Yesterday, in our Sunday morning liturgy, we got to sink into a sermon about stewardship as a spiritual practice. We took a look at Luke 16:1–13, and Reverend Pat delivered a thoughtful message inviting us to see stewardship in a new light. She shared how, in our Episcopal and Anglican tradition, the spiritual practice of stewardship is rooted in the belief that all we have and all we are comes from God, including our very lives.
Reverend Pat put it this way: “I want to make the case that following the spiritual practice of stewardship in little things can add up to so much more than just giving money or time or talent.” She reminded us that true stewardship isn’t just about one aspect of our lives—it’s about recognizing that everything we are and everything we have is part of what we’re called to steward.
And as we explored that gospel passage, Jesus’s words stood out: “Whoever is faithful in a very little is faithful also in much.” It was a reminder that the small daily acts of trust we practice shape us for the bigger steps of faith down the line.
Reflections on Stewardship
During her sermon, Reverend Pat nudged us to think beyond the usual “just give money” mindset. She invited us to see stewardship as a way of living faithfully in a world that often sells us the idea that we never have enough.
For me, that often means resisting the idea that some new gadget or piece of furniture will magically make life perfect. Honestly, online shopping makes it so easy to just grab things without thinking, so I have to be mindful about what I’m buying and why. It’s okay if I don’t have everything I want in this world; the heart of it is remembering that even if I don’t have all the things I want, God will always provide what I need.
Tithing as Trust
That understanding really shapes how Nathan and I approach tithing. As Reverend Pat shared, tithing isn’t about giving from abundance—it’s about practicing trust. That really hit home for me, because in my own journey I’ve wrestled with the idea of tithing feeling like a status symbol in past communities. But for us, it was about making a regular act of trust part of our spiritual practice of stewardship.
We decided to start small, not feeling like we had to hit a certain percentage immediately. We just committed to a simple monthly amount and set it up as an automatic withdrawal. Doing that really took the pressure off and made sure we were consistent. And just like Reverend Pat noticed unexpected blessings when she started tithing, we’ve also found that some surprising little cash inflows showed up when we didn’t expect them. It was a gentle reminder that it’s okay to start small, and that faithfulness grows from those little steps.
Transformation Through Faithfulness
Reverend Pat spoke about how her own practice of tithing gradually transformed her life. Starting small led to surprising changes: debts eased, opportunities opened, and most of all, her posture shifted from fear to trust, and from trust to gratitude. What began as a reluctant step of obedience became a way of life rooted in confidence that God would provide.
That part resonated with me deeply. I think back to when Nathan and I took the leap to move to North Carolina. At the time, it felt like a risk — uncertain jobs, new surroundings, health questions still hanging over me. But over the years, that step has incrementally turned into an unexpected blessing. Looking back, I can see how that small act of trust has unfolded into a beautiful life — a transformation I could never have scripted for myself.
Faith doesn’t usually unfold all at once. It grows through the steady practice of offering what we have, and trusting that God meets us in the gaps.
Conclusion: Trust & Gratitude
Reverend Pat closed with an invitation that was both simple and stretching: stewardship isn’t only about money. It’s about offering our whole selves — our time, our talents, our energy, and our love. The size of the act isn’t what matters; it’s the faithfulness behind it. Even the smallest gesture of trust can open us to God’s larger work.
She landed on the idea that stewardship, at its heart, rests on two commandments: trust and gratitude. That struck something in me. Those words aren’t lofty theology; they’re daily practices. They remind me that faith is built in the small steps — the ways I choose to trust when I don’t have all the answers, and the ways I choose gratitude even when things aren’t perfect.
For me, these have become my own commandments too. Practicing faith in small things strengthens me for the larger leaps. And carrying trust and gratitude forward feels like the clearest way to walk in faith this week.
Prayer for Stewardship
Gracious Lord, teach me to trust you in the small things, that I may grow in faith for the larger callings before me. Fill my heart with gratitude, that in all I have and all I am, I may offer myself to your service. Through Jesus Christ my Lord. Amen.
Heart, Hounds & Hobbies 