Certain Scripture passages call up memories of people and events in our lives or other things from our past. Reading Romans 12:9-13 may remind us of being taught to share what we have with others who have not. The stewardship and hospitality shown by our family and friends when we were young were extensions of their faith and served to shape our own. Our actions leave a mark—incidents from decades ago may still be fresh in our minds today.
Why? Our feelings today about the role of money and the other valuable resources in our lives are intimately connected to what we were taught or shown in the past by our parents, families, partners, and friends. Looking back can help us determine how we have come to certain conclusions about our money and how that relates to our relationship with God.
We can weave an important connection between our individual stories as women of faith and those of the community as a whole. Looking back at our history and the scriptural texts that guide us can give us better insight into the current needs of our society and how our faith-filled acts of stewardship can help solve them.
This message was adapted from the Grace-Full Living resource available in both English and Spanish at womenoftheelca.org as a free downloadable PDF.