National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc. Oeil eMm ERE me ered Department of Christian Education Course No. 2007 “The earth is the Lord’s, and the fullness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.” (Psalm 24:1) . New Zion Baptist Church foe mobo i ahs age ages Course Instructor: 5 Lincoln Avenue * Ogden, Utah Email: newzionut@aol.com Sister Dula I. Brock, Dean Office: (801) 392-2211 & Fax: DEL PRR New Zion Christian Leadership School we emer cp ‘ oh ° Copyright © 2008 Table of Contents Preface Course Introduction What is Christian Stewardship? What Does Christian Stewardship Mean? When Does Christian Stewardship Begin? Christ, Our Example in Stewardship Motives for Christian Stewardship The Bible and the Tithe Why? How? Where? Shall I Give the Tithe? Some Bible Answers for Non-Tithers Factors (Life, Time, Talent, Treasure, Gospel) and Growth Through Stewardship “Praise the Lord” Story “The True Meaning of Wealth and Poverty” Christian Stewardship Study Guide Bibliography Preface This course will be approached from the viewpoint that for a Christian to be a “steward” is to manage responsibility of all of one’s life influences and resources. In the book, “A Theology for Christian Stewardship,” T.A. Kantonen says, “The life of stewardship is nothing less than total devotion to the Christ who is known as the real living personal presence in the hearts of believers, a genuine loyalty that is expressed not in mere opinion, but in character and in content.” What is STEWARDSHIP? The word is equated with money-raising. But stewardship of money is only fraction of our full Christian Stewardship. Christian living involves acknowledgement of the Lordship of Jesus Christ in our life. A true believer enters the pathway of the larger stewardship. That of living responsibly. Living responsibly demands a look at our entire lifestyle. It takes selfexamination of our beliefs and principles that shape our lives. The way we manage that which has been entrusted to us honors, ignores, or defies Christ. Living responsibly involves the Stewardship of Influence. Our greatest convictions and our deepest faith comes from personal associations. The Bible makes the reality of influence clear. The unsaved who may not read the Bible will read us as Christians living a life of caring and sharing. The beginnings of true stewardship of influence are love and service. With that comes Stewardship of Time. to come to some basic conclusions. The nature of time causes us Time cannot be hoarded or saved as money. Time is passing and must not be wasted. The excuse “I haven’t time” is inexcusable. A good steward of times “takes time!” If every Christian were a good steward of his/her time, many of the church’s greatest problems would be solved. The Stewardship of Talents, Gifts or Abilities is God's gift of grace. These natural talents are made spiritually effectual through the presence of the Holy Spirit. Stewardship of Finance usually involves the Christian steward’s tithe. Tithing is an act of worship. It is a venture in faith. It is a covenant with God. To the Christian, tithing is an opportunity to acknowledge God’s ownership and his/her own stewardship. There are rewards for faithfulness in this area. God will bless His children who honor His financial plan. Stewardship of Possessions can best be understood by reflecting on the scripture, Matthew 6:19-21, which instructs us concerning the best place to lay up our true treasures: Friendships, love, hope, faith, God, church, people, giving, doing right, the Bible, etc. The most priceless possession we could ever own is genuine desire to seek faith in God and faithfulness to Him. Christ, our ultimate example of Stewardship. Let us imitate Christ and follow His example in our path to Christian Stewardship. For if we do, we will exalt God and find much joy in living. Course Introduction With the uncertainties that we face today (inflation, unemployment, wars, rumors of wars, violence, teenage pregnancy, unruly children, murder, natural disasters, etc.), is there really any hope? There is a tendency in the church to think of missions as its purpose for being. However, this type of thinking came about in the late 18" Century, around 1792, when William Carey, a missionary from England, went to India as a missionary. During the 30 years after 1792, many mission societies were organized in Europe and the United States, and missionaries were sent to many different countries. Bibles and portions of scriptures were provided so that new Christians could learn to read the bible in their own language. Will humans destroy the world slowly through exploitation of its resources and pollution of the environment or quickly through war and nuclear weapons? Now is the time, if not pastime, to place stewardship and mission in their proper relational positions. Planning for the use of resources (stewardship) to sustain and improve life for everyone and by sharing God’s Good News (mission) of redemption and reconciliation meant to bless all people - the present world condition - the growing numbers of people and the limitations of resources - challenges humans to deal with stewardship (caring for all creation, assigned by God at the time of creation. of the whole earth) Christian stewardship is not just raising funds for the church. Stewardship Movement has been a 20" Century phenomenon as The with an emphasis upon giving money for the support of the church’s local and wider mission. The Bible, in the New Testament, clearly tells us in Matthew 28:19-20 to go to the whole world telling the Good News. The Old Testament also includes expressions of God’s purpose for the mission of God’s people (Genesis 12:1-3). The week we will help you understand the biblical story of God’s stewardship assignment to all people, the mission directive for God’s people to go to all people, and the meaning of both, for us, the church, today. Both the stewardship and mission relationships of God with the people, God’s action in history, and the culminating purpose for history will show and the earth). us God’s concern for the whole creation (mankind We as people of God do not always act in obedience and often fail in our understanding of God’s purpose for our hope for a future and encourages us to act as good stewards of resources and sharers of the faith. A unifying theme throughout the Bible is one of