A steward is a manager. The steward had to care for himself and his own family, of course, but he was primarily accountable for seeing to it everyone in the village had enough to eat over the long run. The lives of all the adults and children in town, their very survival, depended on the competence and faithfulness of the steward. Stewardship, then, is about our competence and faithfulness in caring for, protecting, using and sharing the gifts God has given us to manage, not just for our own benefit and that of our families but for the good of all in the community of God's people. Managing well can save lives.
Sharing effectively can change lives.
Stewardship is taking responsibility for seeking God's priorities in using our gifts. Let us pray for guidance in all of our stewardship responsibilities, one part of which is allocating a portion of God's gifts for our common work. Some people give more than the tithe, some less, but the tithe is the goal toward which many are working. Pledges are made in the Fall for the coming calendar year and pledge cards are normally presented with thanksgiving at a Sunday Eucharist. Immanuel has been blessed and, at the same time, given a big responsibility in the form of endowments.