By Betsy Schwarzentraub

“If evangelism is telling the good news of God’s love, then stewardship is showing the good news by the way we live…Stewardship involves our passions, abilities and commitments in every dimension of living…Do our time-planners, credit cards and checkbooks reveal that we are good stewards in our families and congregations? How do we prioritize our time, our assets and the multiple demands on our lives? And what does all this have to do with ‘Spirit-ed’ stewardship, anyway? ”

With these challenging words, Betsy Schwarzentraub, author of Afire With God, urges us to take a faith journey out of Egypt—as aliens in a foreign land, to “Spirit-ed stewardship’’—living in the “fullness of God’s present activity and active presence.”

Using the imagery of Moses at the burning bush, she reminds us that he had to increase his commitment by stages. First by turning aside, then by taking a closer look and finally by answering God’s call with “Here I am.”

Misunderstanding and misuses of the term stewardship make today’s Christians “reluctant stewards.” Like the Israelites, “Enslaving attitudes and assumptions limit our vision, fruitfulness, sense of self-worth and ability to enlist others in God’s world.”

Tracing stewardship through scripture, Schwarzentraub offers fresh and dynamic insights to familiar themes. A section deals with John Wesley’s powerful teachings on stewardship and the rich heritage we share as United Methodists.

This small book is a devotional and theological gold mine of practical insights. Helpful resources for annual and year round giving emphasis make it an indispensable study for pastors, finance and stewardship committees, administrative board members, small groups and Sunday school classes. Like a refiners fire, it can forge new expressions of Christian stewardship in individuals and faith communities.

Reviewed by James K. Varner, Vice President of Stewardship Services for the Texas Methodist Foundation. Betsy Schwarzentraub is Director of Stewardship Development for the California-Nevada United Methodist Foundation.