redemption and salvation and revolves around the idea of a people of God who are called to live under God’s rule and the related hope of the coming kingdom of God. Total Christian Stewardship of human beings includes telling and sharing with all peoples the story of God the Creator, Owner (Lord), and Redeemer. This session stewardship we of will look resources at many and biblical mission, scriptures that you can study as well. scriptures however, dealing there are with more “The earth is the Lord’s and everything in it. The world and all its people belong to Him.” (Psalm 24:1 - NLT). Those of us who grew up in church have heard this scripture often. This scripture will serve as our pivotal text to begin our discussion of resources and mission. about Christian Stewardship Stewards of Life! By Frank Von Christierson, Tune: 1957 Ancient of Days Stewards of life! The Lord of life now calls us To dream, to pray, to serve and bravely give; To use for God and man what God has given, And in the spirit of the Christ to live. Daily an offering making to the Saviour Our sacred wealth and talents, strength and time: In holy stewardship ourselves we offer This be our life, a ministry sublime! What is Christian Stewardship? Definitions of stewardship must include how humans live in the world and use its resources and must include the mission to the whole world. Following are some definitions: Steward - one who administers something that belongs to another. An agent, a custodian, a manager, a trustee, a representative, a person entrusted with the management of estates or affairs not his own. Ship - any vessel of considerable size navigating deep water; one powered by an engine and larger than a boat; the quality, condition, or State of being; all individuals of a specified class, collectively. Stewardship - a person morally responsible for the careful use of money, time, talents, or other resources, especially with respect to the principles or needs of a community or group. Christian Steward - an agent, a custodian, Christian Stewardship - all of those who a manager, a trustee, a representative of Christ and the Kingdom of God; one entrusted with the management of estates or affairs belonging to God. God in the same vessel, for the same profess common to be children of goal, knowing that all belongs to God, to use His resources for the up building of His Kingdom, and recognizing that, without Him we are nothing. (The presenter’s definition). “Christian stewardship is the dedication of all I am and have, under the control of God’s Spirit in Christ, to the doing of His will, in recognition of His lordship, in gratitude for His love, in every area of my life, and in the service of His redemptive fellowship.” William J. Keech, The Life I Owe (Valley Forge: Judson Press, 1963), p. 20. “Christian stewardship is man’s grateful and obedient response to God’s redeeming love, and is expressed by using all resources that Christ’s mission in the world may be fulfilled.” Churches of Christ in the U.S.A. National Council of the Commission on Stewardship, March 18, 1964. “Christian stewardship is the working out of what it means to be the people of God in and for a world in rebellion against its Creator.” Hugh F. Davidson, Today’s Word for Adults, Living the Word, Vol. 3, Course 3, Session 8, Spring, 1981, Part 10 of 16 (American Baptist Churches in the U-S.A., Valley Forge, PA), p. 1 Stewardship Biblical References The Covetousness of Achan ............. Joshua 7:16-21 Judas’ Lust for Money .........eeeeeeeeeeee Matthew 26:14-16 & 27:3-12 The Sin of Covetousness ...........:0000 Luke 15:13-21 Power Of POSSESSIONS .........::0cccceeeeereees Matthew 19:16-26 Jesus’ Measure of Giving ......... eee Mark 12:38-44 The Generosity of Barnabas .............. Acts 4:31-37 Fruits Of WiSCOM ............ccccceeeeeeeeeeeees Proverbs 8:10-21 What Does Christian Stewardship Mean? Christian Stewardship means putting the Kingdom of God first, Matthew 6:33 says, “But seek you first the Kingdom of god and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.” Christian Stewardship means putting more religion into business and more business into religion. It means partnership with God in business. It is not merely giving a portion of God, but it is the administration of all for God. Christian Stewardship means the dedication of the whole of life and whole of God’s resources to the betterment of the whole world; it is a sense of moral responsibility for all of life. Christian Stewardship means that all we have and are belongs to God and should be used for Him and His kingdom. All life is a stewardship. physical or mental, moral Vital energy in whatever form - whether or spiritual - is a trust from God. This means time, talent, money, and everything. Christian Stewardship is the recognition of God’s ownership of one’s person, one’s powers, and one’s possessions, and the faithful use of these for the advancement of Christ’s Kingdom in this world. Christian Stewardship is the practice of systematic and proportionate giving of time, ability, and material possessions based on the conviction that these are trusts from God and should be used in His service for the benefit of all mankind in grateful acknowledgement of Christ’s redeeming love. Stewardship Biblical References Men Whom Jesus ChoOSe ...........::c0 Luke 6:12-16 New Kind of Happiness ............ceeeeeees Luke 6:17-26 Christian Distinctives ...........ccceeeeee Luke 6:27-28 Who is a HypOCrite? ..........:ceeseeeeeeeeeeeees Luke 6:39-42 The Real TeSt .........ccceeesessseeeeeeeeeseeeeeees Luke 6:43-49 The N@wW Mant .........ccccsseseseeeeeeeeessssseeeeees 2 Corinthians 5:16-21 Character in Contrast .............c:cceeeeeees Psalm | When Does Christian Stewardship Begin? Christian Stewardship begins with a conscious decision to become a Christian and it continues throughout life and involves every part of the life of an individual. Christians need to understand that they have no option on Stewardship. One cannot be a Christian and choose to be or not to be a steward. All Christians are stewards. The only choice a Christian steward has to make is to be steward or a poor steward. Stewardship is a life principle. a good The essence of Christianity is love. Love gives and delights to give. When Christians remember what Jesus has done for them, the doings of Jesus’ will becomes a joy, Jesus’ fellowship becomes a