Planting a Mustard Seed of Stewardship
Many times we hear people saying it’s the little things that matter. When people recount their fondest memories, often they manage to keep in mind the most minute details about the event–the scent in the air, the sounds and environment surrounding them, even what clothes they were wearing. Similarly, remembering your friend’s favorite color or your mother’s favorite perfume will make them feel special, because it shows that you remember the little things. But if these details are so tiny, why are they so important? Why is it that the little things are the ones worth remembering?
When it comes down to it, the achievement of any goal begins with one single tiny step, whether that goal is as mundane as starting a diet or as lofty as penning the next Great American Novel. Think about it. When you want to make your diet healthier, you begin by cutting out junk food–one bite at a time. When you start writing your novel, you begin by committing those first few words to paper. These are little things, but the little things are the very foundation of your successes.
In much the same way, we begin our journey into a lifestyle of Biblical stewardship with one little change. Take a look at Matthew 13:31-2: “He proposed another parable to them. ‘The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that a person took and sowed in a field. It is the smallest of all the seeds, yet when full-grown it is the largest of plants. It becomes a large bush, and the birds of the sky come and dwell in its branches.’” Just as that now-mighty mustard bush had the smallest of beginnings, so, too, do our efforts toward becoming a steward of all God’s blessings.
Looking at Biblical stewardship in its entirety can be overwhelming, and the prospect of such a grand concept could deter you from beginning down this path. If you feel an instant sense of defeat, take a step back and break it down into its smallest components. Maybe your first step is to stop using credit cards; or maybe you want to track your spending, so you know where your money is really going; or maybe you want to increase your giving. Small steps such as doing a better job with grocery coupons or making more than the minimum payment on your credit card may not bring you instant savings, but they certainly are progress. Every step, no matter how small, moves you in the right direction.
Compass Catholic offers individuals at any stage of life the tools they need to follow the path of Biblical stewardship, guiding participants in the right direction one small step at a time. To learn more, call us at (844) 447-6263, or visit our website.
