Have you ever served on a stewardship or pledge campaign committee? I have. Not only does the committee work to encourage members of the congregation to give and hopefully tithe in support of the church’s programs and operating expenses, the committee works to educate people on the reason to pledge and how to pledge reasonably. Emphasis on the love of God, the love of God’s creation, and the love of God’s people are all elements of good stewardship education. And it doesn’t matter if the church is large or small, with a healthy endowment fund or none at all; there is always a need for everyone to participate and share in the financial wellbeing of the church. As the campaign goes along, the committee is able to gauge its success, and there may be a call for more giving with a supplemental pledge. The needs of the church are emphasized and the campaign pulls not only on the purse strings, but also on the heart strings. However, never is there a call for anyone to put their personal financial situation in jeopardy in order to meet the church’s goals.
Sapphira and her husband, Ananais, remind me of church members who get too caught up in the joy of giving. The stewardship sermon stirs the heart and there is a desire to solve all the problems and meet all the goals that have been brought to the people. These church members make a pledge, one they plan to fulfill, but as the year progresses the payments lag and by the end of the year the pledge is not met. And perhaps the budget income is not met, and the church scrambles to determine what program, what staff member, or what building need will have to take the hit. Ananais and Sapphira said they would sell their land and give all the proceeds to the Christian community. No one asked them to give up everything; it was their pledge to make. But when the time came to tell Peter and the others the sale price for the land, Ananais lied to Peter. When Peter confronted him, not about how much was given, but about the lie, Ananais fell dead. Wow! Peter is some pledge campaign committee chair! At my church we receive reminder letters if we still owe on our pledge; we hold a Catch-Up Sunday in February to give people one last chance to complete their previous year’s pledge. Peter’s style is quite different from the low-key Episcopal way.
And then Peter asked Sapphira about the pledge and the price for the land. Sapphira answered “Yes, that was the price.” Sapphira was caught up, too, in the excitement of supporting the fledgling community. She made the pledge, too, and she lied about the land’s proceeds. It is best to make an honest and reasonable pledge that can be met, than to raise expectations for those planning for the new year’s ministry.
Now Lydia is an ideal pledger. She was a businesswoman who also was stirred by the “stewardship” sermon. But she responded by pledging not only a portion of her wealth, but more importantly her heart and soul. She and her household were baptized, making a more important commitment to God than any money can buy. I can almost hear Jesus’ words being said about Lydia that Jesus spoke to Martha about her sister, Mary: “She has chosen the better part.” Lydia stayed committed to the new community by opening her home to those who were spreading the Good News to the people of Philippi. “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come and stay at my home.” Sapphira was judged to be a liar and died for her lies; Lydia was judged to be faithful in her pledge of time, talent, and treasure.
It is for each of us to look at our own commitments to God. What have you pledged from your stores of time, talent, and treasure? Have you set realistic goals? Is the Holy Spirit your partner in meeting those goals? Is there more that you can do to help spread the Good News of Jesus Christ?
++++ Coming May 15th ++++
Chapter 28
The Fortune-Telling Slave Girl
Content provided by Author Lindsay Hardin Freeman
Illustration: Claire Elam