privilege, and service and sacrifice for Him seem as nothing at all. Stewardship is the logical expression of Christian love. By faith, Christians are children of God. Christians are laborers together with God (1 Corinthians 3:9). God is the “senior partner” of the Christian. “Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you” (Philippians 2:12-13). The fact of the partnership with God gives dignity and significance to life and living. In this manner, Christian Stewardship is a divine-human partnership. Stewardship is a practical, all-man, all-time job. Stewardship is not a thing of starts and stops. One is always a steward. Sometimes a good steward, sometimes a poor steward. Stewardship is not a matter of emotion or impulse. It does not concern just a part of our time, talents, thoughts, treasures, and efforts, but it involves the whole person - all the time. All we have and are belong to God and should be used for Him and His kingdom. Christ, Our Example in Stewardship Jesus Christ is our example in every good work. First Peter 2:21 says, “...Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow His steps.” “For this cause I came into the world....”. (John 18:37). According to the Apostle Paul, Jesus became poor by coming to earth. He left His home in glory. There He was rich; here He had no place to lay His head. There angelic hosts bowed down before Him; here He was rejected of men. There He had no physical limitations; here He became man. He placed His all, His very life, at the disposal of His Father. His coming was a story of purest and highest stewardship. 10 Jesus made this sacrifice for our sakes! He loved us; therefore He gave Himself for us. This was done for us, not because we deserved it. Jesus’ stewardship not only included the giving of Himself so that we might be saved, it also included the perfect submission of His life to the will of His Father. According to John 3:34, Jesus told His disciples, “My meat is to do the will of Him that sent Me, and to finish His work.” This is the example of the stewardship of Jesus Christ. God is the greatest giver of all. It is God “who giveth food to all flesh” (Psalm 136:25) and in recognition of this giving, we are taught to pray, “Give us this day our daily bread” (Matthew 6:11). “God gives us life and breath” (Acts 17:25), strength (Psalm 68:35), and that which is good (Psalm 85:12). Everything man has comes from Him as a gift. “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son ....” (John 3:16). Christianity is a religion of total dedication. It requires all of a man’s loyalty and life. Matthew 6:24 says, “Ye cannot serve God and mammon.” We prove our dedication by returning to God a portion of our material means. Although we are not compelled to return it to God, we will if our dedication is what it should be. Malachi 3:10 says, “Prove me now herewith, said the Lord.” There is no end to God’s giving and there must be no end to our giving. John 1:16 states, “and of His fullness have we all received, and grace for grace ...” Grace for grace is the boundless generosity of God’s giving. When one gift is used up there is another to take its place. God gives with pleasure. Jesus said, “It is your Father’s good pleasure to give you ....” (Luke 12:32). A basic law of life is the law of giving. Jesus summed it up in Matthew 10:39, “He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for My sake shall find it.” Acts 20:35 states, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” Stewardship Biblical References An Unforgiving Servant ...............000. Matthew 18:23-35 The Wealth of the World is God’s .. Psalm 50:7-15 Will a Man Rob God? uu... cece eeeeeeeeeeeee Malachi 3:8-12 1] Rich Man, Poor Man .............cseeeeeeeeee Luke 16:19-31 Treasurers 1n Heaven Matthew ..........ceeeeeeeeeees Seek Godliness, Not Gold ............... 16:19-24 1 Timothy 6:6-12 Motives for Christian Stewardship The difference between what a person gives and why he gives has to do with motive. Why one gives can only be ascertained by looking at his heart. The individual whose only concern in making a budget is Satisfied when dollars are pledged. But in the interest of one’s Spiritual development, the motives for giving must be worthy. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus discussed motives Apostle Paul wrote to the church at Corinth to giving as a grace to be cultivated. for giving, praying, and fasting. Concerning giving, He admonished against giving to be seen of men and stressed giving as between a man and God (Matthew 6:1-4). The religion of the Pharisees had become so surface that even the motive for giving had become external to be seen of men. When the offering, referred which was being taken from the saints about in Jerusalem, “Therefore, abound in every thing, in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, the He as ye and in all diligence, and in your love to us, see that ye abound in this grace also” (2 Corinthians 8:7). To the Apostle Paul, giving was much more than helping others. He saw giving as something, which the Corinthians needed to do as Christians. No single motive is behind stewardship. There are a number of reasons - some primary and some secondary. People do not always give for the same reason. As they grow and develop spiritually, they have a tendency to re-evaluate their motives and to case away lesser ones and take more noble ones. A person who begins giving because of a legalistic interpretation of the Bible may continue because he wants to do his part. 12 He may give because he believes in what the church is trying to do. He may outwardly be a faithful steward long before his giving becomes a part of his worship. Some primary motives in stewardship grow out of a _ person’s relationship with God. Giving is a way of acknowledging God’s ownership of all things. Christian Stewardship acknowledges that God is the owner, and we are simply His managers or stewards. When an individual sets apart a portion of what which has come to him, he is acknowledging his relationship as a steward to his Lord. It is because of the better attitude that comes toward all possessions, that the illusion is sometimes left that a tither has more money than he had before. A person who tithes has 10% less money to spend, but the person who feels he is responsible to God for the remaining nine tenths, and acts accordingly, finds it