Building Project

We live in a time when “rights,” both individual and group, are society’s major preoccupation. Women’s rights, Gay rights, Immigrant rights, animal rights, reproductive rights, Right to Die; the list seems to grow daily. By contrast, one searches in vain for any similar interest in “responsibilities” - except insofar as someone else may be responsible to insure my rights. Yet, for the believer “responsibility” is paramount. We are all responsible to God to be good stewards of the things He has entrusted to us. He created the world, then placed Adam in the garden with the responsibility to care for it. God is the Author and Finisher of faith. Jude tells us that we are responsible to contend for it. We are given the Gospel, which we are to proclaim and live. We are entrusted with spiritual gifts which we are to guard and use. God owns all things and has the right to do with them as He sees fit. He has rights, and we, as stewards, have only responsibilities.

It follows then, that when we lose any possession, for whatever reason, our emotions may cry out (think of Job), but our mind and spirit recognizes the right of God to take whatever He wants whenever He wants it. This also frees us to give generously of God's resources to God's purposes and His people. All we have belongs to Him.

By extension, every spending decision is a spiritual decision. As stewards, we have a great deal of latitude, but are still responsible to the Owner who will some day call us to account.

Finally, we can’t fake stewardship. Take a dispassionate look at your check register and credit card statements. Do the numbers there reveal someone who is preoccupied with their rights or zealous for their responsibilities?

Update

We have begun an approximately 90-day review and approval process with the City of Burbank. This will include a community meeting that we would host at CBC and a public hearing with the City planning Board, perhaps in July. Please pray that we would be a good testimony to those we meet in this process and that our plans would be viewed favorably. April was a banner month for giving, both to the Building Fund and the General Fund. May God bless you as you continue to be faithful to support the ministry at Calvary with your prayers, service and giving. Please give to the Building Fund.