Don’t Overlook Offerings
Offerings can be a very easy part of stewardship to overlook for young people. After already paying tithe, some might feel tempted to pinch pennies when the plate is passed down the pew. Haven’t we already given enough? What about all the other things we need to pay for? Will we have enough money to buy the luxuries that we want?
Contrary to popular belief, it is not God’s desire that His people be in poverty. The plans that God has for His children are those that would give them hope and a future (Jeremiah 29:11). It is also God’s will, however, that His stewards be aware of the need of others. Not all have received the many blessings that the youth of the church now enjoy. Much of the world is suffering from the effects of sin without the hope and knowledge of a Savior. A 2019 Point-in-Time homeless count found that San Francisco had more than 8,000 homeless residents, more than half of whom were unsheltered.1 Christ said, “The poor will always be with you” (Matthew 26:11, NIV). God has not only entrusted His stewards with His money, but with His people.
Giving offerings in church is not the only way young people can help those in need. There are many different ways: giving someone spare change or buying him food, volunteering at a soup kitchen, donating old clothes to a Goodwill, etc. When we give to those less fortunate than us, the Lord sees and blesses us more than we could have ever imagined (Malachi 3:10).
If the youth are to be the future of stewardship, then it is important to understand the purpose of God’s money and His vision for its use.
Extracted from the article, Young Stewards, by Jordan Green as appeared in the January 2020 issue of the Stewpot. READ MORE
