What Is Stewardship?
Christian stewardship is the wise management of all that God has entrusted to us.
The goal of stewardship is to benefit us and bring glory to God.
Two Statements of Faith
- When we give biblically, we are making a statement of faith that God has met our needs and that He will continue to do so.
- When we hold back from giving of time, talents, and treasure, we are making a statement of faith that we are in control of our lives and resources and that we need these resources to meet our needs.
Principles of Christian Stewardship
From Luke 16:10-13
- Be faithful with what you have been given. verse 10
- The use of money is a training ground. verse 11
- Successfully passing this training leads to greater responsibility. verse 12
- Serve only one master verse 13
What the Bible Teaches on Stewardship
The Whole Earth is the Lord's
“The Earth is the Lord's, and everything in it, and all who live in it.” Psalm 24:1
Therefore, all of life is to be lived in service to God and for His glory.
| Romans 12:1-2 | We are a living sacrifice |
| I Corinthians 10:31 | Do everything to glorify God |
| Philippians 2:1-11 | Follow the example of Jesus |
Stewardship of Our Time
| James 4:13:17 | We are not the master of our days, God is! |
| Hebrews 10:23-25 | There is a benefit and a purpose to meeting regularly. |
| Romans 12:10-13 | Obedience to this instruction demands time commitment. |
| I Corinthians 15:58 | Always give yourself to the work of the Lord. |
| Matthew 25:31-46 | The key here is the time it takes to serve others. Compare to James 2:14-17. |
| Ephesians 2:8-10 | Verse 10 (the neglected verse!) : we were created for good works! |
Stewardship of Our Talents
| I Corinthians 12:1-27 | The Lord has gifted the body to function as a unit. |
| Romans 12:4-8 | We are one body and belong to one another. |
| I Peter 4:10-11 | Use your gift to serve for His glory (notice the promise of strength!) |
| Ephesians 4:7,11-16 | Equipped to serve. |
Stewardship of Our Treasure
| Psalm 50:7-15,22-23 | God owns everything. |
| Matthew 6:19-24 | What your heart is set upon reveals what you really value. |
| I Timothy 6:10 | A warning to keep free from the love of money. (See I Timothy 3:3 where those in leadership in the church are to be free from this danger.) Notice the context. |
| Hebrews 13:4 | Another warning about the love of money. |
| I Corinthians 16:1-2 | Set aside a percentage for the offering each week. |
| II Corinthians 8-9 | The Bible's most extended teaching on giving. |
| Luke 21:1-4 | The widow's sacrificial giving. |
| Numbers 18:21 | The tithe supported the ministry in the Old Testament. |
| Malachi 3:8-10 | God's people can rob God by their failure to give biblically. |
| Malachi 3:10 | God wants to be tested! |
| Philippians 4:19 | God's promise to meet our needs |
| II Corinthians 9:8-10 | God's promise to supply our needs so that we can be even more generous! |
| Matthew 6:25-34 | God's promise to meet our needs as we seek His kingdom. (Notice the last sentence!) |
| I Timothy 6:17-19 | Instructions for those who have material resources. |
| Luke 12:13-21 | Beware of trusting in riches! |
| Luke 18:18-30 | The attachment to money is powerful. |