Amidst the busyness of ending the school year, it could seem frivolous to add another event, task, or speaker to the schedule of a high school junior or senior. But what if that speaker’s words could have an eternally significant impact? Isn’t that always worth the time?

The juniors and seniors at Westminster Academy were recently treated to a special assembly with speaker Rex Jones, the president of the Christian Community Foundation. Mr. Jones spoke to the students on the topic of Biblical Stewardship, planting many seeds of wisdom that will hopefully take root in the hearts of these young men and women for years to come, and in turn, have an eternal impact on their spending and giving habits. 

Mr. Jones challenged students to explore the scriptures regarding their giving, whether giving of their service to others or with their paychecks.  “Psalm 24:1 states ‘The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it. The world and all its people belong to him.’ God owns it ALL! You will have a lot of things in this life, but none of it do you truly own,”  reiterated Mr. Jones. “Your job is to ask God how he would have you use the things he has given to you on this earth!” 

He challenged students to ask themselves “What would He have me do today?” 

Practically, that means students (and all of us, truly) need to consult the Bible and then, as Mr. Jones charged the students, “be bold enough and courageous enough to do what the Word calls you to do!” He gave several examples of scripture where faithful followers are called to examine how they would choose to serve and give, be that of time, talent, or treasure.

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:19-21).

“Give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you” (Luke 6:38).

Mr. Jones emphasized that giving, either time or treasure, should be rooted in love. He affirmed that loving God and loving people are the two most important things, and from that place of loving others, we are called to give. “Investing in people is how we change the world,” Mr. Jones said. “When we engage people with kindness, they feel the love of Christ, and that can change the world!” 

Mr. Jones then charged four seniors to find a team of students and to be good stewards of an envelope of money. He passed on the stewardship of $50 to each of the team leaders and told them to pray for God to lead them in how they should give the money back to Him. These seniors will report back to Mr. Jones over lunch in the coming weeks to share how they gave the money and how that giving impacted their lives.