Bethlehem Lutheran Church

Walking on Water

by Ted Contag, Stewardship Ministry Team

Lake Harriet BandshellIf you attended the Bethlehem service at the Lake Harriet Bandshell, then you witnessed the Power Lab Vacation Bible School experiment "Sink or Float."  This simple, yet very memorable experiment (my kids now play it all the time in the pool, lake and bathtub) was the launching point for the New Testament story about Peter and his ability to walk on water.  At one point during the "sink or float" children's sermon, "Peter" had his eyes on Jesus and calmly walked, or in this case, danced across the "water."  Yet, when Peter strayed from Jesus and became somewhat absorbed in his own ability, he started to sink.

This is exactly how it works with stewardship and joyful giving.  When we understand that everything we have is a gift from God and keep our eyes on God, then giving is easy.  We are simply returning a small portion of the blessings we have been given back to God and allowing others to be blessed in the process.  Our joyful giving can provide a buoyant feeling, a tangible outpouring of God's love through us.  However, when we calculate the hours it took US to make the money, or the sacrifices WE have to make to give the money, we start to sink in thoughts of doubt and selfishness.  We end up "nickel and diming" God with his own money.  As summer comes to a close, I would ask you to think about your stewardship commitment and whether your giving is an example of sinking or floating.   Keep in mind that it is your joyful giving that allows Bethlehem and our missions to give others the faith they need to walk on water.