does go farther than it did when he gave no thought of being responsible to God for his use of all his possessions. Giving provides a tangible way of showing one’s appreciation to God for what He has done. Example - When a boy tells a girl how much he loves her, but never gives her flowers or candy or any other tangible gift, he Is professing a strange kind of love - a love that seeks no outward method of expression. Real love looks for ways of expressing itself. Giving allows a man to worship God not only with what he is, but also with what he has. It is at the point of worship that we realize that God has called upon us to acknowledge our stewardship because of the need we have to give. This is closely related to the idea of sacrifice and giving in the Old Testament. The lamb of the first flock without spot or blemish was not required because God need the lamb. It was the person’s confession that God is owner of all and is the source of physical and Spiritual needs. The tithing of spices was not because God needed the spice. It was a confession that the entire flavor for life came from a right relationship with God. It is a privilege and joy to give. The churches’ work is worthy of the financial support of the members. Our Lord Jesus established the church. Where else can one find a cause more worthy of his financial support or a more challenging opportunity for service? Giving is a part of worship. 13 Examples - Abel brought his offering to God as an act of worship. King Solomon “and all Israel with” offered at the dedication of the Temple, “sacrifice before the Lord” (1 Kings 8:62). Mary of Bethany brought her box of precious ointment (John 12:3). And the poor widow cast into the treasury of the Lord her two mites (Mark 12:42). These offerings were accepted, approved by Christ, because they were offered in humble worship. There is no limit to what the Christian steward can do. more and gives more, he receives more here and When he earns hereafter (Mark 10:28-30). If the church grows, the individual member must grow. The spiritual growth of the church depends upon the spiritual growth of the membership. Members of the church must be taught to “...2roOw in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ ....” (2 Peter 3:18). Some secondary motives. There are some reasons for stewardship that are logical and right. Some give because they believe in what the church is trying to do. When a child of God looks at the church and what it does, he wants to be part of it. There are missions to support, children to be taught, people to be won, and a hundred and one services to be rendered. Most churches make this a major emphasis of their stewardship program. While this is a noble sentiment, one’s stewardship should never depend upon one’s agreement with all that the church is doing. People, who feel free to give stop giving when they do not agree with how the budget is spent, betray a very secondary motive in their giving. Some give because they want to do their part. They are this way in other areas of their life and they are this way in the church. It usually represents real growth when people realize that there is a gap between what they give and their fair share in the expenses of the church. Stewardship Biblical References Salt and Light ....... ee eeeeeeeeeeeeeeees Matthew 5:13-16 Fearing NOthing ........cccccccceeeeeeeeeeeeeeeees Philippians 1:28-30 Admonitions to Fidelity ........000.. 1 Thessalonians 5:15-23 14 Pure Religion and Undefiled ............ James Finding Real Life oe 1:22, 26-27 eeeeeeeeeeeees Matthew 16:24-25 The Joy of Obedience ..........ccceeee sees Mark 1:16-20 & Philippians 1:19-26 The Bible and the Tithe Tithing is an act of worship. It is a venture in faith. It is a covenant with God. Tithing for a Christian is an expression of his response to Christ. The genuine Christian denounces the notion that all Christ wants is only 10% of one’s money. To the Christian, tithing is an opportunity to acknowledge God’s ownership of his own stewardship. Tithing has ancient origin and the custom was almost universal in the ancient world. Tithing can be traced in Babylonia, Persia, Arabia, Egypt, Greece, Rome, and even China. Tithing was both a religious and political practice. At times, it referred to taxation for the support of the political state; at other times, it was a levy or fine imposed by a victor over his conquered enemy; at other times, it was given for religious purposes. A study of tithing passes in Deuteronomy (as well as Numbers and Leviticus) reveals that the Mosaic Law included a tithing system more so than a simple admonition to give a tithe of one’s income. The tithes of Deuteronomy were agricultural tithes, and in each instance, were recognition that the land - Canaan - was a gift of God. As the Israelites tithes the fruit of the land, they recalled the fact that it was God who led them out of Egypt and gave them a new home flowing with milk and honey (Deuteronomy 26:5-11). The use of the tithe was also fixed by law. It was to be given to the Levites for the support of the divine religion (Numbers 18:26). They were by divine give themselves exclusively to the service of the sanctuary. order, to The tithe was their inheritance for their service as ministers of the sanctuary (Numbers 18:26-32). The law of the tithe as written into the Mosaic code was not a new obligation. Rather, it was a re-affirmation of a principle which had been in operation from the remotest past. Moses did not create the tithe; he simply incorporated it into the Jewish code. 15 Later, he added two other tithes - one to provide the annual national feasts (Deuteronomy 14:22-27), and the other required every third year, to be given for the support of the poor (Deuteronomy 14:28-29). These tithes were simply the adaptation of the principle of tithing to ritual and social necessity. The tithe provided on Mount Sinai by God is grounded in man’s obligation to God, and is “holy unto the Lord.” This tithe is unquestionably and clearly distinct from the later commands mentioned above. The tithe for the annual feast and the third year tithe for the poor were not fundamental laws, but simply methods for meeting ritual necessity. They arose out of ritual requirement, and were devoted to ritualistic purposes. At Sinai, God instructed Moses to incorporate the tithe into law for the purpose of providing the finance for