Stewardship, Sowing and Reaping.

6. Stewardship, Sowing and Reaping

Key Scriptures

2 Corinthians 9:6–15

Luke 19:11–27

Acts 20:35

1 Corinthians 4:1–2

Luke 12:42–48

John 12:24

Matthew 25:14–46

Acts 4:32–35

What is stewardship?

A steward is a person who is entrusted with another person’s property.

As disciples of Jesus, it is important to remember that everything we have comes from God (Acts 17:25). God is the owner and He has appointed us to be His stewards (Matthew 25:14). We need, therefore, to be God’s stewards in everything. This is both a privilege and a responsibility, because God will hold us accountable for how we have handled what He has entrusted to us

(Romans 14:12; 1 Corinthians 4:2). A good steward is expected to be faithful and dedicated to his master (Luke 16:12) and manage his master’s property well. This means that a steward must always act in the interest of the owner (Matthew 25:14–30).

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Five areas of stewardship

1. Our finances

The purposes of God in relation to finances

to demonstrate His power and to confirm His love and care for us (Matthew 6:32–34).

to bless His children.

to unite Christians in deeper caring fellowship (2 Corinthians 18:14–15).

to confirm God’s direction and guidance, either by withholding or making available finance.

to involve us in abundant Christian living. We cannot live the Christian life effectively until we recognise the unique relationship between giving and receiving (Luke 6:38; 2 Corinthians 9:6).

Why should we give?

because the Bible teaches it (Malachi 3:7–12).

because Christ commanded it (Luke 6:38).

because we love God and giving is a way of showing our love for Him (1 Corinthians 13:4).

because it is more blessed to give than to receive according to Jesus (Acts 20:35).

because our heart and our affections will be where our treasures are (Matthew 6:19–21).

because any investments will be eternal (1 Timothy 6:17–19).

because Christ gave Himself sacrificially for us (2 Corinthians 8:9).

because giving is a divine grace (2 Corinthians 8:1–5).

because giving releases the giving of God (Proverbs 11:24–25; Proverbs 19:17).

because all that we have we gained through the health and strength God has given us (Deuteronomy 8:17–18).

because God wants to sow our money as seed into His work as a venture of faith, so that we will see Him bring forth an increase (2 Corinthians 9:6–13).

because we want to give freely in proportion to the blessing God has given us (Deuteronomy 16:10).

There are three kinds of givers: the flint, the sponge and the honeycomb. To get anything out of the flint, you must hammer it; to get water out of the sponge you must squeeze it; but the honeycomb just overflows with its sweetness. Some people are as hard as flint; others like sponge, yield to pressure; while others give without being asked. (James Duff)

We are to give to God:

willingly (1 Chronicles 29:3,5,9).

sacrificially (Luke 21:1–4).

joyfully (2 Corinthians 9:7).

obediently (2 Corinthians 9:13).

freely and cheerfully (2 Corinthians 9:7).

proportionately and regularly (1 Corinthians 16:2).

generously (2 Corinthians 8:2).

Tithing

Tithing is giving a tenth of what we receive to God. It is not a donation to God, but merely the recognition of His ownership of our lives. The tithe belongs to the Lord (Leviticus 27:30–34). Everything on this earth belongs to the Lord and He has given us the stewardship of 90% of it. However, there is still a 10% portion that remains His (Matthew 22:21). The New Testament expounds giving not just in terms of 10% of our income, as that is accepted as belonging to God, our giving should be in the light of Jesus’ example which was sacrificial: it cost!

From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked. (Luke 12:48)

Tithes pre-date the law. They were first given by Abraham, the Father of our faith, to Melchizedek, priest of God Most High (Genesis 14:18–20). For the disciple of Jesus, tithes are a direct way of acknowledging the priestly ministry of the Lord Jesus (who is a priest according to the order of Melchizedek – Hebrews 7:1–28). Not to tithe is to rob God and deprive ourselves of a great blessing from God (Malachi 3:8–12; Proverbs 3:9–10).

