Stewardship

Introduction

God is the source of all blessings, temporal and spiritual; all that we have and are we owe to Him. Christians have a spiritual debtorship to the whole world, a holy trusteeship in the gospel, and a binding stewardship in their possessions. They are therefore under obligation to serve Him with their time, talents, and material possessions; and should recognize all these as entrusted to them to use for the glory of God and for helping others. According to the Scriptures, Christians should contribute of their means cheerfully, regularly, systematically, proportionately, and liberally for the advancement of the Redeemer’s cause on earth.

The Baptist Faith and Message, Article XIII

The Baptist Faith and Message is not just concerned about BELIEF, but also BEHAVIOR

Not just Christian doctrine—Christian life too

Last week —> Christian education

Tonight —> Christian stewardship

Stewardship: The responsibility to manage resources God has placed in our care

Example: We have a “Stewardship Committee” who manages the money God has placed in our care

The Bible has much to say about stewardship, therefore it is included in what our Confession has to say about the Christian life

Outline

1. Godly stewardship requires a biblical perspective.

2. Godly stewardship is a holy trusteeship.

3. Godly stewardship is of means for the glory of God.

1. Godly stewardship requires a biblical perspective.

The responsibility of stewardship is rooted in what it means to be image-bearing human beings

In Genesis 1-2 Adam and Eve are charged with being a steward of the Garden

He is to work it and keep it (Gen 2:15)

He is to name the animals (Gen 2:19)

He and his wife are image-bearers and they are to have dominion creation (Gen 1:28-31)

Fill it and subdue it

Eat from it

Part of what it means to bear God’s image and be his “vice-regent” is take resources that God has entrusted and manage them according to God’s commands

This is why the Faith and Message says:

God is the source of all blessings, temporal and spiritual; all that we have and are we owe to Him.

The Baptist Faith and Message, Article XIII

Here are a few important biblical principles regarding Stewardship

A. Everything belongs to God.

The Bible starts with “In the beginning, God created...”

He is the Maker and Owner of Creation

Psalm 24:1 says “The earth is the Lord’s and everything in it.” —It belongs to Him.

Psalm 95:3–5 ESV

For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods. In his hand are the depths of the earth; the heights of the mountains are his also. The sea is his, for he made it, and his hands formed the dry land.

Look up high to the mountain—It’s His.

Look down into the valleys—It’s His.

Look to the deserts—It’s His.

Look to the oceans—It’s His.

There is not a square inch in the whole domain of our human existence over which Christ, who is Sovereign over all, does not cry, Mine!

Abraham Kuyper

B. Everything we have is a trust.

If everything belongs to God, then anything we have is something we are managing on His behalf.

This stands in contrast to the worldview of modern secularism

We live in a society that champions human self-sufficiency

No need for God

No need for concerns about stewarding

Everything belongs to man and man will decide what he will do with it

But the Bible exposes this as being incredibly prideful and foolish

Everyone who lives on this planet and breathes air is dwelling on an Earth they did not create

They eat its vegetables and grains

They receive its gifts

They use up its resources

Yet they do not stop to consider where it came from

The Scriptures tell—In the beginning God...

All we have is a trust.

The fact that so many neglect this reality is one of humanity’s greatest sins

The latest version of it in America is calling the Universe God.

This is pure idolatry—treating the created thing like the Creator

This is why we don’t use language like Mother Earth

There is Father God and there is His creation

Calling Creation God is blasphemous

In the end they will answer for this...

C. Everyone will give an account to God.

In the end, everyone will answer for how they have stewarded the lives and gifts God has given them

All men have been appointed to face judgment (Hebrews 9:27)

Revelation 20 says that in the end, everyone will stand before God’s throne and be judged “according to what they had done.” (Rev 20:12)

God allots a certain amount of this world’s bounty to each one of us

What will we do with it?

All will deal with THAT question before God one day

A Christian Responsibility

But even if the whole world lacks gratitude to God...

If the whole world is pridefully acting like they are self-sufficient...

If the whole world is idolatrous...

The Church should be found as the best of stewards on this planet...

We should be the wisest and best stewards of the planet...

We should be the wisest and best stewards of our money...

We should be the wisest and best stewards of our time...

We know God is the Source of All Blessings

And we know that we owe all to Him.