carrying on the divine religion. The New Testament does not repeal the Old Testament; it completes it. Every requirement, which is not rendered unnecessary because of the changed conditions produced by the redemptive work of Christ, is still obligatory. Only the laws, which were purely ceremonial, passed away. The law of the tithe is not ceremonial. It adheres in the divine sovereignty and is intended as a perpetual safeguard to men lest they should fall into the sin of thinking that they own the earthly things so freely placed in their possession. Although the New Testament was born in a atmosphere where tithing was the custom and the practice, the only scripture in the time of Christ and for nearly a half century after His crucifixion was the Old Testament. During these years, the churches had only parts of the New Testament. The scripture for their guidance was the Old Testament as interpreted by the apostles and God-called pastors. It was not necessary for the New Testament to re-affirm the law of the tithe, only necessary to assume it. If God had intended for tithing to stop with the fulfillment of the Old Covenant, it would have been mentioned somewhere. more Tithing is mentioned in the New Testament by than one writer (Luke 11:42; Matthew 22:21; Hebrews 7:1-10; 1 Corinthians 16:2) is evidence of God’s approval of its practice in the church today. 16 Stewardship Biblical References The Nature of God’s Word. ............0 Psalm 19:7-11 Highway tO GaZad .u..cccsccsssssssscseseceeeeeees Acts 8:34-35 Authority of God’s Word ..............0008 2 Timothy 3:14-17 JESUS 1N SCTIPCULe 20... eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeees Acts 8:34-35 God’s Glory and Man’s Need ............. Matthew 6:9-13 The Unfailing Response ..............00 Luke 11:9-13 Paul Prays for His Friends ................. Philippians 1:3-7 Why? How? Where? Shall I Give the Tithe? Tithing is proportionate giving. Tithing is the only fair way for both the rich and the poor. Tithing is 1/10" of one’s income. No income, pay nothing. It is unfair to ask everybody in the church to give the Same amount. Some may not be able and others will be able to give more than asked. A working system of proportionate giving can make the principle of stewardship actual and living. We should be Christian stewards because we cannot please God unless we are. Faith in Christian character will never increase in our lives until we recognize certain facts. The first and foremost facts is that everything we have has been given to us by God, and that we must administer our possessions under His sovereign guidance. We are not to think that what we give to the Lord is His portion and that what we keep is ours. It is ALL His and the portion we give is a token of our acknowledgement of His possession of all and the measure of our devotion to Him and to His Kingdom. We can regard this as the interest we pay God on the capital He has entrusted to us. The Christian use of money adds something to the enrichment of our spiritual life, which can be achieved in no other way. Giving money to the church principal is not means a burdensome God employs necessity; for Le actually it is one enriching our souls of the and for conferring upon us immeasurable joy. Those who have caught the idea of Christian Stewardship and practice it throughout their lives are happy and content to the extent, which defies description. No, God does not need our gifts; it is we who need the giving. When we trust, respond, and give on a regular basis, our lives are filed with joy and true contentment. There are at least four steps to tithing: l. Decide that you will tithe. Make this decision now - today. 2. Start tithing now - today. It is a matter first of the heart - then of the head and purse. Set aside one-tenth of the money you have on hand now. Bi Stay with the decision to tithe. Make your decision stick come what may. 4. Finish the rest of your life as a tither and you will be happy. Ww & WN A tither gives: Through his/her church (Malachi 3:10) Liberally (Luke 6:38) Sacrificially (2 Corinthians 8:1-4) Cheerfully (2 Corinthians 9:7) Regularly (1 Corinthians 16:2) Some surprises the Christian who begins to tithe will have: 1. The amount of money he/she has for the Lord’s work. Z, The deepening of his/her spiritual life in paying the tithe. 3. The ease of meeting his/her own obligation with the ninetenths. 4. The ease of going from one-tenth to larger given. i The preparation this gives to be a faithful and wise steward over the nine-tenths that remain. 6. Him/herself in not adopting the plan sooner. The local church is the proper place for the offering of the tithe. A Baptist church usually allows every member to help in the custody and distribution of the funds entrusted to it because of the democratic nature of the organization. 18 Many “good causes” demand a part of Christian’s earnings, most are worthy and warrants our support with a part of our tithe. However, the needs for these worthy causes would not have arisen if all Christian stewards had been tithing through their churches. The welfare and social needs of our society can well be cared for by our churches if their finances and manpower were sufficient, “Bring ye all the tithe into the storehouse,” means pay the tithe to a local church. Throughout the Bible, we find the Lord being pleased with the gifts of those who love Him (Genesis 8:20-21 & Mark 12:41-44). God delights in the offerings of His people whether self or substance. “The Lord never completely gets you until He gets yours.” A Christian needs to give. The gifts are needed, but more importantly, the Christian needs to give “God loves a cheerful, willing giver.” Stewardship Biblical References Differing Gifts wo. eceeeseeeseeeeeeeeeseeeens Romans 1|2:6-8 The Primary Stewardship ............00008. 2 Corinthians 8:3-5 Epaphroditus, My Brother ................ Philippians 2:25-30 Philip in SAMAria .........cccceeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeees Acts 8:5-18 Tne NGW LYCQUUTE cccnssmnscwumunneence 2 Corinthians 5:1 7-20 Witnessing in Bonds .................0000ceeeee Philippians 1:12-18 Sacrifice in Christ’s Name .............00. 2 Corinthians 11:18-20 Avoid Uncharitableness .............00000 1 Peter 2:1-10 Look to One’s Duties «00... eeeeeeeeees ] Peter 2:18-25 Unity and LOVE ..........cccceeeeeeeesseeeeeeeeeeees ] Peter 3:8-17 Christ the Foundation ...................0008 1 Corinthians 3:1-10 The Ministry of Witness ........... 