give away all his possessions and follow him. He praises the widow who gives to the temple treasury out of her need and not out of her excess.

Paul writes, "If we have food and clothing, we will be content. But those who want to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil and in their eagerness to be rich some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pains."

Christianity is a very materialistic religion. "Worldly" things like sex, money and politics are the very things it deals with. Other major religions try to get you away from all that. "Salvation" becomes so spiritual that nasty things like money and sex simply don't affect you any more. But Christianity doesn't take you away from it all. Christianity takes you right in to the middle and helps you use what you have creatively.

Jesus got lots of bad press because he insisted on being involved with earthy things. Not that he was particularly concerned with people's wealth (unless it came at somebody else's expense). But he was very concerned about what people did with their wealth and power, with their time and talents and with their bodies.

Most of all, he was concerned about their attitudes. "Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." In other words, when you take out your chequebook and start writing, you are expressing your faith. Or lack of it.

It's important to talk about money. Otherwise, what we do with our dollars might contradict what we claim to believe. We've got to put our money where our mouth is.

Giving is a reflection of one's faith. Giving generously and willingly comes when we realise that everything we have is on loan from God, we are but stewards of God's bounty.

Giving generously and willingly comes when we realise that the Lord is our shepherd who will take care and protect us and we don't need a thing.

This means that we don't waste what we have been given, we use only what we need. This means we care about the environment because it is not ours to abuse. This means we give back to our community and our church, because our needs are taken care of. This means we are a generous people and we don't hoard because we know that the Lord is our shepherd who loves us and protects and we don't need a thing.

Jesus has happiness, joy, peace, healing, security, eternity. Humans marvel at such a pearl and says, 'I want this pearl. How much does it cost?"

"The seller says, 'it's too dear, too costly.'
"But how much?'
"Well, it's very expensive.'
"Do you think I could buy it?'
"It costs everything you have-no more, no less-so anybody can buy it.
"I'll buy it," says the man.
"What do you have? Let's write it down."
"I have $10,000 in the bank.'
"Good, $10,000. What else?'
"I have nothing more. That's all I have.'
"Have you nothing more?'
"Well, I have some dollars here in my pocket.'
"How many?'
"I'll see: Thirty, forty, fifty, eighty, one hundred, one hundred twenty-one hundred twenty dollars.'
"That's fine. What else do you have?'
"I have nothing else. That's all.'
"Where do you live?"
"I live in my house.'
"The house, too.'
"Then you mean I must live in the garage?'
"Have you a garage, too? That, too. What else?'
"Do you mean that I must live in my car, then?'
"Have you a car?'
"I have two.'
"Both become mine. Both cars. What else?'
"Well, you have my house, the garage, the cars, the money, everything.'
"What else? Are you alone in the world?'
"No, I have a wife, two children...'
"Your wife and children, too.'
"Too?'
"Yes, everything you have. What else?'
"I have nothing else, I am left alone now."
"Oh, you too! Everything becomes mine-wife, children, house, money, cars-everything. And you too. Now you can use all those things here but don't forget they are mine, as you are. When I need any of the things you are using, you must give them to me because now I am the owner."

Actually, God was always the owner, the Christian simply recognises that.

Why should we give? Because we care about our community, we care about people who will be affected by our giving. We care that the children of this church will have craft supplies and the teachers will have curriculum to teach the Good News to our children.

We give because we care. We care about our community - that Sunday services will be offered to anyone in our community who is spiritually seeking. We care that the church will be here for us when we need it. We care that the church will marry us and baptise our children and bury us when the time comes. The church is a place for fellowship and support when times are tough. The church is a place where we belong. The church is family.

Really, the church gives back to us far more than we give to it. So let us leave thinking about all the wonderful things that the church family does for us. Amen.

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