STEWARDSHIP part two

part one recap

The Steward

a person employed to manage another property and possessions - an administrator

We looked at our responsibilities to be managers of Gods provision to us and that everything in this world, our homes and our lives belong to God. We came into the world naked and we leave the same way as Paul tells Timothy in .

We then looked at the first two Priorities of Stewardship

[A] Stewards of the TRUTH

Our ability to share the gospel story with others

[B] Stewards of TIME

[C] stewards of TALENT

Here comes the push back - So many people are convinced that they have no talent, and you can put me at the top of the list. I live with a constant battle between a lack of self esteem and knowing that god calls me to exercise his given talents. On one hand I am always looking for that day when what I produce equals or betters my potential, and on the other hand that internal sense that says you will never make it.

A major question is “Have I achieved anything for God'?

There is a major obstacle to answering that question is that the bible categorically states every one is gifted by God. We have all been given gifts/talents by God to make us useful to be the body of Christ.

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1 Peter 4:10 NIV

Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.

and .

Romans 12:6 NIV

We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith;

We are all want to say that our gifts are insignificant. Can we find anywhere in the bible where that idea is promoted?

I have to for myself and we have to for each other grapple with our gifting and the realization that these gifts can be based anywhere.Home, work, community, church

Without sounding boastful I am a preacher, that is what I do best and I need to accept this as a God given gift.

Another example is based on the reality that sometimes circumstances change and our gifts can change Ian Case cant mow the church lawns or visit people easily, so God has given him a ministry of prayer. We see Parkinson’s as a limiting factor, God can us it to empower his prayer power

Remember God never says welcome good and famous servant he says welcome good and faithful.

[d] Stewardship of TREASURE

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1 Corinthians 16:1–2 NIV

Now about the collection for the Lord’s people: Do what I told the Galatian churches to do. On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with your income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made.

The principles to giving

There are 4 aspects.

[a] New Testament giving is planned

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1 Corinthians 16:2 NIV

On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with your income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made.

giving does not work if it is random. Just as we plan and budget for our lives.so therefore planning for God on a regular basis has to be a key component

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John 20:19 NIV

On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!”

this verse shows us the move from the Jewish sabbath concept to Sunday being our christian holy day

Also .

Acts 20:7 NIV

On the first day of the week we came together to break bread. Paul spoke to the people and, because he intended to leave the next day, kept on talking until midnight.

[b] Percent / planned

OT giving was based on a percentage 10% the tithe

NT giving is BASED ON PROPORTIONAL GIVING 10% PLUS. A loftier aim

If we look at this principle from Gods perspective we are gifted by him not to have an increase in our

[c] standard of living/giving

Note that we are called not to increase of standard of living beyond the basic necessities of life rather we are called to increase our standard of giving

The more that we give, then the more that we will prosper and the more we will have to deal with that. Gods blessing carries the possibility of being a blessing or a burden.

3 stories.

No 1

A man goes to his pastor to say that he had been a faithful tither until his income reached $100,000.00 and the it was to much to give.

No 2

Another person visited there minister and shared this concern that due to the large income he had he was finding it difficult to give the appropriate amount. the minister said to the person lets get down on our knees and pray to the Lord. The person asked and our reason for prayer would be, That’s simple replied the minister we will pray for God to reduce your income until we get to a place where you will feel comfortable to give

No 3

This is my story. If you work out from the parish accounts you will see that Get $1780.00 per month and $800.00 from an Anglican pension. If I was to tithe my percentage would be $266.00 per month. I have chosen to give a proportion back to God. My giving is $380.00 per month. which is just over 14%. Not only can I pay my bills and I able to save- such is God’s grace to me.

[d] Giving is purposeful

If our giving is done on the regular basis then it takes away the need for special offerings. I realize that on occasions we are challenged by special events like one off disasters and feel a need to respond

Giving is a discipline of life

A habit of holiness

A ritual of righteousness

Let me conclude with another story out of my past. A lady having heard the stewardship message came to see me a little troubled She was on a limited income, a pension plus a few dollars a month from a small investment, the interest was around $30.00 a month. She had worked out that she was giving to God about 4 1/2 % and saw no way she could increase. I gave her a possible solution that she could try if she felt able. That was over the next months see increased her giving by 1/2% per month and if she got to 10% that would be OK. It would take her 11 months to get to 10%. She told me that she believed she might get close to 8% and that 10% may be a little high. I told her not to stress about whatever figure she reached God would honor her willingness to try. Eleven months later she came back to see me with a beaming smile to tell me she had not only reached 10% and she was giving that plus $3.00 per month and that she had never felt richer in her life.