Stewardship is the care and use of all that we have been given by God and is often explained in terms of time, talent, and treasure.  Here is a way to look at these aspects of stewardship.

TIME

The gift of time. 

None of us has ENOUGH of it.  All of us want MORE. How much time do you set aside for God? Yourself?  How often do you pray? Meditate? How about time for family and friends and those in need?  Our time on earth is limited and our time is fleeting.  Make the most of your time by following in the footsteps of Jesus.  Teach a Christian education class......help the needy......feed the hungry......nurture the youth.  Most of all make a commitment of your time.

 TALENT

We are all blessed with talents by God----you just may not have discovered them yet! 

 Perhaps you have a professional trade that could help the church or a charitable organization such as Habitat for Humanity.  Do you have the gift of gab and love personal interaction?  Then maybe some form of evangelism is for you. Do you like to work on cars?  How about set up a Saturday car repair for those who can't afford it and need their car to get to work.  There are lots of opportunities here at SOPC to express your talents and explore new ones.  Be thoughtful and creative!

 TREASURE

It's my money----I worked hard for it!

Remember, God owns everything.  No Christian owns any money.  They have been assigned the duty and granted the privilege of managing a certain amount of money.  Thus each Christian is a steward of God's astounding creation.  A faithful steward shuns ostentation and seeks proper use of the gifts of God's creation.  God is not critical of those who do well and make a good living. But we are reminded of the story of the rich young man who came to Jesus wanting to inherit eternal life. (Mark 10: 17-22)  Jesus reminds him of the commandments, and when the young man replies, "teacher I have kept all these [commandments] since my youth," Mark reports the following:

          Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said, "You lack one thing;

go, sell what you own, and give the money to the poor, and you

  will have treasure in heaven;  then come, follow me" (10:21).      

If you haven't already done so, make your commitment using the Time and Talent Personal Inventory form  below.  Print it out, complete it, and send or bring it into the church office and your "treasures will reign down from Heaven."