How do you understand and teach stewardship? How do you understand and teach giving? How do you put the two together?
A number of years ago I read this extremely helpful piece by Robertson McQuilkin, President Emeritus, Columbia International University, in his textbook, Biblical Ethics. He distinguishes various kinds of giving and relates in to physical maturation. This connection of the various levels of giving and its relation to spiritual maturity was enlightening and helpful to me.
Here is the essence of that section in the book he wrote, “Jesus’ material yardstick for measuring spiritual maturity”:
In sum, here is the “yardstick”:
- Infancy: Non-giving
- Kindergarten: Impulse Giving
- Elementary: Legalistic Giving
- Secondary: Honest Managership
- Higher: Love Giving
- Graduate: Faith Giving
By God’s grace and for His glory, how can we grow in the “grace of giving” (2 Cor. 8:7), and how can we help others to do the same?
Thanks for this post, Greg. Citing McQuilkin’s “yardstick” provides us with a visual image that links well to Paul’s exhortation to the Corinthians (and to us) to grow in the grace of giving.
I remember as a child measuring my vertical growth on a doorframe with a yardstick. Especially in this season of Lent when we think about prayer, fasting and giving, the word picture takes me back to those days.
I am asking myself in my solitude time how I can grow. Simultaneously I realize that God is the one who produces the fruit of generosity (Gal 5:22-23 NRSV) so Holy Spirit, help me inch higher in this area for the glory of God.
Gary, I appreciate that you process your application in this comment, and then turn your application into a prayer.