So What's This Stewardship Thing, Anyway?

On both sides of a three-by-five card, Grandpa Francis explored the stewardship, one of those "churchy" terms people hear but don't always understand. He wrote:

What are the rewards for stewardship? We seek no rewards for our stewardship. We do it with the joy of serving GOD. Yet we know that GOD does reward stewards by filling their needs in life. By giving new opportunities to care, to share, to participate in the wholeness of life. Stewardship is the Christian life, making our prayers, worship, study of the scriptures, Christian action truly sincere. So our whole life is a partnership with GOD. We cannot give anything to GOD; but we can fulfill GOD by using our gift wisely and sharing with others.

In Matthew 6:31-34 (NIV) JESUS says: "So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly FATHER knows that you need them. But seek first HIS kingdom and HIS righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."

On the other side of the card, he prayed:

OUR HEAVENLY FATHER, give us renewed power to overcome all our faults. Give us a renewed spirit of goodwill toward our fellow man. Give us a firmer faith in THEE and in all lines of action which bring peace, honor and prosperity. And by the guidance of THY HOLY SPIRIT, guide us ever in THY way that goeth upward, through JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD...