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| "Let a man, account of us, as of the ministers of
Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover it is required
in stewards, that a man be found faithful." 1 Cor. 4:1-2
A steward, according to Vine's Expository Dictionary, is the "manager of a household or estate." A steward might be a slave or a freeman, but he was a trusted servant with responsibility for handling the business or personal details of his master/employer. He might be in charge of the household servants or other employees, or of buying and selling of the master's wares or grain. He might have oversight of the education and rearing of the children, and the running of the house. (An example of this can be seen in Luke 16.) A steward's faithfulness in the enterprises of his employer was of the utmost importance. He could make or break his master, either financially, personally, or in matters of reputation. In the broad sense the Christian is a steward of the gospel. In a much more restricted sense, he is the steward of his personal domain. He is to be a good steward, not just of his money, but also of his talents, properties, family -- in other words, anything that God has placed within his reach and allowed him to use. We must constantly remind ourselves that what we possess is not ours. It belongs to God. He will call us in question one day concerning our area of stewardship. Will we be like the individual who took what God had given him and increased it a hundredfold? Or will we be like the individual who hid what God gave him in the ground, never using it, never increasing the one talent to gain another? Did you know that sometimes, in order to gain another talent the first one must be developed so IT will become a stepping stone to the second? God gives us an ability, and that ability, if used properly, will develop another ability,which will develop another, and so on. If we fail to use the first, then the second and the third cannot come. If we have not been faithful in the "little," how can he then give us the "much?" Not only are we undeserving of the "much," but we never developed the first that was given so that we could reach the stage of the "much." The next time you complain because you have not been chosen to ____________ (you fill in the blank), maybe it is because you did not show yourself a good steward of the small things. There once was a man crawling through the desert whose clothes were torn and ragged, and he was crying out for water. He came upon a man who had no water but was selling ties. The man, not needing a tie, crawled on. He later crawled upon a wonderful restaurant in the middle of the desert. He asked to be admitted, so he could buy water. The doorman refused him entrance, for you see it was "Ties Only." Passing up the "unimportant" to hurry to something "greater" is not always good stewardship! Monday Giving "How much am I supposed to give?" There is an old expression that states, "Give 'til it hurts." Unfortunately, this phrase implies that returning to God what is rightfully his causes distress. Giving is not a burden, for his yoke is easy and his burden is light. If this is your attitude then you need an adjustment! There is nothing that we possess or enjoy that belongs to us. It is all God's! James said, "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above..." The giver must remember that he is a steward over what God has placed into his possession. Stewardship requires trustworthiness, loyalty, and love for one's employer or master. Until you reach that frame of mind, you may find it difficult, if not impossible, to grow in the Lord. God is a God of 100%! Nothing less than everything is satisfactory. We are to love the Lord with "_______ thy heart, and with _____ thy soul, and with ______ thy mind." (Matthew 22:37) Our entire bodies are also to be given to him, which is only reasonable. Romans 12:1 I ____________ you therefore, _______________, by the mercies of God, that ye _____________ your bodies a living ______________, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your ________________ service." What part of what we have belongs to God? EVERYTHING! The honor system "Honour the Lord with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase:" (Proverbs 3:9) Giving brings honor to our God in two ways. With God in first place in the Christian's life, his love for him motivates a return to him of what he has given. Therefore, giving brings honor to him because of the position we have reserved for him in our hearts. Our giving also honors God when others observe our giving. When others see our affection and devotion to God, the Bible says that they will see our good works and glorify the Father. Questions:
Rules for Giving - How? "Every man according as he has purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver." 2 Cor.9:7 Christians should give as a matter of commitment -- as they have purposed in their hearts. They should be resolved to support the work of the Lord and view it as returning to God what is his. Christians should give cheerfully, not begrudgingly or reluctantly. They should view giving as a wonderful privilege -- an opportunity to give back to God. Above all, they should give from the heart. The decision to give is a matter of the heart. Christians must decide this is right, holy, and the will of God. Rules for Giving - When? "Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye. Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come." 1 Cor. 16:1-2 The church at Corinth was commanded to store away on the first day of the week, not the last. They were to put aside an amount proportional to how God had prospered them. This bounty was then taken and delivered to the saints at Jerusalem. Rules for giving - Where? Orders for where to give are in the same verse as above. Where should God's children deposit God's money? In God's house. Of course, we are are not referring to the physical building, but rather the house that God built, the church. "To him be glory in the church..." (Eph 3:10). Our time, talents, and means are to be deposited in the place where God can use them. Rules for giving - Sow sparingly - Reap sparingly "But this I say, He which soweth ___________ shall reap also _______________; and he which soweth ____________ shall reap also _____________." 2 Cor. 9:6 Give, and it shall be ___________ unto you; good ___________, ____________ down, and ___________ together, and ___________ over, shall men give into your ___________. For with the same ____________ that ye mete withal it shall be ___________ to you again. Luke 6:38 When a farmer sows few seed in the spring, the harvest in the fall will be meager. The farmer sows in direct proportion to how he expects to reap. Remember, this principle is true in ALL areas of service to God. Plant with a few seed, and a few seed will sprout. Only that which is planted and watered can God increase. Rules for Giving - The amount Abraham gave a tithe, Jacob a tithe, and the children of Israel gave a tithe. We are NOT under the Law, which required a tithe. It is not due to "NECESSITY" that we give, but from the heart. However, in fairness to those who teach tithing, God did instruct each of these before mentioned to give just this -- a tithe. Why did God set the amount at a tithe? We do not know, but we do understand that God knew this would be the amount needed. Whether any less is needed today is a question that is swallowed up with "as God has prospered..." Remember we are not to give because the law requires 10%, but because the heart desires to be a good steward. The government gets well over 30% of our money. Entertainment gets another chunk of the pie. How much will you set aside for God? Set that amount aside first. In the Old Testament, he always got the firstfruits! Questions:
