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The Pastor's Corner

September/October

Stewarding Our Resources As a Trust From God

Stewardship has to do with the three big areas of our lives. These are our time, our talent, and our treasure.

In each case what we have is given to us as a trust from God. The person who has decided to surrender his life to God and follow Christ understands that God's word is the final rule in every area of life. How we use our time and talents deal with serving God by serving others. Here we want to address God's plan for how we handle our finances.

People usually care a lot more about what good stewardship will do for them than they do about how it will benefit the mission God has given the church.

Remember that God wants to bless us. He wants you to prosper because He wants the church to prosper in reaching others. This can’t be done unless the people in the church practice good stewardship.

Again, God wants to bless you. He wants to use you to build up the church.

Prayer gives a church spirituality but stewardship gives it strength.

Tithing is the practice of giving a tenth of one's income and I believe talent and time to God. Basic to tithing is the acknowledgement of God's ownership of everything in the earth.

The first recorded instance of tithing in the Bible occurs in Genesis 14:17-20. After returning from rescuing Lot and defeating his enemies, Abraham met Melchizedek, the "king of Salem" and "Priest of God Most High." The text states simply that Abraham gave Melchizedek a tenth of all the goods he had obtained in battle.

The second recorded instance of tithing has to do with Jacob. Jacob, long before the law of Moses, promised that he would give to the Lord a tenth of all he received (Gen. 28:22).

Thirdly, we have the Law of Moses. The law demanded a tithe. Leviticus 27:30-32 stated that the tithe of the land would include the seed of the land and the fruit of the tree. In addition the Hebrew people were required to set apart every tenth animal of their herds and flocks to the Lord.

The tithe is also spoken of in Deuteronomy 12:5-7, 11-12. Ezekiel 44:29-30 mentions the giving of the first-fruits.

The prophet Malachi in 3:7-12 indicated that Israel had robbed God by withholding tithes and offerings. Thus the Israelites were exhorted to bring their tithes into the storehouse in order to enjoy the Lord's blessing.

In the New Testament the words tithe and tithing appear multiple times: Matt. 23:23; Luke 18:9-14; Hebrews 7:5-9.

As believers, Christ Himself is our model in giving.

In the New Testament giving is to be voluntary, willing, cheerful, and given in the light of our accountability to God.

Giving should be systematic and by no means limited to a tenth of our incomes.

We recognize that all we have is from God.

We are called to be faithful stewards of everything.

Romans 14:11-12; 1 Corinthians 9:3-14; 2 Corinthians 9:5-15.


See you in service!

Pastor Mike