1 Corinthians 4:1-5 Failures in Fellowship ..............ccccceeeeees 1 Corinthians 6:1-8 Freedom iN SeLViICE ........cceeceeeeeeeeeeeeeeeees 1 Corinthians 7:1 7-24 19 Some Bible Answers for Non-Tithers One basic reason why people do not tithe is the false assumption “What I make is mine and I can do with it as I will.” However, one does not earn his/her income all by him/herself without the help of others and without God's help - one can do nothing. Other men provide jobs we work on, pay us for our services, and buy the products we make and sell. Without other men, no one can earn his income. God provides strength, the intelligence, and everything else one must have to earn his/her income. The Bible says, “we are not our own” (1 Corinthians 6:19); “the earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof.... (Psalm 2:8); “and the cattle upon a thousand hills” (Psalm 50:10), and He owns the hills. When Christian stewards believe what they have is their own. income which we call our God’s Word, they won't think that God owns the property, land, money, and own. This is God’s world. When we recognize this, we realize that the tithe belongs to God and, therefore, a man is not paying the preacher, utilities, the debt, but we are paying God what already belongs to Him. If a Christian recognizes God’s ownership of the tithe, he will recognize God’s ownership of all. What we possess belongs to God. God wants us to possess material things, but He does not want material things to possess us. We are His stewards, responsible to Him for how we use what He has committed to us. Tithing is His plan for the financing of His Kingdom Program. “Iam _ in debt, I must pay my bills before I can give.” This objection to paying tithe reflects a basic spiritual inadequacy, a lack of the proper understanding of the grand and importance of Kingdom work and our relationship to God. Most persons are in debt. Credit is the way we get things - so much down and so much a week or month. we say we own. Loan companies, Not everyone pays cash for what banks, because people don’t have enough money credit unions, etc., all exist to pay cash for what they buy. A bumper sticker reads, “I Owe, I Owe, I Owe, So Off To Work I Go, I Go, I Go.” Tennessee Ernie Ford had a song from back in the day 20 with a line that said, “Sixteen tons, what do you get? Another day older and deeper in debt. St. Peter don’t you call me cause I can’t go, I owe my soul to the company store.” The Bible does not say, “all of you who are not in debt, bring the tithes into the storehouse,” but “bring ye all the tithes ...”. To whom are we indebted, the person from whom we get credit or God, who has freely given us all things (Romans 8:32) and from whom cometh “every good and perfect gift” (James 1:17)? We owe everything to God as to any man. If giving is placed on the basis of debt, God gets the first portion of every man’s income. Our debt to God comes first not last. Tithe is a debt, not a gift. We owe the tithe. We cannot give until we have paid. Example: If a haircut cost a dollar and you pay a dollar, you have paid what you owe. However, if you pay $1.25, you have paid for the haircut and given a quarter. So it is with tithing. When we tithe, we are paying God what we owe. The amount put in over and above the tithe is a gift. “I cannot afford to tithe, I don’t earn enough.” Try it and see. Whom would you believe about a particular product or service, the person who has tried it and found it satisfactory or the person who has never tried it? I contend that, the ones who complain or object to tithing have never tried it. Those who tithe can testify that they are not poorer about the tithe being too hard on them, it is usually some other person who is trying to build a smoke screen behind which to hide their own covetousness. The poor man does not complain unless he has covetousness in his heart. When we have the right understanding of the grace of giving and a willingness to do our part, tithing does not cost, it pays. God wants His children, rich and poor alike. Kingdom to be supported by all His The tithe is an appeal to faith - “prove Me now’ ....” and “seek ye first the kingdom....” Fundamentally, tithing has nothing to do with either poverty or riches, but with the relationship we have with God. 21 God did not institute tithing for His sake, everything belongs to Him, but for ours. “Where Does the Bible Teach Tithing?” From cover to cover (Genesis to Revelation). The basic principle underlying every book in the Old Testament and New Testament have to do with the sovereignty of God. The Old Testament - Genesis 28:20-23, Leviticus 27:30-34 and Malachi 3:8-10. The Pharisees and other Jews strictly practiced tithing in the New Testament times. It was necessary for Jesus to rebuke hypocrisy then, but is was not necessary for Him to further emphasize tithing, because they were already tithing. “Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets; I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill” (Matthew 5:17). “These ye ought to have done, and not to leave the other undone” (Luke 11:42 & Matthew 2222), A law remains a law until it is annulled. For the law of the tithe to stand in our day, it is not necessary that it is repeated, but only that it not be countermanded The Christian in the New Testament. Instead of reversal, repeal or abrogation, we find fulfillment and reinforcement. Jesus said a lot about the right use of possessions than any other single subject. There are more than 1,500 references to giving in the Bible. tithes, not because of the demands because of the compulsion of his love for Christ. “Salvation is Free. of the law, but We are Not Under the Law, We are Under Grace” Yes, we are, but under grace it is a disgrace to give less than what is required under the law. Salvation is free. We cannot earn nor help our salvation, but if our gratitude to God, under grace, is less than that of those who knew not Christ, something is wrong within us. Yes, Salvation is free, but one of the manifestations of grace is liberality giving generously, abundantly. Grace has not repealed the Ten Commandments, but it has given more strength to keep them and provide more compelling motives for doing SO. 22 When giving is mentioned throughout the Bible, nowhere is any portion