Stewardship

"Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal,   but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.  For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."
Matt 6:19-21 (ESV)


The Baptist Faith & Message 2000

XIII. Stewardship

God is the source of all blessings, temporal and spiritual; all that we have and are we owe to Him. Christians have a spiritual debtorship to the whole world, a holy trusteeship in the gospel, and a binding stewardship in their possessions. They are therefore under obligation to serve Him with their time, talents, and material possessions; and should recognize all these as entrusted to them to use for the glory of God and for helping others. According to the Scriptures, Christians should contribute of their means cheerfully, regularly, systematically, proportionately, and liberally for the advancement of the Redeemer's cause on earth.


Genesis 14:20; Leviticus 27:30-32; Deuteronomy 8:18; Malachi 3:8-12; Matthew 6:1-4,19-21; 19:21; 23:23; 25:14-29; Luke 12:16-21,42; 16:1-13; Acts 2:44-47; 5:1-11; 17:24-25; 20:35; Romans 6:6-22; 12:1-2; 1 Corinthians 4:1-2; 6:19-20; 12; 16:1-4; 2 Corinthians 8-9; 12:15; Philippians 4:10-19; 1 Peter 1:18-19.



Stewardship: The responsibility to manage resources God has placed in our care.

Christian stewardship extends to our energy, our time, and the totality of who we are.

A Christian's stewardship is motivated not by obligation but by a joyful sense of privilege.

The Tithe:
In the Old Testament God commanded the people of God to give a minimum of 10% as an offering (see Lev. 27:30-32; Mal.3:10).  Some people argue that Christians, no longer under the law, are now free from the responsibility of the tithe.  Responsible believers understand, however, that Christians bear no less responsibility for giving than God commanded of His people in the Old Testament. Those who have been transformed by Christ are called to an even higher level of giving that is motivated by more than law and mere obligation (see Matt. 6:19-21; 23:23). Christians must seek to give generously to the local church and to gospel causes, knowing that God loves a cheerful giver (see 2 Cor. 9:7).

Taken from The Baptist Faith & Message Study


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Soli Deo Gloria
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