Claire L. Eva, Assistant Director, General Conference Stewardship Ministries
Summary: You cannot be a disciple without becoming a steward. And you can’t be a steward without first being a disciple. But the good news is that, in either case, Jesus is our
Disciplined or Mentored?
?I don’t know how!?
It was Friday afternoon. We were all home together and ready for our Friday chores. Or at least I thought so. My young daughter Amy was whining about her assigned task: ?Dust House.? As a busy mother who was trying to get organized and divide up the work, I thought I had done a fair job of it. I wrote out the chores and fastened the list to the refrigerator.
What was her moan? ?Mom, I don’t know how to do it!? Now, I felt anyone—even a young woman-child—would know how to dust. ?It’s easy,? I replied. ?Just take the cloth and wipe it over the furniture.?
?But I don’t know how to do it!? she whimpered again.
This just wasn’t working. What was I to do? I was busy with my own chores and just didn’t have time for this! But something moved me to take that time. ?Would you like for me to help you, to show you how??
?Yes.? she replied. So we proceeded to go through the house, and step-by step, dusted each piece of furniture. That was the last time I heard the whining and complaining.
Prescribing and mentoring
There is a difference between telling and doing—between prescribing and mentoring. A vast difference. Jesus came to show us what the law could not do. He came to mentor twelve men who later ?turned the world upside down? with the Gospel message of Jesus Christ. It took over three years of time and patience and a big pouring out of Holy Spirit, but Christ was not faint. He knew it would come about.
In this special issue of Dynamic Steward, we will take a good look at discipleship and stewardship and how the two are intimate and parallel concepts with flesh and bones. You cannot be a disciple without becoming a steward. And you can’t be a steward without first being a disciple. But the good news is that, in either case, Jesus is our
In this new quinquennium, you begin afresh, ready to be equipped and accompanied by your Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He has picked up His cloth. Are you ready to follow?