les than the tithe indicated. The Christian, under grace, has a “I Believe in Tithing, but I Cannot Church” Give All My Tithe Through the “Bring tithe, the larger obligation and privilege than those who live under the law. ye all the tithe (the whole storehouse...” saith the Lord (Malachi 3:10). not hole tithe) into “The tithe is holy unto the Lord ... the tenth shall be holy unto the Lord” (Leviticus 27:30, 32). The Lord’s tithe is not for secular uses. In the Old Testament, the charity tithe for the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow was brought in addition to the regular tithe (Deuteronomy 14:28-29). In the New Testament, the Jerusalem Christians gave fare more than the tithe because of the need of their brethren from afar (Acts 4:32-37). Later, the Christians in Asia Minor and Europe gave liberally beyond their tithe because of the tithe. But the charitable need of the Jerusalem Christians. outside the church, however The charitable work done through the church in the Lord’s name, for which the Lord receives the glory, is rightly paid out of the Lord’s causes worthy and fine, are not usually supported with the Lord’s tithe when one has the teachings of the Bible clearly in mind. More charitable work in the community out to be done by the churches and more can be done when all Christians bring the tithe to the Lord’s house. The principle is this: the Lord’s tithe is not for general community work, but for the Lord’s work. Stewardship Biblical References Vain WOrship ......ccccccccccceceeeceeeeeeeeeeeeeees Isaiah 1:11-15 The Only Way Out ............ cece Isaiah 1:16-18 Jesus Defines True Worship ............ John 4:19-24 God Loves a Cheerful Giver ............. 2 Corinthians 9:6-9 Contentment in All Things ............ Philippians 4:10-16 The Reward of Stewardship ............ Philippians 4:1 7-18 Will & Man ROD GOG? secesessscorvsseisesees Malachi 3:8-12 Z9 Factors (Life, Time, Talent, Treasure, Through Stewardship Gospel) and Growth The word “stewardship” is usually applied to the Christian use of money. But money is not the only factor in that divine trust which God has committed to us. Time, talents, personality, and energy, Station in life - all these furnish mighty opportunities to serve God. Furthermore, these are all gifts from God. In a day when psychology holds the center of the stage, it is hard for us to realize the important place, which the body plays in our existence. Christian doctrine is extremely realistic which reference to the body. The only way to keep the body pleasing to God is to make it a mighty factor in glorifying the Creator and Father - keep sacrificing it to God and His Kingdom, presenting the body “a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God....” The sacrifice most acceptable to God is a life of unselfish service in which we glorify Him, benefit our fellows, and enrich our own souls by constantly impulses and “Yes” to the higher. saying “No” to our lower The best gift we can ever present to God is our hearts and the best way we can show our love for Him is by diligent and sacrificial service, using the abilities He has given us in that station of life, which we happen to occupy. God wants what we are than what we have. Time given to God reading and prayer. is more than the time spent in worship, Bible God wants that we will recognize Him in all our ways. God wants that we will use all of our time to His glory. Time is a gift from God, given to use for just a season. Time is the same to all - rich or poor, black or white, fool or sage. The difference is not in the amount of time one has, but in how he uses the time which is his. A good steward will have time for Bible reading, meditation and prayer and observe the Lord’s Day properly. He does not want to be pharisaical or puritanical as to rob the day of all joy, nor does he want to be so secular and worldly that he will destroy the meaning and the purpose of the day (Mark 2:27). 24 The parable of Matthew 25:14-20 tells about the man who went on a long journey and entrusted to his servants his property. This parable is not about complete equality of talents or gifts, but to show that we are all free created with equal rights before God, but there are To each of us according to our ability, differences in ability. something is given for the Master’s use. The question is not “How much have you?” but, “How do you use what you have?” Although this parable is directed at the one-talent man who hid what he had, there are some people just like him today. It is not unusual to hear someone Say, “I can’t do like so and so, or “Ask, so and so to do it, they do it so much better.” There re more one-talent men than five or two talent men - more with limited abilities than those with unlimited abilities. While looking at men with multiple talents and gifts, the men of few talents are likely to develop an inferiority complex and spend their lives in fearful inferiority. They sacrifice the enjoyment of that one talent and the growth and prosperity that may come in its wise investment. They make up excuses not to do. They lose everything and gain nothing. They never grow. They never help the Lord’s program. If a writer does not write, he forgets how to write. If a musician does not practice, he loses his touch. If a golfer does not practice his shots, he never wins a championship. The greater the faithfulness, greater the reward; the greater the laziness, the greater punishment. Use what you have or lose it! the the Matthew on 6:19-21 earth, where moth says, “Do not lay up and rust consume for yourselves and where treasures thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” 25 The following story makes it very clear about What Isn't!” “What is Treasure and Many years ago, two young friends decided they’d spend their lives looking for gold. They sold the few things they had and went out West to look for gold. They looked and looked and looked, but they weren’t too successful. They found a little bit of gold. For over forty years they filled up a small bag. In the meantime, life passed them by. One day, they were in a river panning for gold. One of the prospectors saw something shining in his pan. He took it out and washed it off. It looked like gold. He bit it to see if was soft like gold. It was. He started to yell to his friend, “We struck it rich!” Instead, for some strange reason, he put the nugget into his pocket. Before the day was over, he found three or four nuggets. He knew this was what he’d been looking for. In the early morning, before his friend woke up, he got up and headed for town. He went straight to the land office and gave the whole little bag of gold he and his friend had collected for over forty years to buy the land with the river of gold. As he turned to leave, his friend arrived. “You dirty rat, you found gold and kept it all to yourself. You're no longer my friend,” he yelled. The man who had bought the land went to the assayer office to have his nuggets weighed and measured. He had found gold, bought the land and was ready to become a millionaire. 