What God entrusts is not just for me

The fourth principle of stewardship is that what God entrusts to my stewardship is not just for me.

Pope Leo XIII, in Rerum Novarum, explained that the blessings a person receives from “the divine bounty” are for the purpose of “perfecting his own nature,” but not only.

He went on to say that, “at the same time, [recipients] employ them, as the stewards of God’s providence, for the benefit of others.”

What God owns is on loan to us to use, first of all, to provide for ourselves and our dependents; charity begins at home, says St. Paul (1 Timothy 5:4).

It’s also to be shared with the poor, which is why Moses gave the instruction for people to leave something in the field, on the vine, and in the olive tree for the poor to gather (Deuteronomy 24:19-21).

What God entrusts to us is also shared to support the Church. St. Paul traveled the known world at the time to preach the Gospel, but also to take up a collection for the Church in Jerusalem (1 Corinthians 16:1).

God doesn’t compel our sharing with threats, except for maybe, it would seem, with regard to helping the poor: Jesus says we stand to lose Heaven if we don’t help (Matthew 25:32-46).

Nor does God entice us with rewards, like no-tuition Catholic school, except for maybe the promise to give us an abundance of whatever we’re willing to share with others (Luke 6:38).

Sharing with the poor and to support the Church, as well as the worship of God on Sunday at Holy Mass, are the most important ways we practice our holy Catholic Faith.
 

This is part of a teaching document written by Archbishop Michael Jackles titled,
"How to be the Church of the Poor, for the Poor, Stewardship as a Way of Life"
which was published in August of 2021.

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