AGM Devotion (December 2nd, 2023)

Good morning, it is an honour for me to share a devotion as we prepare our hearts and minds for the budget meeting. The topic I’ve been asked to address is financial stewardship.

What exactly is stewardship?

Stewardship means having the responsibility of management.

Management comes with order, structure, and arrangement.

So, when we are talking about financial stewardship from a Christian perspective, we are talking about the righteous and faithful handling of God’s money.

I say, “God’s money,” because the finance (or the number) that you see in the budget is ultimately not my money, our money, but God’s money.

In 2 Corinthians 9, we are given an example of the generous giving from the church in Macedonia to the poor believers in Jerusalem, and broad principles of financial stewardship.

So, broadly speaking, I think this passage answers three questions as we think about financial stewardship in our church context:

1. How did OBC receive God’s money?

2. How should OBC use God’s money?

3. What should be OBC’s purpose of using God’s money?

1. How did OBC receive God’s money?

2 Corinthians 9:10 ESV

10 He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness.

OBC received God’s money from…God Himself…through the generous giving of God’s people.

Because God is a generous God, Christians are to follow His example by sowing seed (aka. giving generously).

Such giving from God shows His abundant grace.

Christian giving should not be forced, but it should ideally flow from a heart of love for God because God loves a cheerful giver.

2. How should OBC use God’s money?

2 Corinthians 9:12–13 ESV

12 For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God. 13 By their approval of this service, they will glorify God because of your submission that comes from your confession of the gospel of Christ, and the generosity of your contribution for them and for all others,

Verses 12-13 reveal that the Church is called to use God's money for the benefit of others.

When the church has collected money for the Jerusalem church, it is an integral part of the ministry of the gospel and an act of public worship.

Such generousity of the church should cause others to offer thanksgivings to God as they see the work of God’s grace in the lives of generous believers.

Now, many folks in this church may not know or see the generous giving of believers at OBC, but they will inevitably be blessed and effected.

As we use the money for gospel ministry, we pray and hope that many would come to know Jesus, and give thanks and worship God.

3. What should be OBC’s purpose of using God’s money?

It’s mentioned in the same verses, but we are to use God’s money to glorify Him.

God’s generosity in giving and meeting the needs of this church is a reflection of God’s grace.

We, at Oakridge Baptist Church, become a channel of God's grace, not merely meeting physical needs but meeting spiritual needs, which is proclaiming the good news of Jesus and having sinners be reconciled to God through Jesus’ death and resurrection.

The goal is not just financial provision but the enrichment and equipping of every believer for ministry.

So, in summary, as we begin our budget meeting, let us think about the principles of financial stewardship:

God has given us His money through the generous giving of His people.

God expects us to use His money to benefit others so that God’s people would be spiritually edified, and that sinners would hear the gospel.

The purpose of using God’s money is to glorify Him.