2. Godly stewardship is a holy trusteeship.

Christians have a spiritual debtorship to the whole world, a holy trusteeship in the gospel, and a binding stewardship in their possessions. They are therefore under obligation to serve Him with their time, talents, and material possessions.

The Baptist Faith and Message, Article XIII

As those who have the Bible...

As those who understand that we have been brought at a price...

...Christians should be people who take stewardship particularly seriously

The Stuff of this World is Temporary

The Christian worldview is built on seeking a city that is better than this one we currently live in.

Hebrews 13:14 ESV

For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come.

We know Christ is the true Treasure.

We know that sharing in His resurrection in New Jerusalem is better than anything the world has to offer

Philippians 3:10–11 ESV

that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.

We lay up our treasure for that day

This is a revolutionary way to live

Living for Christ frees you from the bondage of living for material possessions and money

The world is in a panic to stack up as much wealth as they can

Christians understand that all of this is temporary

Spiritual Debtorship

But this does not mean that we retreat away from the money-loving world

Just the opposite—we use our resources to take the Gospel to them

Why do we do this?

The Faith and Message says it is because we have a spiritual debtorship to the world

This language alludes to Paul’s words in Romans 1:13-14

Romans 1:13–14 ESV

I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that I have often intended to come to you (but thus far have been prevented), in order that I may reap some harvest among you as well as among the rest of the Gentiles. I am under obligation both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish.

The KJV says, “I am a debtor both to Greek and barbarians...”

Paul was a witness to the power of the Gospel

Having this message of the Gospel, he felt an obligation to the world

How could he receive such mercy and withhold it from others—Jew and Gentile?

This is how we should all feel

Since we have this spiritual debtorship toward the world, we have a holy trusteeship in the Gospel

Holy Trusteeship

The reason Paul felt his “obligation” is because the Gospel had been entrusted to him—just as it is with all Christians

1 Thessalonians 2:4 ESV

but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not to please man, but to please God who tests our hearts.

There is nothing more valuable that you have than the Gospel.

In fact, it is so valuable that everything else in your life become subservient to it

Money, time, talent

They are all secondary treasures to be yielded and stewarded for the Gospel’s sake, since that is the true treasure

Imagine being a sleep and getting a knock on the door.

It is the Vice President and the secret service

VP Vance says, “Hi—this is the Hope Diamond. It is the most expensive jewel our government owns. I need you to hold it for the rest of the week. I’ll get it next Thursday morning. Ask no questions and serve your country.”

Sleeping with a $250 million diamond in your house would change the way you do some things

So it is with the Gospel

It changes everything

And since it is far more valuable than any diamond, everything we have becomes a tool for protecting and sharing it.

Our time. Our skills. Our money.

Binding Stewardship and Obligation

See—as Christians we do not love the world or the things of this world

We love the Gospel

We love Christ who is at the center of it

This places a binding stewardship upon our possessions and on everything that we have in this life

We recognize that we don’t have but so much of our resources

TIME

Psalm 139:16 ESV

Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.

God has your days written before they even existed

One day they will run out

SKILL

You only have your skills but for so long.

Remember Barzillai’s words to David when David invited him to come with him back to Jerusalem:

2 Samuel 19:35 ESV

I am this day eighty years old. Can I discern what is pleasant and what is not? Can your servant taste what he eats or what he drinks? Can I still listen to the voice of singing men and singing women? Why then should your servant be an added burden to my lord the king?

Your skills are finite.

Your brain...

Your back...

Your hands...

Your speech...

It is all finite.

MONEY

Here is the thing about money...you’ve only got what you’ve got.

And not just that—it runs out

1 Timothy 6:7 ESV

for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world.

You came in with nothing. You’ll leave with nothing.

And what you have in between is limited AND should be stewarded wisely for the Gospel’s sake

Money is More Problematic

If there is any point we will fail on, it is the last one—MONEY

This is why the Faith and Message specifically speaks to stewardship and possessions in two back to back phrases:

Binding stewardship in their possessions

Under obligation to serve Him with their … material possessions

We should use money for God’s glory and helping others, but there is this temptation not to do it

This is because money has this awful way of leaving you never satisfied

Ecclesiastes 5:10–11 ESV

He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves wealth with his income; this also is vanity. When goods increase, they increase who eat them, and what advantage has their owner but to see them with his eyes?

