Passionate Steward - 10th Anniversary Edition

whom the Bible affirms are made in the “image of God.” This I
believe means that they are self-conscious, rational, emotional, and
volitional beings, who can and do seek that they may find, and who
knock that doors may be opened. These processes are encouraged in
scripture. They result in new knowledge and new understandings.
But for new knowledge to have any impact outside the minds of
persons who gain it, it must be expressed in action. Persons must
make decisions about how new knowledge is used.
The author reminds his readers that the Biblical position is
that life should be lived to glorify God—that our time, talents, and
resources (which include the new knowledge that is continually
being discovered) should be used for the purposes of God. He
maintains that its use should relate to the call to put God first, and
that this involves a commitment to “love the Lord with all your
heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your
strength,” and to “love your neighbor as yourself.” Christians are
called to be in the world, committed to giving expression to this
way of life, and called to be stewards of creation, so that all that is
may come to glorify God. The author explores the implications of
this approach to life for stewardship in the Church.
In life, motivational factors play an important role. Michael
suggests that many of the motivational factors which have become
accepted practice in secular fundraising are inappropriate in
Christian stewardship, because their impact is counter to the basic
beliefs which are the foundation for the biblical view of Christian
living. Their use may result in short term financial gains, but their
continued use, he is convinced, will undermine the core
affirmations of true Christian stewardship—the essential
motivations for Christian living. He offers concrete illustrations to
support his point.
He does not stop here. Michael goes on to indicate ways
Christian stewardship can be refocused as a matter of vocation, and
make creative use of some of the learnings which flow from secular