That is the beauty of grace–no strings attached. And, for the most part, God will let us keep it there. It is to sit on my shelf for my comfort and insurance only. I received my gift of grace, yet I will not send a thank-you, nor will I use it. Or, we can run to another church that has no such requirement, so we can hide our inadequacies. Thus, we can think we can fight against such requirements and proclaim they are not needed so we do not have to meet them. Guilt rears its ugly head, and calls for the primeval reaction of fight or flight. So when stewardship comes up, he realizes his failings. His time is booked with the duty of his own plans and ideas. A Sunday visit from time to time is more of a greater sacrifice than he can handle. Then there is the world of complacency, where a Christian will just “pew sit” his way through life in his walk with Christ. Perhaps they even put us in front of the mirror of duty and requirement, of responsibility and a response to our free gift of grace, which we would rather not give. They strike at our comfort, and the way of life we like and have designed for ourselves. These two words strike at the very heart and will of plans and ideas that we have set up for ourselves. So, a cold shiver goes up the back of our complacency. Why such fear? Perhaps they necessitate a response that requires us to get up and do when we would rather sit down and don’t. Yet, these two words are simple, and needed, because the church and the body of Christ could not function without them being proclaimed and exercised: These simple words are Stewardship and Evangelism. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.There are two words that send the average American congregation and common churchgoer into fear and panic, from the leadership and pastorate, that fears to offend or drive people away, to the church member who may be too far stretched in time and giving, and cannot give anymore, to the person who does not want to be convicted, lest he be forced to reach for the sacred will of his wallet or the exercise of His call. 30 And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. 29 For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. 28 So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents. Here, you have what is yours.’ 26 But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? 27 Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. Enter into the joy of your master.’ 24 He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, 25 so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. You have been faithful over a little I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ 22 And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me two talents here, I have made two talents more.’ 23 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. 20 And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me five talents here, I have made five talents more.’ 21 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. 19 Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. 18 But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master’s money. 17 So also he who had the two talents made two talents more. 16 He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. 15 To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. 14 “For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property.
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