On Stewardship and Sushi

For the last few weeks, I've tried my hand at making sushi.  Now, I'm not mentioning this in order to impress you, because you really have no reason to be impressed.  You see, sushi can be thought of in two different ways:  the first as food, the second as art.  As food - meaning selecting the ingredients, the technique of rolling the sushi, etc. - it's incredibly easy to make.  So the fact that I can do that shouldn't impress you because, frankly, if I can do it, anyone can.  But sushi as art . . . . that's a different story.  In terms of balance of flavor, presentation on the plate, and colors . . . well, let's just say that if you ordered a plate of sushi at a restaurant and they set my plate in front of you, you'd demand a refund.

So making sushi that tastes good . . . well, anyone can do that.  When it comes to making sushi that is an experience, however, I failed horribly.  Therefore, when I say that sushi is easy to make, I am in no way belittling the professionals who make it for a living.  They train for years at it, and their expertise shows.  It is a difficult thing to perfect, but is, nonetheless, an easy dinner to make.  More than that, though, it is also much, much cheaper than going to a restaurant.  It's even cheaper than going to the grocery store and buying from the little sushi stands that are in most of the major chains these days (you know the ones I'm talking about:  the ones staffed by people who look authentically Japanese, who don't even seem like they speak English, until you catch them talking on their phones outside as you leave the store, swearing like sailors in thick New York accents).  And my motto, at least when it comes to food, is that if I can do it for cheaper with almost as good of a flavor, then why spend the extra money?

Now, a word about saving money.  I don't do it because I'm cheap, but I do it because, as people of God, we're called to be good stewards of our money.  This does not mean that we give a whole bunch to the church, and then go out and spend whatever we want on ourselves.  The funny thing about generosity from God's point of view isn't really based on how much we give, but on how little is left over when we're done.  Check out Mark 12:

Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury.  Many rich people threw in large amounts.  But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents.

Calling His disciples to Him, Jesus said, "Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others.  They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything - all she had to live on" (41-44).

The first-century church, whenever they saw a need, would sell off some of their possessions in order to give the money to the poor (Acts 2:45; 3:33-35).  God doesn't seem to be so much concerned with amount given, as He is the amount wasted.  So when I look at something like sushi, I have to wonder if maybe, just maybe, making it at home is a more Biblical idea.

I'm not saying that buying food is wrong - after all, Jesus sent His disciples to go buy food on more than one occasion.  I'm not even saying that for you, personally, going out to a Japanese restaurant and ordering sushi is necessarily wrong.  I'm just saying that I could go to a fancy restaurant and spend $20-$25 on a sushi dinner for my family, I could go to the grocery store and spend $15 on a sushi dinner for my family, or I could make it at home for $5.  Seriously.  My grocery bill for a California roll dinner runs about $5.30, depending on how much rice I use.  And that's not per person, that's total (though the price will obviously go up if I ever get brave enough to add fish to the menu). 

Now, is it wrong to go out to eat?  Should all Christians stop going out to eat, and hole up at home all day, every day?  Again, not what I'm saying.  Going out to eat is a fantastic way to make connections and build Gospel-centered relationships.  What I'm saying is that, if you find yourself unable to help out the people around you - and, just as important, unable to give to your church - then maybe you should buy a bamboo rolling mat (called a sudare, if anyone's interested) and a couple of rice paddles, and learn to make your own sushi.

Because, trust me, it can't be any worse than mine.