Living Each Day as a Steward: The Steward’s Lifestyle
Let Us Give our Best
John 2:1-12
Rev. Tim Callow
Preached Sun. Oct. 4th, 2026
In Matthew, Mark, and Luke Jesus’ ministry begins with a proclamation. “The Kingdom of God is at hand, repent and believe the good news.” In John’s Gospel Jesus’ ministry begins with a party. Jesus is at the reception with his mother and his disciples. I do wonder how the disciples got there. I imagine there was no RSVP because it doesn’t take long before the wine runs out. Mary lets Jesus know, but he tells her it’s not his concern. But Mary, being his mother, knows better and tells the servants “do whatever he tells you.”
Jesus instructs the servants to bring him water jars that were set aside for handwashing and washing the plates and dishes. He tells them to fill the jars up to the brim and draw the water out. They must have thought he was insane, this strange man hanging out with twelve other strange men who thinks he can make wine from water. But they follow his instructions. When the water is brought to the chief steward it becomes wine. He is astonished. He turns to the groom and says, “Everyone serves the god wine first, and then the inferior wine after the guests have become drunk. But you have kept the good wine until now!”
This sign, Jesus’ first, is how he chooses to proclaim the coming Kingdom. What Jesus says in words in Matthew, Mark, and Luke, he shows in a sign in John. The Kingdom is not inferior. It is the first fruits. It is the best of the wine held off until now.
One of Jesus’ parables concerns a man who finds a treasure hidden in a field. Rather than take the treasure and be seen as a thief he hides it in the field and runs away to sell everything he has. Once he has done so he buys the field, knowing it is worth far more than everything he owned. Jesus says the Kingdom of heaven is like this. It is worth far more than all we possess. It is worth far more than what we can own. Because the Kingdom is not a consumer product or a commodity. It is eternal life. It is the presence of God. It is fullness of joy. It is what we are made for, what the world was made for. And it is brought to the earth in Christ.
We are those who have received this great gift. We are those who know that Jesus died for us, and in him we have died. We are those who know that Jesus is risen. That he is alive today. And he reigns for our sake. That we who give our lives to him receive his mercy. That our sins may be forgiven. That we may be without shame. And that we may know the happiness he alone can give. We may no longer fear death.
We do not give under compulsion. We do not give because we are told to give. We give because we know what we have received. And we know what we may give to God and his purpose is vastly inferior to what we have received in Christ.
But just because what we can give is inferior to what we have received does not mean we do not give our all, or give our best. It is exactly the opposite. How can we show our gratitude if we are not generous? We ought to give the first fruits. We ought to give our best. This is the lifestyle of a steward.
We heard this morning from Malachi. The Jews of the time faced a conundrum. They had returned from exile in Babylon. They had rebuilt the Temple. It seemed the promises made through the prophets were being fulfilled. And yet they did not know the full presence of God in the Temple. They did not know the prosperity that was promised to them. And they wondered how that could be. Malachi’s answer was that they had not given their best in the sacrifices. God requires an unblemished lamb, but they were offering the worst of the flock. They were offering ill gotten gains. Malachi called it a profaning of the altar. An insult. What must they think of God and what God has done if they cannot offer the best?
We are called to offer our best. Generations of this church have done just that. Look around this sanctuary. It was built by people who offered their best. The best wood. The best craftwork. When we give our musical talents in this place. We are offering our best. I try to offer my best when I am in this pulpit. I hope I do. And when we give, we are called to offer our best.
Today is our Commitment Sunday. This year we are not only asking for a financial commitment but also a commitment of time and talent. Let us offer our best to God who offered his Son to us. By doing so we show ourselves and others how much we highly prize the gift we have received. The treasure we have found. The overwhelming value of God’s gift in Christ.