Reflections...

A sermon preached at Kowloon Union Church on Sunday 30 January 2011 by the Rev. Phyllis Wong. The scripture readings that day were Micah 6:1–8; 1 Corinthians 1:18–31 and Matthew 5:1–12


Introduction
Since the new year began, we have been holding the stewardship campaign at KUC. The message on stewardship was mentioned in one way or another in the sermons delivered in January. Flyers and pledge forms for congregation members and friends have been distributed for their response. Today, we will collect the pledge form from you.

Stewardship is a sharing of gifts given by God. Stewardship in a community context such as church includes the sharing of responsibility. In a community, if everybody takes a part unselfishly and shoulder some of the responsibilities in building up God’s church and God’s kingdom on earth, things will go on easier and please the Lord.

But we all know in reality, it is not always the case and thus every year, many churches need to remind believers of the importance of stewardship and encourage them to participate actively and faithfully.

After a month of on-going messages and announcements on stewardship, how much are you prepared to take up this call of being God’s steward in your life? In what area you would like to contribute yourself for God in the congregation at Kowloon Union?

In Christian understanding, stewardship is the way our time, talents, material possessions or wealth are used or given for the service of God. As Christian stewards, empowered by the Holy Spirit, we commit ourselves to conscious and purposeful decisions according to the will of God.

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Cross-centered Stewardship
Today, I would like share with you my thoughts on stewardship by putting the cross in our midst.

The Cross has been an important sign for Christians. Sisters and brothers, spend ten seconds to look at the cross up on the altar. Now, close your eyes and keep the image of cross in your mind for another ten seconds.

I hope the image of Cross will be embedded in your mind for some time.

The Cross has been an essential sign for Christians and the church. The Cross is sign of life giving. God has given us the gift of life freely and unconditionally. The cross is a sign of forgiving love through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. The cross is a sign of hope and transformation, for Jesus did not give up. Jesus said no to the forces of destruction. On the cross, Jesus encountered the severe pains and suffering with courage. In the end, he rose up again from the death. The power of love and life has overcome the power of suffering and death. The cross is a sign that demonstrates strongly the power of God in Christ.

Jesus Christ’s death on the cross and resurrection turned the world upside down. The text we heard from the beatitude in Matthew and Paul’s sharing with the disciples of early church in Corinth has given us a powerful image and insights to becoming God’s steward.

In Matthew 5, Jesus began the Sermon of the Mount by saying the Beatitudes to his disciples and to the crowd of followers. The blessings mentioned by Jesus were very unusual and very different from everyone’s previous understanding.

A steward of humble receiver and generous giver
We are living in a world in which we are tempted to earn more and spend more for a better material living. In the Beatitudes tell a higher truth of Jesus. That is we don’t have to ask for more blessing because we are all blessed, as blessing is God’s free gift to human kind. Blessing is from God and is given freely. To be blessed by God and receive the Kingdom of God, what we should do is to have less and not more! It would be a great blessing if we fully trust that God will provide what we need. As stewards, what we need to do is to lead a simple and humble life by staying close to God. ‘Blessed are the poor, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven’. Look at the cross and then remember how our Lord Jesus led a simple and humble life on earth. Jesus Christ is our model to follow in becoming God’s stewards.

It is also important to acknowledge that everything that we have is from God. Therefore, it is right to give thanks to God and share the gift with others generously for God’s sake.

A cross-centered stewardship directs us to become a humble receiver and generous giver

A Steward of Love and Care
God being the source of love, when we are in God and with God, we will be strengthened by the power of love. The power of love through Christ will enhance us to love and care for others. In reality, an alienated and distorted relationship may hinder people to care and love one another. A blessed steward of God will lead a life of love and care. For Jesus said, “blessed are those who mourn for they will be comforted” and ‘blessed are the merciful for they will receive mercy.

We can be a blessing to others by sharing their painful stories and listening to them. We can visit the needy their homes, in hospitals, and even in prison. Caring ministry is an important aspect in the church ministry. With the advance technology, it is so easy to demonstrate our love and care to others through an e-mail or a telephone call. There are a lot of ways to share our love to others who are suffering from various problems, be it health problems, study and work pressure, financial crises, relationship problems, and so on. Do you wish to share your love and mercy in this ministry of care?

A cross centered steward directs us to become a steward of love and mercy.

A steward of peace makers
In the Beatitudes, it is said ‘Blessed are the peace makers for they are called the children of God.” “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.”

As stewards, we are called to bring peace to the world and engage in the mission of justice and peace.

Jesus Christ was put on the cross unjustly and his persecution was unjustified. But Jesus did not respond with violence. He used a non-violent approach to encounter the unjust persecution. In Jesus Christ, we are created anew, and are given a call to be Christ’s ambassador of peace and reconciliation. (2 Corinthians 5:18-20)

A Christ centered steward directs us to become a peace maker and to seek justice.

In our Kowloon Union Church, we have been concerning with issues related to social justice. We have the MOE Committee (Mission, Outreach and Ecumenism) that oversees this social ministry. An Outreach Peace Making team has been set up to promote justice and peace in local community through education programs in schools and churches. Being engaged in the social ministry of justice and peace is part of stewardship in church.

As a short summary, the Beatitudes describe the way of life for those who commit themselves to follow Jesus Christ.

The key of cross centre stewardship is our commitment to follow Jesus Christ. When we are able to faithfully follow Christ, we would then able to do what God has required of his people, as highlighted in Micah 6:8, ‘to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with our God.’

To some believers, it would be easier to say than do, for in the real world one encounters many challenges and difficulties. Truly, we cannot deny the difficulties and limitations we may have to face. But Jesus Christ who has broken the chains of death and persecution has given us hope. Sometimes we may feel that we are too weak and too foolish to make a difference. When we are in God, we will be empowered, for Paul said that God’s foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God’s weakness is stronger than human strength. The apostle Paul further reminded the disciples of God of their call by God. In his powerful message he shared that God would use those who, from a human point of view, appear foolish and the weak. “God chooses what is foolish in the world to shame the wise. God chooses the weak in the world to shame the strong.”

All God’s people are given special call and role to play and serve. We need to affirm this gift with faith and gratitude.

The essence of being God’s steward is living in a right relationship with God through Christ. Christians are called out to serve God with the best of us and others. The cross, the sacrificing and yet risen Christ is our daily reminder.

Kowloon Union Church has been a small congregation. But her potential is huge. God has a special calling to us and given us important mission to fulfill in Hong Kong and beyond. We need to be united, joining heads and hearts with prayerful actions.

Closing Prayer

I would like to end my sermon by sharing with you a Stewardship Prayer.

Almighty and ever-faithful Lord, we are gratefully acknowledging Your mercy and humbly admitting our need, we pledge our trust in You and each other. Filled with desire, we respond to Your call for discipleship by shaping our lives in imitation of Christ. We profess that the call requires us to be stewards of Your gifts.

As stewards, we receive Your gifts gratefully, cherish and tend them in a responsible manner, share them in practice and love with others, and return them with increase to the Lord. We pledge to grow in our ongoing formation as stewards and acknowledge our responsibility to call others to that same endeavor.

Almighty and ever-faithful God, it is our fervent hope and prayer that this good work that You have begun in us will bring it to fulfillment in Jesus Christ,our Lord. Amen