What does stewardship mean to you?
The word, stewardship, simply means to manage someone else's property. For the Christian, as Scripture proclaims everything belongs to God, we manage the property of our Lord. Since everything belongs to Christ, we need to have the attitude and view that our things are His things, our stuff is His stuff, that all we could have now, all we have lost, all we will have, is His, including our very bodies and spiritual gifts. We are mere lessees of the property, money, relationships, talents, time, and even our lives. That means all that we are and all that we have are not really ours to begin with. They belong to God. So, the duty of the Christian is to learn how to become responsible stewards of our Lord's resources entrusted into our care. It means to manage everything to the best of our abilities for His glory (1 Cor. 4:2).
Verses on Stewardship: Psalm 24:1; Proverbs 3:9-10; Romans 12:6; 1 Corinthians 4:1-2; 6:19-20; 2 Corinthians 8-9; Ephesians 5:15-16; James 1:17
Stewardship Part I Q: What does stewardship mean to you? There are two words that send the average congregation and common churchgoer into fear and panic, from the leadership and pastorate, that fears to offend or drive people away, to the church member who may be too far stretched in time and giving, and cannot give anymore, to the person who does not want to be convicted, lest he be forced to reach for the sacred will of his wallet or the exercise of His call. Yet, these two words are simple, and needed, because the church and the body of Christ could not function without them being proclaimed and exercised: These simple words are...
Stewardship Part II Are you giving what's right, or what's left? In my experiences and observations, I have observed, with sadness, that most people in evangelical circles do not see stewardship as important. A common response to the subject of stewardship is that all we need to have is a good heart, or be sincere in our faith. Our money, and how we manage life is irrelevant. But, is this true? Is God only concerned with our heart? If so, what does that mean? Well, when you read the Bible, you can see that it has a totally different definition of stewardship than what is popular in the church today!
Stewardship Part 3: Learning What It Means to Give Cheerfully! How do you feel when churches, ministries, or even missionaries seek you, asking for funds? Does it give you a toothache? Do you cringe and make the quickest possible exit, or do you see those requests as opportunities to serve? A lot of people run away from stewardship because they do not see it as God does. This is a reflection of our spiritual condition! We should never separate money and finances from our spiritual life. Yet, so many Christians do, seeking to be cheerful with what they can keep, not with how they can be used. Have you ever thought that
2 Corinthians 8:1-15 - A Template on How to Gave. (NIV)
· …Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy…
· …and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity…
· …even beyond their ability…
· …Entirely on their own…
· …privilege of sharing in this service to the saints…
· …they gave themselves first to the Lord…
· …keeping with God's Will…
· …in faith …excel in this grace of giving…
· …I am not commanding you…
· …you through his poverty might become rich…
· …you were the first not only to give but also to have the desire to do so…
· …the gift is acceptable according to what one has…
· ...not according to what he does not have…
· …eager willingness …the willingness is there…
· …your plenty will supply what they need…
EXEGETICAL CONCEPTS OF BIBLICAL STEWARDSHIP AS COMPARED TO POSTMODERN THINKING AND CURRENT TRENDS
Does what it says on the Dollar Bill also printed upon your heart? In God we trust!