It’s amazing how our perspective shapes what we see—or fail to see—and how we choose to act or not act. Before the Fall, Adam and Eve lived in perfect harmony in the Garden of Eden. They walked with and spoke to God—it must have been incredible. They had duties and responsibilities in caring for God’s creation.

After the Fall, sin entered the world, and life became much more difficult. Humanity’s relationship with God was fractured, but did God change? No—He remains the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8). Did our responsibilities change? While our role as stewards of God’s creation remains, our calling has expanded. We are now entrusted with the mission of spreading the Gospel, making disciples, and living as representatives of Christ in a fallen world (Matthew 28:19-20, 2 Corinthians 5:20).

The real change is in us. Just as teenagers try to avoid chores, we, too, fail and avoid in many ways. We convince ourselves that everything we have is ours rather than recognizing that all things belong to God (Psalm 24:1). Instead of joyfully giving back to God, we sometimes offer only what is. We use our time for everything but Him. We waste our talents on things that glorify ourselves rather than His kingdom. And we find every excuse in the world to withhold our tithes and offerings.

But giving to God is not about obligation—it is an act of worship and gratitude. God calls us to be cheerful givers (2 Corinthians 9:7), trusting that He will provide for our needs. Too often, we give with conditions attached, but true generosity is offering freely, expecting nothing in return, just as Christ gave Himself for us (Ephesians 5:2).

Ultimately, the only thing in life we can truly claim as our own is our sin. That, we own (except that God provided the means to gain forgiveness for all of our sins through Jesus). Everything else belongs to God—He simply entrusts it to us to steward on His behalf.

Consider the story of the rich young man in Matthew 19:16-22. He asked Jesus what he must do to have eternal life, and Jesus ultimately told him to sell his possessions, give to the poor, and follow Him. The young man walked away sad because he valued his wealth more than following Christ. This story isn’t just about money—it’s about where we place our trust. Jesus made it clear that we cannot save ourselves. Yet, He reassured His disciples, saying, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible” (Matthew 19:26). Through Christ, we receive salvation, and through the Spirit, we are empowered to live out our calling. Philippians 4:13 reminds us: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

So, strengthened by the Spirit:

• Are you faithfully stewarding the time, talents, and treasures God has entrusted to you?
• Do you show God’s love to your neighbors through these gifts? What does that look like in your life?

God doesn’t call us to give, serve, or love out of guilt—He calls us to do so as a response to His grace. As you reflect on your role as a steward, remember that God is not looking for perfection, but faithfulness. He has already given us everything we need to live for Him—will we trust Him enough to give back?

If you’d like some bulletin blurbs to share with your congregation, you can find thought-provoking Bible verses on stewardship HERE.

Stewardship is only a burden if we try to do it on our own.  When we are led by the Spirit, we can embrace it fully and reflect God’s love and faithfulness to the world around us.

Reach out to Kirk Hymes with any questions you might have about Stewardship or the Lutheran Church Extension Fund within the Southeastern District.

Kirk Hymes –  Khymes@se.lcms.org

LCEF Vice President of the SED & Executive Director of Stewardship