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Sirach - Stewardship - Sacrifice

 


The book of Sirach may not be one you are familiar with unless you have studied the Old Testament or, perhaps, grew up in the Catholic faith. Sirach 35:1-12 speaks of stewardship and sacrifice which is quite relevant for us, today.
 
1 He who keeps the law makes many offerings;
    he who heeds the commandments sacrifices a peace offering.
2 He who returns a kindness offers fine flour,
    and he who gives alms sacrifices a thank offering.
3 To keep from wickedness is pleasing to the Lord,
    and to forsake unrighteousness is atonement.
4 Do not appear before the Lord empty-handed,
5     for all these things are to be done because of the commandment.
6 The offering of a righteous man anoints the altar,
    and its pleasing odor rises before the Most High.
7 The sacrifice of a righteous man is acceptable,
    and the memory of it will not be forgotten.
8 Glorify the Lord generously,
    and do not stint the first fruits of your hands.
9 With every gift show a cheerful face,
    and dedicate your tithe with gladness.
10 Give to the Most High as he has given,
    and as generously as your hand has found.
11 For the Lord is the one who repays,
    and he will repay you sevenfold.
    he who heeds the commandments sacrifices a peace offering.
2 He who returns a kindness offers fine flour,
    and he who gives alms sacrifices a thank offering.
3 To keep from wickedness is pleasing to the Lord,
    and to forsake unrighteousness is atonement.
4 Do not appear before the Lord empty-handed,
5     for all these things are to be done because of the commandment.
6 The offering of a righteous man anoints the altar,
    and its pleasing odor rises before the Most High.
7 The sacrifice of a righteous man is acceptable,
    and the memory of it will not be forgotten.
8 Glorify the Lord generously,
    and do not stint the first fruits of your hands.
9 With every gift show a cheerful face,
    and dedicate your tithe with gladness.
10 Give to the Most High as he has given,
    and as generously as your hand has found.
11 For the Lord is the one who repays,
    and he will repay you sevenfold.
12 Do not offer him a bribe, for he will not accept it;
    and do not trust to an unrighteous sacrifice;
for the Lord is the judge,
    and with him is no partiality.
    and do not trust to an unrighteous sacrifice;
for the Lord is the judge,
    and with him is no partiality.
 
Giving is more than a financial matter. God wants us to give of ourselves fully and completely. We give with a joyful heart and with eagerness rather than grudgingly and as meagerly as possible.
 
I believe, with the teachings of Jesus, that it is no longer about the “minimum requirements” of a 10% tithe, but a matter of 100% stewardship. It is about everything and not “just” figuring out “what amount” is the 10% for tithing.
 
What do I do with all that I have? How do I treat everything I am given and everything I have? That is, my life, my dreams/hopes, my possessions, my finances, my time, my calendar, my willingness to obey….you get it…it covers everything. The question is not “how much do I tithe” but “Am I a good steward of all my resources?”
 
For example, I have a car…so how do I “steward” my car? Can you use it to give someone a ride to a doctor’s appointment? Your home…do you have a spare bedroom to “house” a family member or a visiting missionary? Your time….can you invest a few hours to attend a weekday Bible study or teach a Sunday School class? There are many ways to “steward” what has been given to you. We have so many ways to sacrifice things that are important to us.
 
The Lord revealed to the Jewish people that sacrifices entailed more than material things. He revealed not only the care for all possessions and the law, but also the sacrifice of obedience.
 
For example, “To keep the law is a great oblation, and he who observes the commandments sacrifices a peace offering” (Sirach 35:1). The Lord also revealed the sacrifice of charity. “In works of charity one offers fine flour, and when he gives alms he presents his sacrifice of praise” (Sirach 35:2). Next, He revealed the sacrifice of justice, or at least of avoiding injustice (Sirach 35:3).
 
Jesus revealed that sacrifices involved even more. He referred to the sacrifice of persecution (Mark 10:30). He ultimately offered the complete sacrifice of Himself on Calvary (Mark 10:34).
 
As we try to live our Christian lives in holiness and “onward toward perfection” (Sanctification), we too are called to make sacrifices in the areas of time, loves, money, and possessions (see Acts 2:42ff). All that we are entrusted to be “stewards” of also has within it something to give back. Sacrifice and giving go hand-in-hand.
 
As we do this, we realize our human-nature (sinfulness) challenges us to often think of justifying and finding excuses to minimize our sacrifices, despite knowing better that God is calling us and expecting us to maximize our sacrifices.
 
The Lord wants us to learn “how to share in His sufferings by being formed into the pattern of His death” (Philippians 3:10). We are to be stewards of everything. We need to develop a healthy understanding of “sacrifice” which is going “above and beyond.”

Don’t be stingy with your time, talents and treasure. Don’t be meager with the investments you make within the Church you attend. Don’t become possessed by your possessions. “Giving” to God is our finances, but it is also our obedience, time, talents, abilities, leisure, and every aspect of our life.
 
Start to look at “all you have” as gifts and blessings from God that have been entrusted to you to care and manage. Think of all the things you have not as “my property,” but as treasures God has given you to care for as His “steward” (Matthew 25:14-30). Develop a healthy faith-life of learning how to embrace the life-giving words of “stewardship” and “sacrifice” into your spiritual vocabulary.

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