Money is a lover that leaves her clients obsessed

People will give up their time and their skills in order to get money

People will give up their morality and their families and friends in order to get money

The Scriptures call the love of money the root of all sorts of evil and it is true

We have to be aware of that as Christians

Jesus said:

Matthew 6:24 ESV

“No one can serve two masters, for 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 God and money.

As holy trustees, we have already found our greatest Treasure.

It is the Gospel of salvation, delivered to us by our Master Jesus, who lived and died and rose again

Therefore, we are not to be mastered by money

Instead, money should be a servant for our Master Jesus

Our money is truly His and we should honor Him with it

The way we handle money should make Christ look glorious

The way we invest money in Gospel causes should advance Christ’s Kingdom

Matthew 6:19–21 ESV

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

When God’s redeemed people put money, wealth and material possession in their proper place...

When they use it for the sake of the Gospel going to the nations...

...They are storing up for themselves treasures in heaven

The treasures of this world fly away with a look.

The treasures of heaven are eternal, for THE treasure of heaven is Christ Himself and He will bring all His blessings to our table forever and ever.

3. Godly stewardship is of means for the glory of God.

Sometimes Christians are confused about what it looks like to be godly stewards in their lives

Sometimes churches can struggle with what it looks like to be good stewards in ministry

Some people think that just because a person has a lot of money, God is blessing them

There are plenty of rich, godless people—that doesn’t mean anything

Some people think a church must have God’s hand on it if it has all the money and resources...

...but the Mormons are super rich and have lots of resources, so there goes that theory!

In truth, money cannot buy God’s favor, nor are resources necessarily a sign of God’s favor.

God’s favor only comes to us by way of the Cross and the Empty Tomb

Only Christ can save you and deliver from sin into God’s presence

But once someone has been delivered from sin, they should desire to live for God’s glory in every level of life and that includes Stewardship.

The redeemed should be trying to move all things toward serving the great cause of God being glorified.

Contribute of Their Means

This is why we contribute of our means.

We all have means.

Body

Mind

Ability

Time

Influence

Spiritual Gifting

We should use these means cheerfully, regularly, systematically, proportionately and liberally for the advancement of the Redeemer’s cause on earth.

There is great wisdom in the Baptist Faith and Message here in these words, “OF THEIR MEANS.”

I think most Christians understand something of their time, talent and treasure being given to them to glorify Jesus and love their neighbor well.

But I think they often go wrong because they don’t keep all of these qualifying words in mind...

cheerfully, regularly, systematically, proportionately and liberally

Cheerfully: Happily—not with your arm twisted

2 Corinthians 9:7

2 Corinthians 9:7 ESV

Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

Regularly: the NT has examples of regular giving for the sake of meeting needs that seems to be connected to their worship gatherings

Acts 2:45 ESV

And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need.

Systematically: You can’t be a good steward of anything without planning

Proverbs 21:5 ESV

The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance, but everyone who is hasty comes only to poverty.

Proportionately:

Giving is done in proportion with what you have

You cannot spend/give what you do not have

Giving is done according to the needs at hand

Acts 4:34–35 ESV

There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold and laid it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need.

For Stewardship to be godly, it is like a sheet that needs to be pulled tight at all four of these corners.

Stewardship without cheerfulness is legalism.

I don’t give because I want to, but because I have to.

God commands that our giving would not be reluctant or done because the arm is twisted

God is not looking to stick you up—Instead, He wants you to willingly lay it down

Stewardship without regularity is disobedience.

1 Corinthians 16:2 ESV

On the first day of every week, each of you is to put something aside and store it up, as he may prosper, so that there will be no collecting when I come.

What is assumed is that each time they gather, they would give

The Old Testament requirements were recurring

The different tithes and offerings would be offered again and again as the calendar rolled around

There was a rhythm to it

Regularity is God’s design for generosity

Stewardship without a plan is foolish.

Being impulsive and rash with what God has given you is a way of living that lacks reverence

Christ calls us to count the cost in following Him.

That principle applies to all we do for Him as we follow Him in our Christian life:

Luke 14:28 ESV

For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it?

Individuals, households and churches should have a plan when it comes to God’s resources

Stewardship without proportionality is reckless.

Again—you have a finite amount of resources

Before there is giving and spending, there must be considerations made about other needs and priorities

Furthermore, if you are helping someone, what do they need?

Giving too much could enable a bad situation

Giving too little could end up giving no help at all

When you are working on your budget at home...

...When you are considering the budget at church...

