Jesus Christ said “do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal” (Matthew 6:19), and “none of you can be My disciple who does not give up all his own possessions” (Luke 14:33). The early church “began selling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need” (Acts 2:45). We are told that “both riches and honor come from” God (1 Chronicles 29:12) and the “Lord Jesus Christ…though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich” (2 Corinthians 8:9). We are instructed to “give with liberality” (Romans 12:8), “not grudgingly or under compulsion” but from “cheerful” hearts (2 Corinthians 9:7).

Our dream is to glorify God as we stand ready to give up all our possessions and trust Him to provide for our needs; to be known in our community for our generosity and for being “above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation” (Philippians 2:15).

Therefore, the people of CBC will seek to be good stewards in the following ways:

• We will take up an offering during our worship services to remind ourselves that giving is an act of worship.
• We will regularly “give with liberality” (Romans 12:8), “not grudgingly or under compulsion” but from “cheerful” hearts (2 Corinthians 9:7).
• We will “remember the poor” (Galatians 2:10) and “support the fatherless and the widow” (Psalm 146:9).
• We will “be rich in good works…generous and ready to share, storing up for yourselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that you may take hold of that which is life indeed” (1 Timothy 6:18).
• We will teach and study Biblical stewardship in order to provide a healthy understanding of this often misunderstood subject. While the practice of tithing (giving 10% of a household’s income) was an Old Testament concept and not commanded in the New Testament, it still serves as an appropriate guide for giving in this age.
• We will all take ownership of CBC property and facilities and do our part to support and maintain them. We have the freedom to own or not own a building, but ownership of a building comes with the responsibility to mow, clean, maintain, repair, update, heat, cool, light, etc. We will all give of our time, treasures and talents in order to be good stewards of the physical property God has provided.
• The leadership of CBC will seek to set an example by being good stewards, regularly praying for God’s provision (Matthew 6:11), “managing” the church’s finances with integrity and wisdom (1 Timothy 3:5); and not attempting to “compel” people to give, but “instructing them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share” (1 Ti 6:18).
• The leadership of CBC will include a weekly financial update in the Sunday bulletin to keep members up-to-date on our financial condition; provide an annual “State of the Church” service as well as an open-books policy for the purpose of communicating how our finances are being used and providing accountability to use God’s provision wisely. Individual giving, of course, will be kept strictly confidential.

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