Kountze Memorial Lutheran

(402) 341-7761

STEWARDSHIP

A Message for Stewardship, Fall, 2016
by Pastor Dennis A. Anderson

WHY?

You will be seeing that question around KOUNTZE during the next several months.

WHY?

Why what? Let met get to that. In Luther’s explanation of the First Article of the Apostle’s creed he reminds us that God “Provides me with food and clothing, home and family, daily work, and all I need from day today….. Therefore I surely ought to THANK, and PRAISE, SERVE and, OBEY HIM.” Really? I work hard for all I have. Right? YES! But who gives me the energy, the opportunity, the raw materials, the spirit? The bottom line is all of life is GIFT! GIFT FROM GOD. People who recognize this truth become “GENEROUS” people. The Indo-European root for the word “generous” means “birth…life….. to generate.” You know generous people….they generate life, happiness, success. They multiple talents and gifts. The opposite of generous is stingy, the reduction of life. Now back to “WHY?” Why what? Why do we give? Because we are thankful! Generous people know all of life is GIFT. Generous people multiply gifts and bring LIFE! So, our stewardship theme this year is: WHY? ‘CAUSE WE ARE THANKFUL! (Eph. 5:20 “Giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”)