LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1981, Page 92

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92 ESSAYS ON STEWARDSHIP

have committed much, of him they will ask the more”
(Luke 2:48),

One of the tragedies of the life of the church today is
that many people of large ability have failed to under-
stand their stewardship in terms of the dedication of
their powers to the service of God. The ability that goes
undiscovered and unused in the average church con-
stitutes a colossal waste of power.

As a means of stimulating people to dedicate their
abilities to the Lord, the church should regularly remind
folks that each one is expected to render a stewardship
which is in proportion to the talent that he has received.

Now this news from God has come down to us
through the Scriptures that we are chosen by Him,
through the claims of Christ; and I would have you turn
with me to 1 Peter 2:9 and 10. “You are a chosen
generation.” All Christian churches spoken of as an
elect race. One race, because all members are begotten of
the one Father.

“A royal priesthood,” you are a member of the royal
family carrying out priestly functions. “A HOLY
NATION” ... Israel was spoken of as a holy nation in
the Old Testament. God says of them in Isaiah: ‘“‘This
people have I formed for Myself that they should show
forth My praise” (43:21).

God has now chosen us Christians to be the Israel of
God. The Christian church is His “peculium,” His
“treasure,” a people for His own possession. To what
end? “That ye should show forth the praises of Him.”
That you should spread it out and publish the Good
News abroad. ;

“He who has called you out of darkness into His
marvelous light.” He has chosen us before the founda-
tion of the world. He has called us. Whom He did
predestinate, He also called.

He called us out of the darkness of ignorance and sin
to His marvelous and beautiful light of joy and
salvation.

“We were at one time not His people, but now we are
His people,” says the Bible. We are gathered together as
a people of God to share the Good News, as faithful
stewards from one generation to the next. It is the task
of this and each generation to exercise its abilities and
invest its talent to the end that the Lord be glorified and
the Kingdom be built.

Only in this way can people realize their full potential
under God.

There was once a man named Charlie Paddock, who
was a world class runner. He won an Olympic medal or
two. He came back to America to speak to audiences of
young people, in junior high schools, grade schools, and
high schools. One day he was talking to a school in East
Cleveland, Ohio. And he talked about the great potential
that is in everybody.

He said, “If you believe a thing, other things being
equal, it can come to pass in your life. Who knows, there
may be an olympic champion right here in this
audience.” When he was through with his speech, he
was signing autographs up front and the kids came up
and pressed in on him. One child that came close was a

young black boy named Jessie, scrawny, unath
looking, who said, “Mr. Paddock, is that really
what you said?”

He said, “Yes it is. Why don’t you giveit a try?”
young Jesse Owens went home and told his folks abot
his dream. He was a fine Christian young m
wanted to realize his full potential under God. Heb
to run. He got better at it. He got so good that h
invited to the 1936 Olympics in Nazi Germany, whé&
before the taunts of Adolph Hitler, he stuffed the wo
of that dictator back in his mouth by picking up‘
beautiful gold medals and being proclaimed ag’
fastest human being.

When Jessie came back to Cleveland, they ha
ticker tape parade for him. A big crowd of peopleis
present. The car was stopped in the middle of:
parade, and Jessie talked to the kids that were press
in on the car. One was a young black boy. He kin
looked like Jessie did years before. Jessie said, “Whi
your name?”

He said “Bones ...” “Bones what?” he said,

“Bones Dillard,” the young man answered. Bong
said, ‘“Mr. Owens, could I do what you have done?”.A
Mr. Owens said, “Do you believe that you can? It log
like you might. Why don’t you try?” d

Then Bones went home to his grandmother and talé
her what he had heard, and began to train until the¢
in 1958 when he was in London, crouched in
familiar pose before the 100-meter dash, ready for:
gun to go off; and when it went off, he streaked down
straightaway and broke the tape before anyone é
and he became known as the fastest human beingi
world. Bones Dillard.

So, from Paddock to Owens to Dillard, generati
generation. That is the way it works. From the:
Testament people to the New Testament people of
From a generation ago to our generation. And we pe
the call on to realize the potential under God for Chrig
sake by the power of the Spirit. We do well to pray, “
help me to see my potential right now, and use t
stewardship of my talents to the fullest.”

You are a chosen generation. A royal priesthood
are called by God to great exercise of ability. Now C
identifies Himself so completely with the church, 4
gives us the power to become what He destined us té!
that when Saul was persecuting a body of believe!
the city of Damascus, the voice from heaven cami
him saying, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me

Christ and His church, in that sense, are one’
separable, indivisible like vine and branch. How:d0
Christ save us? He saves us through His body, thro
his “ecclesia”, the “called out ones.” Called out to
purposes. That is how it has happened we are no lo!
“strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with
saints and of the household of God” (Eph. 2:19). God!
called us out. 4

The “corporation of good,” including many of!
grandparents and mine, has sought us out and putt
the dividend list. The army has gone behind the
and has rescued us. The family has received u