Stewardship: Resources According to God’s Generosity

The Need

• The concept of stewardship is often associated with a limited number of categories.
• Deviation from biblical stewardship has led people and churches to use extra-biblical tools to address an issue that the Bible speaks to widely.
• Returning to the biblical basis of stewardship should provoke the heart to align itself with God's purposes and plans, while we wait for a time when all things are perfected.

The Word

• Ownership – What is the source? 
  
  • Gen. 1; Psalm 24:1; Deut. 8:18
  • God has created all things, both the visible and invisible. He is the source of creation, sustainer of the universe and provider of all that is.
• Responsibility – What is the purpose?
  
  • Gen. 1:26-28
  • The role of steward is not a modern invention, instead it is rooted in the biblical creation story and was the chosen role of the Creator for His creation. 
  • The English words economy and stewardship stem from the Greek word oikonomia, which at its core means “house law.”
• Accountability – What is the method?
  
  • Matt. 12:36
  • Creation has been called to steward all that God has created; it does not do so on its own accord; instead, humanity must submit itself to God’s law and Word.
• Reward – What is the end goal?
  
  • Col. 3:23-24
  • Obedience to the Word and faithful stewardship to the resources we oversee is rewarded in due time.
• Application – Where does it apply?
  
  
  • Time – Eccl. 3:3, Mk. 1:35
  • Finances – 2. Cor. 9:6-7
  • Skills – 1 Chron. 22:18
  • Words – Acts 20:32
  • Mission – Matt. 5:15
  • Family – 2 Tim. 3:5 
    
• Examples – What are some examples?
  
  
  • Potipher’s House – Genesis 39:1-6
  • Joseph – Genesis 41
  • Parable of Talents – Matthew 25:14-30
  • Widow’s Offering – Mark 12:41-44
  • Early Church – Acts 2:44-45, 4:32-35
  • Lydia’s House – Acts 16:4-15
  • Paul’s Instruction – 1 Cor. 16:1-4
  • Good Gifts – Ephesians 4:11-13

The Task

• Knowing what Scripture says about any subject and deciding to reject it will leave you frustrated and exhausted attempting to pave your path.
• Our response to the biblical concept of stewardship cannot be limited to what we can see or have; instead, it must include all God has entrusted to us.
• Reestablishing a healthy biblical basis for stewardship allows for the Creator’s mission to advance and for the creation to truly display the Imago Dei from the pew to the people.

“Fundamentally, stewardship is about exercising our God-given dominion over His creation, reflecting the image of our creator God in His care, responsibility, maintenance, protection, and beautification of His creation.” – R.C. Sproul

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