An interview with Maynard Wiersma
Executive Director, Christian Stewardship Service, Cambridge Ontario

You can’t outgive God! Catching hold of this truth helps believers to recognize that a heart of generosity leads to tangible joy and immeasurable spiritual blessings.

What is stewardship? Maynard’s definition is not limited to tithing and financial giving alone. He includes use of time, hospitality, talents plus how we live our lives. We must wholeheartedly give back to God, always seeking God’s plan for our lives.

There are four ways we can do this, says Maynard: time, treasure, trees and talent. Time, treasure and talent most people grasp. But ‘trees’ stewardship means not only taking care of our environment, but also hospitality and how generously we share our property, home, and vehicles.

In other words, everything we do after we say ‘yes’ to Jesus is stewardship.

Maynard ‘s Story

In 1991 Maynard became a financial advisor then moved to a Mutual Fund Company. He heard that tax guru Tim Cestnick, also a Christian, was coming soon to this company to start up a Tax and Estate Planning department. Begging to join his team, Maynard got his wish, which opened fantastic opportunities.

But how did he transition to join Christian Stewardship Service (CSS)? It was a Friday lunch and fellowship group colleague of his who was celebrating receiving a new job offer, that first told him about CSS. When the vision and goals of CSS intrigued and excited Maynard, this colleague laughed and said he’d let Maynard know, when he is ready to leave his position.

Years later, he did just that. He emailed Maynard out of the blue, telling him he was leaving the job as stewardship consultant at CSS that had so intrigued Maynard years before. 

Maynard applied and was hired. That was eighteen years ago and he’s still loving CSS and continues to praise God for preparing and equipping him for each leadership position. 

When people say “I don’t have the resources”, Maynard responds “But everyone has the resources!”. He’ll then tell them his definition of stewardship, as all encompassing; it’s not merely treasure chests of money, but includes talents, time and caring for the environment that we can give back to God as our thank offering.

One of his favourite sayings is: “if you’ve decided in your heart to give, we can help.” 

A Remarkable Stewardship Story

Arriving early, the coffee was already on as Maynard visited his client. This client had recently received a sizeable bequest from his father, about $200,000. He and his wife spent a week chatting about their priorities and how to spend it, since they had scrimped for decades while raising young children.

But they had a problem. Independent of one another, the husband felt prompted by God to give the whole bequest away, and the wife was struggling with the same issue. Neither wanted to deprive the other of the enjoyment to travel or other long-awaited pleasures, yet they also did not want to disobey God.

Finally, at breakfast the husband had the courage to tell his wife what he felt God was asking of him. Without a word, she got up and went to the bedroom to get her prayer journal. In it he read that she, too, had felt prompted by God to do the same—give away their entire bequest. 

The cheque this client was holding out to give to Maynard was for $200,000 plus interest, made out to the charity they had chosen to support. 

Maynard still marvels at this example of hearts filled with incredible generosity!

Maynard recommends Henri Nouwen’s book A Spirituality of Fundraising to learn why fundraising is the opposite of begging.

Biblical Principles

Ownership: God owns everything. “The earth is the Lords, and everything in it”.
Psalm 24:1a NIV

Leaders must be faithful managers. Now it is required of those who have been given a trust must prove faithful.”
1 Corinthians 4:2 NIV

Good stewards receive blessings. “Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.
Malachi 3: 10 NIV

God stretches resources. I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not drop their fruit before it is ripe,” says the Lord Almighty.
Malachi 3:11 NIV

In conclusion, stewardship choices apply as much to business leaders as to church goers.

Tithing profits, for example, or donating your leadership talents to a non-profit organization as a board member, release the same blessings as we read listed above.

It’s wanting to generously give back to God, with a thankful heart, that most pleases God.

In other words, everything we do after we say ‘yes’ to Jesus is simply stewardship!