25 Feb 2007
5 reasons why stewardship
is NOT about our money:
1.Giving is commanded by our God: So says the Father: “Bring the whole tithe…” (Malachi 3:10); so says the Son: “Give…to God what is God’s” (Mark 12:17); so says the Spirit: “Excel in this grace of giving” (2 Corinthians 8:7). Stewardship is an act of obedience!
2. Giving is an act of faith. What we give is called the “first fruits” because we are to give to God first, “on the first day of the week” (1 Corinthians 16:2), not after all the bills are paid! Thus giving is believing and trusting that God will keep His promise to provide our daily bread.
3. When we give we receive spiritual benefits. In 2 Corinthians 9:7-15 the Apostle Paul writes that when we give cheerfully God provides us with abundant grace and all we need, He will enlarge our righteousness and increase our generosity, the result of our generosity is thanksgiving to God expressed by those whose needs are met, and others will pray for us. What great benefits!
4. Faithful stewardship combats greed and materialism. Jesus said, “Store up for yourselves treasures in Heaven... [and] there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:20-21). The Apostle Paul echoed his Lord when he wrote, “Be generous and willing to share…that [you] may take hold of the life that is truly life” (1 Timothy 6:18-19). What we give away has no power over us.
5. Our giving is a witness to the world. Again, the early church is our example as “they gave to anyone as he had need…and enjoy[ed] the favor of all the people” (Acts 2:45, 47). Paul commented on Christian charity when he wrote, “men will praise God…for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else” (2 Corinthians 9:13). Giving is one way our light shines before the entire world.
5 reasons why stewardship
IS about our money:
1. God requires His people to tithe. The “tithe” is literally 10% of our income, a portion of what we are able to produce whether from the soil (Leviticus 27:30) or our skills (Acts 2:45). Tithing makes all givers equal since we are not required to give a certain amount, but an equal percentage of the blessings we have received from God.
2. Giving is a tangible expression of worship. When we place our offering in the plate we are giving more than our money, we are giving a piece of ourselves to God. Returning the tithe is a real sacrifice of our life, an act of worship as we lay before God a real part of who we are.
3. Our giving provides for a place of worship. Many times in the Old Testament God’s people donated their money to build a place to come before God. See Exodus 25, 1 Chronicles 29 and Ezra 3 for examples. We all have an obligation to help pay for our place of worship.
4. Tithing supports those who serve the Church full-time. Whether it was the Old Testament priest, or the Church’s pastors, missionaries and teachers, God’s people support those who work among them (see 1 Timothy 5:17-18). Those who answer God’s call to serve are free to do so only by the generosity of the Church.
5. Our giving benefits God’s work here on earth. Some of the women who followed Jesus supported His ministry from their own means (Luke 8:3); the early Church gave to provide for the needs of the poor (Acts 4:34-35); and individual congregations raised funds in service to other believers (see 2 Corinthians 8:1-4). When we give we are partners with God in the work of the Gospel.
Denis Whittet
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