GROWING IN STEWARDSHIP
BELIEVERS ARE TO BE STEWARDS OF ALL THEY POSSESS
a. God is the owner of everything.
The earth is the Lord’s and all it contains. ~Psalm 24:1
You may say to yourself, “My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me.” But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your forefathers, as it is today. ~Deuteronomy 8:17-18
Yet the God who owned everything, gave everything. We are free to be generous because God gave freely and generously to us at the cross – and is now making us like Him.
For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich. ~2 Corinthians 8:9
b. How we handle our money and other possessions has a significant impact on our relationship with Christ.
Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also…No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money. ~Matthew 6:19-21; 24
This is a TRUST issue, not a matter of self-preservation.
If I have put my trust in gold or said to pure gold, “You are my security” … then these also would be sins to be judged, for I would have been unfaithful to God on high. ~Job 31:24, 28
PRINCIPLES OF GIVING TO THE CHURCH AND ITS MINISTRY
a. Giving is a way of life for the Christian. We actually give God nothing, since He owns it all. We are merely to keep what we need for this life and give the rest away.
The Bible’s guideline and the common practice throughout the history of the church is to give a tithe (10%) of our income to the church for its work and ministry – and even beyond this, to give “offerings” to help others in the church as well as the poor and needy.
Bring my whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this, says the Lord, and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven. ~Malachi 3:10
On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money, in keeping with his income. ~1 Corinthians 16:2
You give a tenth of your spices … But you neglect the more important matters of the law – justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former. ~Matthew 23:23
b. Other Biblical guidelines given to us are:
Willing Sacrifice
Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints … But just as you excel in everything – in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us – see that you also excel in this grace of giving. ~2 Corinthians 8:2-4, 7
Wise Responsibility
So the disciples determined, everyone according to his ability, to send relief to the brothers living in Judea. ~Acts 11:29 For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he does not have. ~2 Corinthians 8:12
Equality
Our desire is … that there might be equality. At the present time, your plenty will supply what they need, so that in turn, their plenty will supply what you need. Then there will be equality, as it is written: “He who gathered much did not have too much, and he who gathered little did not have too little.” ~2 Corinthians 8:13