26 The assayer weighed the nuggets, then tested them with chemicals. “I’m sorry,” he said as he handed the man his nuggets back. “This is fool’s gold, iron pyrite, worthless. Only an expert can tell the difference!” What the man thought was treasure was worth nothing. And it had cost him everything, even his friend of forty years. We think things clothes, family. are treasures - gold, money, houses, land, cars, nice But real treasures are spiritual, not things. buy, handle, or sell real treasures. You can’t Real treasures are spiritual gifts like friendship, love, hope, faith, God, church, the Bible. Seek real treasures: people, not things; giving, not getting; doing right, not wrong. And above all else, seek faith in God and faithfulness to God. Put your heart where the real treasures are - God, people, giving, doing good. Then you'll always be a rich person, truly rich, not worldly rich! Salvation through Jesus Christ is offered to men everywhere and in every age. It is our duty to see that God’s offer of forgiveness through Jesus Christ is presented to as many people as possible. This is the stewardship of the gospel. “We are ambassadors therefore on behalf of Christ.” We are to represent Christ in all the walks of life and how His redeeming and reconciling love in the way we behave, the words we say, and the impulses we entertain. Matthew 25:14-20 shows how one grows through stewardship. All God expects of any of us is that we do our very best for Him with what we have. He does not expect the impossible from any of us, but He demands that whatever talent we have be used. He expects more of those to whom much is given. Greater responsibilities accompany ereater gifts and greater opportunity. But we are to go to work with What we have. We have no right to sit down on the “stool of do nothing until He comes.” We are to be active in the Lord’s business. We are Master’s tenant farmers land, using what possessions and abilities. (stewards) we have ZH on this earth, in a stewardship working on of talents the and Have you noticed that churches women fail, not because they lack men of great ability or wealth in their membership, but because many with limited abilities refuse to contribute or to work? Stewardship Biblical References Obedient to the Vision ................008 Acts 26:19-23 Justification by Faith ........ee Romans 5:1-8 A Cloud of Witnesses ..........ccceeeeeee Hebrews 12:1-2 Service iN BONAGE ........ccccceeeeeeeeeee eens Acts 28:16-31 The Plumb Line .........c.cccceeeeeeeeeeeseeeeees Amos 7:7-9 The Marks of Righteousness ............ Luke 3:10-14 A Mighty Decision ............cccceeeeeeees Acts 15:13-20 Reading the Word. .........eceeeeeeeeees Luke 4:16-21 Examining the Scripture Daily ......... Acts 17:10-15 Our Heritage and JOY ..............ceeeeee Psalm 119:105-112 28 and so Praise the Lord There was a little old lady who was very spiritual who would step out on her porch every day, raise her arms to the sky and yell, “Praise the Lord.” One day, an atheist bought the house next door to her and he became very irritated with the spiritual lady. So after a month or so of her yelling, “Praise the Lord” from her porch, he went outside on his porch and yelled back, continued. “There is no Lord.” Yet, the little old lady One cold, winter day, when the little old lady couldn't get to the store, she went out on her porch, raised her hands up the sky and said, “Help more food.” bags me Lord, I have no money, it’s cold, and I have no The next morning, she went outside and there were three of food on the porch, enough to last her a week. “Praise the Lord!” she yelled. The atheist stepped out from the bushes and said, “There is no Lord. Ha-Ha-Ha, I bought those groceries!” The little old lady raised her arms to the sky and said, “Praise the Lord, you sent me eroceries and you made the Devil pay for them 29 The True Meaning of Wealth and Poverty Just to share with all of you .... One day, a father of a very wealthy family took his son on a trip to the country with the firm purpose of showing his son how poor people can be. They spent a couple of days and nights on the farm of what would be considered a very poor family. On their return from the trip, the father asked his son, “How was the trip?” “It was great, Dad.” “Did you see how poor people can be?” the father asked. “Oh yeah,” said the son. “So what did you learn from the trip?” asked the father. The son answered, “I saw that we have one dog and they have four. We have a pool that reaches to the middle of our garden and they have a creek that has no end. We have imported lanterns in our garden and they have the stars at night. Our patio reaches to the front yard and they have the whole horizon. We have a small piece of land to live on and they have fields that go beyond our sight. We have servants who serve us, but they serve others. We buy our food, but they grow theirs. We have walls around our property to protect us and they have friends to protect them.” With this, the boy’s father was speechless! Then his son added, “Thanks, Dad, for showing me how poor we are.” Too many times we forget what we have and concentrate on what we don’t have. What is one person’s worthless object is another’s prize possession. It is all based on one’s perspective. May God bless each and every one of you. Take joy in all that He has given us, especially our Friends. 30 Christian Stewardship Study Guide What will I do to get started/improve my Christian Stewardship and Mission? Bibliography The Holy Bible What the Bible Says About Stewardship - You Are in Charge of God’s Gifts to You - A.Q. Van Benschoten, Jr., Judson Press, Valley Force, 1983 Each of Us - The life we live and the service we give. 32