031107 Biblical Stewardship Principles II
“Christian stewardship is the free and joyous activity of the child of God—God’s family, the church—in managing all of life and life’s resources for God’s purposes.”
The second umbrella statement is “Maturing stewards do the right things for the right reasons and strive for excellence in all they do!”
II/8. GOD'S STEWARDS ARE MANAGERS, NOT OWNERS.
What does this mean?
God's stewards have been entrusted with life and life's resources and given the privilege of responsibly and joyfully managing them for Him.
“Entrusted with life and life’s resources” sounds rather daunting don’t you think? Could it be that everything we have in this life, everything, such as houses, cars, appliances, furniture, clothes, sports equipment and whatever else we might consider “ours,” are really not ours? It seems strange perhaps to think in that way. But, if we agree with the Bible’s concept of Creation then the ownership of everything on earth rightly belongs to God. When God made man in his own image he made him a steward (a manager), not the owner. Gen 1:26: "Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”
I find it rather remarkable that God actually “entrusts” what is His to us to manage for His purposes. But, He does! That’s what makes being God’s steward(s) such a privilege. I know that we must “work” to “earn” money to pay for the things we have. But ultimately, our ability to produce and possess anything is from the gracious blessings God gives in the first place.
What does God's Word say about this? Being the first to be blessed with the awesome ability and responsibility to manage God’s good Creation, Adam had it all.
Gen. 2:15 The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.
I like to think that Adam was the only man who never had to take his lunch to work. His lunch was aptly provided for in the garden of God. What a blessing! Man’s work was always blessed until the fall into sin. It’s hard for us to think of work as a blessing, I know. Sin has made it oppressive and draining of our human energy. That’s part of what God meant when He cursed the ground and said that Adam would henceforth earn his daily bread by the sweat of his brow. Not only that, he would have to fight thorns and thistles in the process (Genesis 3:17-19). Even though we must now sweat to earn what we have, we must never forget that God still gives us the various talents we need to do what needs to be done. That gift allows us to make a living from our toil. God be praised!
Ps. 24:1 The earth is the LORD'S, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it. (cf. Ps. 89:11)
Lest anyone get the idea that we then own it, we need to here the words of scripture clearly. Several scriptures clearly teach that God is Creator, and therefore has the absolute right of ownership of all things. So we read in Psalm 24 and 89. There is nothing that the Lord did not make and provide to make the earth green and productive, even for fallen mankind.
A manager of another’s possessions needs special ability. And that was given to the first of our species. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them." Gen 1:27
Note the partnership of management given to man? There is a partnership of gender given for the absolute benefit of managing God’s good creation. That partnership was terribly damaged by the fall into sin. God have mercy on us.
God is merciful and His providence extends over all creation. But only those bearing the mark of true faith recognize it. David certainly had it right when after all the households brought in their offerings, he prays: But whom am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand. (cf. 29:1-20) 1 Chron. 29:14 But whom am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand. (cf. 29:1-20) No matter how generously a person might give of himself or of his material wealth, he would not have a thing if God had not provided it in the first place. Those who understand this are most blessed indeed. Blessed with hearts of faith that God does most assuredly bless them with all they need. In devotion to the Lord they then give out of a glad resolve to share even the little they might have with those who do not have enough.
Just check out passages like 2 Corinthians 8:1-7 where Paul records this: And they [Macedonian Christians] did not do as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us in keeping with God's will. What a great attitude of heart to have.
Sometimes, I have to confess, my heart does not have the fullness of that kind of attitude. It’s too easy to think, “I want things for myself, and others should work to get theirs.” Do you also struggle with such sinful thinking? I suspect you all do. But that only points out our need for on-going adjustments to the attitudes of our hearts. That is what Paul says, isn’t it? “Be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” Without these changes of attitude we easily loose sight of our God-given responsibility, as Jesus Himself makes known in Luke 12:48 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.
Those words are scary, and rightfully so! That is the proper effect the law is to have on us sinners. It also makes me curious about how much responsibility we think we have for keeping the work of the church green and productive. “Stay dressed for action” Jesus tells His disciples just before this verse. The disciples, and subsequently the entire Church are handed the keys of the kingdom of God and given the responsibility of managing it faithfully. Thus, St. Paul, in faithful management of the mysteries of the Kingdom of God says to a young Timothy:
1 Tim. 6:17-19 Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.
God’s ownership of all things is basic to a proper understanding of stewardship. Without that understanding, why would anyone “put their hope in God”? Life with God is so much more than merely holding onto the world’s wealth. It is using that wealth in the form of personal abilities, and time, and treasure, to do that which glorifies God.
What I find so comforting from this stewardship principle is the reality that God does not give us responsibility without also providing what we need to carry them out faithfully. God be praised! Management of time and treasure and talent is a gift of pure grace. With that grace comes forgiveness for our poor management. With that grace, we continue to be blessed with good things and empowered for management that He may indeed be glorified through us. Amen.
How is this done?
As children of God through faith in Jesus Christ, and with the Holy Spirit's help, we will:
· Encourage proper management of all of life and life's resources for God's purposes;
· Promote materials and approaches to stewards that are firmly grounded in the Owner/manager understanding of stewardship;
· Encourage cheerful, first-fruit, proportionate (including but not limited to tithing) living and giving in all areas of life by Christian stewards; and,
· Receive and use God's gifts with thanksgiving.
As children of God through faith in Jesus Christ, and with the Holy Spirit's help, we will not:
· Approach the steward as if he or she is the Owner;
· Neglect to remind the steward of Who the Owner is;
· Forget the Owner for the sake of the interests of the entity being represented; or,
· Fail to remind Christian stewards that greater blessings call for greater responsibility to manage them according to God's purposes.