...Make sure all four corners of the sheet stay tight...otherwise there will be no rest!

Tithing and the Heart

This is where someone might wonder—what about the amount?

Do we need to give a tithe?

Some Christians say we need to give 10%

Malachi 3:10 ESV

Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need.

A tithe is a tenth

I don’t believe that we are held to that number as Christians

Hebrews 8:13 ESV

In speaking of a new covenant, he makes the first one obsolete. And what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away.

Christ has set aside the Old Covenant ceremonial Law.

I believe the tithe is a part of that Law which was abrogated when Christ died.

Kenny D’Auria— “Pastor—am I supposed to give 10%?”

“Oh no dear sister, you are free in Christ to give way more than that!”

In truth, the Old Covenant worshipper ended up giving closer to a 1/3 of their income anyhow when you added up all the feasts and offerings

The NT Is Concerned with the Heart, Not Law

Stay Cheerful in the Heart

We have already talked about cheerfulness

Proverbs 4:23 ESV

Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.

Strive to keep the heart cheerful

Remember that when it comes to God’s work, you GET to invest!

What a privilege

You should be lost, spending your resources on no one but yourself and then dying in misery and solitude

How awful

Be joyful—God has redeemed you for something better

Don’t Be a Show-Off

Matthew 6:1–4 ESV

“Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. “Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

If you are generous to get praise from others, Congratulations— you have had your reward.

You got the applause of men

But there is no reward in heaven for that sort of self-focused giving

You can do a lot for others but still really only care about yourself

If you find yourself mad that you aren’t getting credit for things, your heart is being infected by this attitude

Take it to Christ and pray for Him to help you

Don’t Neglect Justice and Mercy

Don’t be like the Pharisees who tithed off their spice rack, but were monsters to people

They tithed their dill, but the money they are tithing from was stolen off the backs of unsuspecting widows

Matthew 23:23 ESV

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others.

What good are fat checks and wads of cash in the offering plate, if the heart has no compassion for the widow and the orphan

James 1:27 ESV

Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.

God is not fooled by performance like some sort of ticket-paying movie-goer

He looks through all the special effects of giving and sees the rotten heart for what it is

Be Generous and Not Greedy

Jesus taught that we should not just store up wealth for ourselves with no plan other than storing and storing and storing

Luke 12:16–21 ESV

And he told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man produced plentifully, and he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?’ And he said, ‘I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.” ’ But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.”

The best way to be rich toward God is to be generous toward God and man.

You don’t hear for me to call for you to be liberal much, but in your giving—you should be liberal.

You should give with liberality.

And you should do so trusting God that He will provide for your needs.

Be generous today and trust God for tomorrow.

But again—this doesn’t mean you lose track of the wisdom of stewardship as you are generous.

There is a way to generous yourself into a bad situation

This goes back to how godly stewardship has to have a plan to go along with its cheerful generosity

Example in our own church

We have savings.

3 months reserve.

Money set aside specifically for spending in the building in CIF

Undesignated savings that we are able to use over time for the sake of the Kingdom as God leads us

We also have our Operating Budget which is more about how we spend weekly tithes and offerings to execute ministry in a given year

We are able to be very generous with our Missions Program too as we have budgeted and non-budgeted giving for the Great Commission

In trying to bring all of the facets of godly Stewardship together, we have been able to get into a wise financial position as a church where we are working on all these fronts

We must continue the course.

Some things may go faster and some things may go slower...

But we just keep being godly stewards and trusting the systems and processes in place—I believe God will continue to bless us and use our resources for great good.

Parable of the Talents and the Glory of God

But again—it is not just about money

It is time.

It is our skills.

It is our finances.

It is our physical bodies.

God has given you a certain amount for His glory—what will you do with it?

Matthew 25:14–30 ESV

“For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property. To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. So also he who had the two talents made two talents more. But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master’s money. Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me five talents; here, I have made five talents more.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me two talents; here, I have made two talents more.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here, you have what is yours.’ But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents. For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

What has He given you?

Don’t bury it in the ground.

Instead put it to use.

The main place we do this as Christians is in our homes, our local church and our spheres of influence in the world.

Are you using all that God has given you for His glory and fame?

Are you spreading His name?

How are your Kingdom investments?

May we all hear the words—Well done good and faithful servant.

May Seaford Baptist Church hear the words—Enter into the joy of your master.

May we advance the Redeemer’s cause in the meantime!