For many in local churches and missional agencies, a special time of the year is nearly upon us. Some may not consider it the “most wonderful time of the year”, like the song secular says about Christmas, but it is significant enough that no leader can afford to ignore it…stewardship season. The idea of a stewardship campaign has been known to bring heartburn to both fund givers and fund raisers. This can certainly be true in these times of prudent and necessary right-sizing.

I recall from my middle and high school days that while I had decent grades, there was always one subject I struggled with mightily – mathematics. While making my way through algebra, geometry, and calculus, I might be glad if I made a “C” on a test, thrilled if I made a “B”, and knew it was nothing short of a miracle if I made an “A”.  If you are also not the strongest math student, I hope that you will still be inspired by this math “problem”. If you are a whiz with numbers, I hope you will consider a new way of looking at stewardship through a spiritual equation: Charity + Consistency = Commitment

Charity describes an act that helps people in need, that assists those who suffer, that offers aid to those who endure calamities. What does charity mean for people of faith? In Isaiah 58:9-11, offering charity brings a fullness of life to the emptiest of places.

You shall call, and the Lord will answer; you shall cry for help, and he will say, Here I am. If you remove the yoke from among you, the pointing of the finger, the speaking of evil, if you offer your food to the hungry and satisfy the needs of the afflicted, then your light shall rise in the darkness and your gloom be like the noonday. The Lord will guide you continually, and satisfy your needs in parched places, and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters never fail.

Isaiah describes true and sustainable worship as that which honors God, but also makes a positive and uplifting difference in the lives of others. Charity is a foundational component of our stewardship. It inspires us to bring the fullness of God’s love to the lives of people who feel the emptiness caused by the struggles of life.

Consistency is not simply doing something repeatedly. It also describes a holy, repetitive rhythm that is present when harmony and unity exist within the Body. The individual parts are unique, yet when working together, the body is then able to seamlessly perform acts of charity over and over. Consistency does not mean that nothing changes, rather it is a reminder that consistency is possible, even in the midst of change, if we focus on and follow the One, as described in Hebrews 13:5-8, who never changes.

Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have; for he has said, ‘I will never leave you or forsake you.’  So we can say with confidence, ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can anyone do to me?’ Remember your leaders, those who spoke the word of God to you; consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith.  Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

Finally, Commitment is when Charity and Consistency are brought together. As the body of Christ, we are called to consistently offer acts of charity. Spiritual momentum is nearly impossible to maintain if our charitable acts are sporadic or random – lacking consistency. We must have the internal, spiritual, emotional, and financial means to be charitable over and over and over again. Proverbs 16:2-3 reveals our plans are blessed when our commitment is to the Lord, not just to a budget.

All one’s ways may be pure in one’s own eyes, but the Lord weighs the spirit. Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established.

My prayers are with you in the weeks and months ahead. If your church or extension ministry offers an act or moment of Commitment on a Sunday, or perhaps an accounting of the stewardship harvest, I hope you find the answer to the spiritual equation, Charity + Consistency = Commitment amid the sanctity of it.

We have all experienced one of the most significant years in the life of our conference and denomination. A surefire way to reengage our Wesleyan practices of personal and social holiness is to renew our commitment to the consistent means of grace, mercy, and charity that can be offered by the miniseries of our churches and missional partners in the TWKC. Let us bring the fullness of life to the emptiest of places! Let us create a sustainable, holy rhythm that comes from following our unchanging Savior, Jesus Christ! Let us commit our works to the Lord that God’s Kingdom may be established!