Over the past year, we have explored the various steps on the Stewardship Well Done Journey. So we thought it was only natural during the holiday season to ask, “How does all of this relate to Christmas?” There are practical applications – include Christmas giving in your budget, don’t dip into your emergency fund to buy “the perfect gift”, and use credit cards wisely during the holiday season so you don’t find yourself with more debt in January.

But if we are truly striving to live a life of Stewardship Well Done, there seems to be a deeper meaning. II Corinthians 8:7 says, “But just as you excel in everything – in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us – see that you also excel in this grace of giving.” Relating this to the Stewardship Well Done Journey, we might say, “But just as you excel in everything – in budgeting, in saving for retirement, in getting out of debt, in planning for the future – see that you also excel in this grace of giving.”

The Stewardship Well Done Journey is a life-long adventure. We never truly arrive until we meet Jesus face to face. Each step is good. But each step loses meaning unless it moves us closer to Christ-likeness. It is our prayer during this advent season that each step of the journey will help us live with our hands wide open and respond when God calls us to give.