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Board of Stewardship

Focusing on the abundance God gives.

The congregation practiced what the pastor called CBS budgeting. CBS stands for Cut Back Syndrome. When the leaders of the congregation met to discuss finances they would invariably discover that the offerings weren’t enough to support everything they were doing, so they would cut back.  They would cut back on missions, programs, salaries, and sometimes staff. The pastor was discouraged by this constant use of Cut Back Syndrome and finally said to the leaders, we may just have to shut our doors now. If we continue cutting back on everything we will have to close in a few years anyway; why not just do it now?

 

Extreme perhaps, but the leaders got the point. They were operating from what is called a scarcity mindset. A scarcity mindset believes there is not enough to go around. The assumption is that there is not enough time, talent or treasure for the church to do what it is called to do so the only choice is to cut back. A scarcity mindset results in inward focus and selfishness.

 

Contrast that with an abundance mindset. The abundance mindset understands that God provides all that is needed to do what He calls His people to do. God provides time, talent and treasure in abundance. Congregations that have an abundance mindset do not respond to financial shortfalls by automatically falling into the CBS mode of financial management although there may well be times when budgets must be trimmed but they actively seek to help Gods people grow in their entire life of stewardship, including how they manage the finances God has entrusted to them.

 

Congregations that have an abundance mindset encourage their members to grow as stewards by reading and reflecting on Gods Word. Consider the following passages:

 

But just as you excel in everything in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us see that you also excel in this grace of giving

(2 Corinthians 8:7).

 

Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life

(1 Timothy 6:17-19).

 

Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it he will be blessed in what he does

(James 1:22-25).

 

How does one arrive at an abundance mindset? It comes as a gift of Gods grace in Christ. Jesus said, I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. All who ever came before me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full (John 10:7-10). In Christ, we have every spiritual blessing in abundance.

 

St. Paul writes, Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work (2 Corinthians 9:6-8).

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