In the Old Testament, the tithes supported the Levites, the tribe without land, who served in the worship and ministry to God. Today tithes are basically for the support of those in full-time ministry (Numbers 18:21–24), for the running of the church, and should be given as the Lord directs. In addition to our regular committed gifts (such as tithes), we have the opportunity and privilege of making a freewill offering to the Lord (2 Corinthians 8:1–15). This may be for special projects, special love gifts to ministries, or special needs of the body of Christ (widows, orphans etc.) or in the wider world (famine etc.). On the first day of the week, each of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income. (1 Corinthians 16:2) But remember, Whoever sows sparingly will reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. (2 Corinthians 9:6) 2. Our time Time is valuable because there isn’t much of it and it cannot be repeated. We need to use our time for the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31). Therefore, we need to set goals for our time as God directs us, and aim towards their fulfilment in the power of God. 3. Our Bodies We need to offer our bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God, as this is our spiritual worship (Romans 12:1). We are temples of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 3:16; 1 Corinthians 6:19–20), so we should not yield our bodies over to sin, but rather we should give them totally over to God for Him to use as He desires (Romans 6:13). God also wants us to live in a way that keeps our bodies healthy (Mark 6:31). This means we should not allow our health to be damaged by such as worrying, over-eating and smoking. We must not, however, make physical exercise an idol either! (1 Timothy 4:8). 4. Our possessions God has given us everything we have, so we should live using all our worldly wealth and possessions to bring glory to Him and for the extension of His Kingdom. Jesus actually encourages us to use our worldly wealth to make friends for ourselves and for God (Luke 16:1–13). Our home, in particular, should be a place used for God, where hospitality is offered and help is given. 5. Our natural and spiritual gifts Our gifts are given to us by God so that we might serve Him, the body of Christ and others fruitfully. We need to be good stewards of our spiritual gifts and our natural talents, using them as God directs in order to bring glory to God and extension to His Kingdom. Sowing and reaping Jesus said, Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. (Luke 6:38) This verse comes in the context of forgiveness, but the principle is universal within the Kingdom of God. Faith is not just about getting from God. It is true that the New Testament is full of the promises of God which encourage us to believe that He will give us all that we need to fulfil His will. Jesus spoke many times about being able to ask the Father, so that we might be able to receive the good things He has in store for us (Luke 11:9–13). We are encouraged to come and ask the Father for those things we need. He is a good Father who knows how to give good gifts to His children, BUT that is not all there is to it: God is interested in our motives. It is not just a matter of asking the Father so we can be self-indulgent or just fulfil our own desires (James 4:2–3). Sowing for God Faith operates on God’s principle of sowing and reaping. Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. (2 Corinthians 9:6) God does not only look at the amount of money, or anything else that we give. He looks at the heart with which we give it (Mark 12:41–44). Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. (2 Corinthians 9:7) If you sow for God you will reap for God. It is God’s purpose to bless those who sow for Him. The principles of creation and new creation God has built this principle into the natural order of things. No farmer in his right mind would sit and look at the seed in his barn. It would profit him nothing to sit and gloat over the little he had. What he must do is get out his plough and break up the fallow ground. Then he must sow his seed in season. After he has sown his seed he can look forward to a rich harvest. This is how God has always worked. It is the very heart principle of the cross of Calvary. Jesus knew this when He said, The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. I tell you the truth, unless an ear of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. (John 12:23–24) God’s multiplication tables Men of faith sow for God. If God says sow money, time, energy, or even life itself, they do just that. They believe the promise of the Father that He will return to them a hundred-fold (Matthew 19:29). This, however, isn’t their motivation. Their concern is for the Kingdom. They want to be rich for the Kingdom.

Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. (Matthew 6:33 NKJV) His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness. (2 Peter 1:3) No waste with God Jim Elliott, a missionary in Ecuador who was martyred for his faith, wrote, He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep, to gain what he cannot lose. God never wastes His seed and He promises the best return possible on everything that is sown for Him. Jesus said, Whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it. (Matthew 16:25) Apply it to life Satan is robbing the resources of heaven. Through self-interest, self-pity and greed he has paralysed the saints of God. The church ought to be the greatest powerhouse on earth for releasing the resources of faith. Instead it has chosen to follow the way of the world with its investment funds and worldly financial attitudes. No wonder God cannot bless it, because He can only bless those who walk in the way of faith. God often returns the blessing in ways that are quite different from the seed that is sown, but He never pays short. Jesus said that it is more blessed to give than to receive (Acts 20:35). In fact, we should receive in order to be able to give again. Now He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and ... your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. (2 Corinthians 9:10–11) Questions and Discussion Points When you have a need, do you look to people on earth to provide for you, or do you look to your eternal source of supply in heaven? Who do you tell when you have a need? Does God always respond to our giving? (Luke 6:38; 2 Corinthians 9:6). “How can I repay the Lord for all His goodness to me?” (Psalm 116:12). Discuss. When we are well off or rich, what should we do as disciples of Jesus? (1 Timothy 6:17–19). What dangers does wealth hold? (Matthew 6:21, 24; Mark 4:19). When we are poor, what is our hope? (James 2:5). What should our attitude be, whatever our circumstances? (Philippians 4:11–13). What are some of the rewards for good stewardship? (Luke 16:10–12; Matthew 25:20–23, 31–40). Read Matthew 13:1–23 and discuss the passage in the light of the principles of sowing and reaping. Discuss ways in which you have sown seed for God and ways in which you have reaped a harvest!

Gordon, Bob. The Foundations of Christian Living (The Sovereign World Foundations Series) . Sovereign World Ltd. Kindle Edition.