The Old Testament Tithe Many believe that tithing is the plan that God uses for today's Christian. They will often use phrases such as "Ten percent is a good place to start," "Ten percent is what they gave in the Old Testament," and "Jesus always set the standards higher in the New Testament." Tithing is usually "proven" by using the Old Testament. In order to prove that one should still give a tithe of what they possess, it is often pointed out that the tithe was given BEFORE the Law was given, and therefore is binding on us today. Using this same logic, it follows that we should also offer animal sacrifices as did Adam, Abraham, and all others who lived before the Law of Moses was given. Why is the father of the family not to act as priest of the family, as he did before the Law? And why is circumcision not still a requirement for all male newborns, as God gave command to Abraham? (Gen17:11) The facts are these: God dealt with Abraham in a way that he did NOT deal with Israel under the Law. When the Law was given, it became the will of God for ALL things in the life of an Israelite. A tribe of priests was appointed, and no longer was the father to be the priest for the family. Circumcision became mandatory under the Law. The Law became the system of faith and practice. The law of Moses was now what was binding on them! The Christian is under a New Testament (agreement) and a new will of God. The old covenant does not bind us to its commandments and precepts because Jesus "nailed it to the cross." We have been liberated from the Law by the blood of Jesus Christ, and should not seek not to be entangled under this yoke of bondage again! Galatians 5:1 Stand __________ therefore in the _________ wherewith Christ hath made us ___________, and be ________ ______________ again with the _________ of _____________. Galatians 5:6 For in Jesus Christ neither ______________ availeth any thing, nor _________________; but ___________ which worketh by __________. Questions:
The New Testament Tithe "Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone." Matthew 23:23 Sometimes the modern tither will use this scripture to say, "See, even Jesus demanded ten percent." However, one must remember that these scribes and Pharisees that Jesus spoke to WERE STILL UNDER THE LAW. They had not yet been redeemed, for Christ had not yet gone to the cross. For Christ to have told them anything different would have meant that he allowed them to break the Law. In Luke 17:11- 19, Jesus met and healed ten lepers. They were commanded to "go shew yourself unto the priest." UNDER THE LAW, they were required to do this! This priest was the only man who could pronounce them clean. Are we to infer by this statement that if we are unclean we must find a priest and have him pronounce us clean? Of course not! Christ demanded that those who lived during the time of his preaching keep the Law and not break it. Another Scripture used to prove tithing is Luke 18:9-14. This is the story of the Pharisee and the publican. The Pharisee is said to have given tithes of all that he possessed. It is said that he had two virtues -- fasting and tithing. One writer stated that "Here he is teaching that tithing is one of the virtues of a good man." It is not a good idea to pronounce a Pharisee virtuous whom Jesus in the next sentence denounces for his false piety. The Pharisee gave (if indeed he did, and we have only his word for it) because he was required to by his Law. We live under the law of Christ; that man was under the Law of Moses. A requirement of the Law of Moses was to tithe. Ephesians 6:6 Not with _____________, as ____________; but as the servants of _________, doing the will of God from the ____________; 2 Corinthians 8:5 And this they did, _______ as we ____________, but first gave their own ___________ to the Lord, and unto _______ by the ________ of God. Questions:
Prosperity Gospel There is a popular ear-tickling doctrine floating around today called "Prosperity Thinking," or "Prosperity Giving." Many pastors and TV evangelists are preaching that if you want God to bless you, give -- the more you give, the greater blessing God will return. Here is how the system works: You give a $1 to God, and he will give back $100, for you can't outgive God. "The first law of prosperity is to believe that it is God's will for you to prosper and that you are in his will." Dake In order to prove that not all of God's people will be rich nor all have tremendous wealth, all one need do is think of one man, Lazarus, a child of God who died in poverty. Further, the book of Hebrews 11:37 describes the poverty-stricken, unpopular condition of many of God's most devoted followers: "They were ________, they were _________ asunder, were ___________, were __________ with the sword: they wandered about in _______________ and ______________; being ______________, _____________, tormented; Notice also James 2:5 "Hearken, my ______________ brethren, Hath not God chosen the ________ of this __________ rich in ___________, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath _____________ to them that __________ him?" Note the word "POOR!" The men of the New Covenant were NOT rich, but God did supply all their needs. They LEFT ALL they had and followed the Lord Jesus Christ. They had neither PURSE nor SCRIP on them. "Silver and gold have I none...." said Peter to the crippled man. A host of other scriptures call into question the conclusion that God is somehow under "obligation" to make us prosper. We are completely confident that God can and does supply all our needs. (Philippians 4:19) Stewardship is not a method of "refilling the bin," but a lifestyle of worship, praise, and giving honor to our God who gave us all things. Does it not seem strange to you that all these prosperity preachers who want you to sent the $100 so God can bless you do not follow their own advice? If they need more money for their "ministry," why not give away all they have so God can bless them with 10 or perhaps a 100 times more than they started with? This is not to say that God will not bless us for doing his will in the matter of giving. However, we must remember that God will bless us in any area we choose to do his will in. Beware of the prosperity gospel preacher. He will save your billfold and let your soul die in sin. Questions:
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