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Good Stewardship means to have the Attitude of Christ!
Precepts of Stewardship from 1 Peter 4: 1-11
Are you chasing your desires or our Lord?
The answer to this question will determine not only how you handle stewardship but even more important, what direction in life you go as well as if, when, and how sin will entice you to fall! Sin is coming; we can either draw near to God to stay clear, or draw near to sin and thus away from God and His best for us. The great news is that Christ gives us the ability to stand firm in Him. The key is, we need to want to! Peter’s people were being slandered and taken advantage of, and they were becoming disillusioned. Peter’s call was to stand firm in faith and not worry what others do as long as we look to Christ wholeheartedly (1 Pet. 2:12,15, 23; 3:9, 16; 4:4,14). Thus, the best defense is the offense of righteousness and demonstrating the good life in Christ!
This passage in 1 Peter 4, also gives us comfort in suffering because Christ Himself suffered, which gives us a better picture on how we are to view stewardship. He, who is God incarnate, who totally did not deserve to suffer, suffered on our behalf. He endured great physical, mental, and spiritual pain on our behalf, and exemplified the attitude and conduct we are to have when we go through the tough stuff of life to how we handle the stewardship of all we are and have. The call for us is to be prepared and equip ourselves for what lies ahead in life. We must have our expectations based on reality and in faith, so when something comes our way—whether it is a blessing or a problem—we can take it, handle it and mange it with excellence, learn, and grow from it. Then, in turn, we can be a blessing to others because of it. However, we cannot do that if we are not following Christ and taking heed to His example, His grace, and His love so we want to respond. Otherwise, our desires will fill that gap and will get the best of us. The sins of others and the sins of our heart will break us down and take us over unless we focus on Christ, His ways, and His path.
What does it mean to exemplify the attitude and conduct of Christ? What would that look like in your life?
The challenge to this call is the world’s ways. Sin is so enticing we can easily slip off God’s path. Thus, we need to be willing to suffer so sin does not entice us. We become more guarded against sin because a bigger picture is in our sight—Christ, His example, and our willingness and commitment to follow. When we see Him and not our personal viewpoints and desires, we will grow, mature, and be prepared for anything!
God’s will is the determining factor in life, how He wants us to be wise stewards of all we are and have and could have! It all comes down to this; will you follow His will, or yours and the world’s? Which one do you think brings the most blessings and contentment? Thus, we are to be trained and are to be prepared with Christ’s attitude, outlook, knowledge, and experience. We are to prepare for injustice and suffering!
“Pray” is meant to line us up in His will and with His empowerment (Luke 18:1; 1 Cor. 7:5; Eph. 6:18; 1 Thess. 5:17; 1 Pet. 3:7; 1 John 5:14-15).
A warning is given to us, the end of the world is coming! And a warning about sin, “time in the past” this refers to sin and its power to weigh us down so it defines who we are and traps us in the past. We all have past mistakes and wrong choices, but Christ freed us so we no longer need to be weighed down by them! Peter’s congregation had a pagan background that was very alluring; he is telling them (and us) not to let it draw them or become a part of their new life (Rom. 1:12:13; 6:1-14, 19; Gal. 5:19-21)!
Life and our opportunities are limited; thus, we are to make every effort to represent Christ and make the most of what we are given for His glory. We are stewards of all that we have, whether small or great. The better we use our gifts, the more generous He is with us with more gifts, abilities, and opportunities. We are called not to waste our opportunities, but to be diligent and faithful with our call, abilities, and prayer with love and hospitality. Do what God has called you to do and do it with passion, truth, and in love!
Thus, what is our call here? The key word is Hospitality, refers here to taking in travelers with generosity—not grudgingly or with complaining.
Even more so, it is how we view our life in general, since we have Christ’s love flowing in us, it should flow to others around us. This means we are to be willing to give preference to others, to look out for and look after one another, and to share, with discernment, what God has given us, including our family, home, finances, and food. We are to have an attitude of stewardship where we do not own anything because we are merely the caretakers for the real owner, God. He desires us to share His stuff, and we comply out of reverence and gratitude to Him. Thus, as we come along side others, we are to welcome them and act out our faith in real, helpful kindness, generosity, and deeds. This includes providing help and lodging to fellow Christians, helping those who are being persecuted, and helping out in our community (Matt. 25:34-43; Luke 10:30-37; Rom. 12: 3-8, 13: 16:33; 1 Cor. 12:1-7; 1 Timothy 3:2; 5:10; Titus 1:8; Hebrews 13:2; 3 John 1:5-8).
Thus, we do as the passage states, use whatever gift means we are to practice our spiritual gifts, and realize that the diversity we have is beneficial for one another. It also means being charitable or generous to others with what Christ has given you, and to serve Him without being held back by fear, time, or lack of talent. As Christians, we are to typify faith and reason together so we can exhibit the maturity needed to make wise decisions and have a purpose in life. This also means directly caring for those in need, such as the sick, infirmed, and poor. However, some Christians will have a specific call and empowerment to do this. People in the world may be more concerned for their own needs and agendas than they are for God’s clear doctrine and purpose, but as Christians, we are called to go beyond ourselves to serve others well and be careful how you speak and minister as we sometimes speak for God as He uses us (Titus 2). Kindness is the proof of authenticity (Rom. 2:1-4; 12:4-21; 16:1; 1 Cor. 12:7-11; Eph. 4:32; Col. 3:12-14; 1 John 3:16-23)!
The phrase, God may be praised, means for us to be good stewards, as we are called to live, serve, and do all that we do in life for the honor and glory of our Lord and Savior (Acts 7:38; Rom. 3:2; 1 Cor. 1:26-31; Jude 24-25)!
So how do I make this work? Answer this, does Love cover you? Do you use it to cover others? We are to be fueled and empowered by love in all situations. Christian love is the turning of our backs on our self-concerns and facing our neighbors. It is the surrender of our will to His. If love does not take us beyond our self-interests, then we have only lust and pride, not real love! God’s love must be our model for life. It must flow into us from Christ, and in return, flow out from us to those around us. God’s love is the ultimate power for the Christian. Love is more than a feeling; it has segments and characters to it. Love is also a choice, a decision that must be perused and worked on (John 13:1; 15:13; 1 Corinthians 13:3; 1 John)!
What get in our way? Our hurts, fears and past. God does not want us to be controlled by the past or to be fearful or cowardly.
Rather, we are to learn from our experiences and grow from them so we can be better at stewardship, but not be tied to them so they become our identity. We have been born again in Christ; our old life is old, and it is no longer who we are. Thus, we are to grow closer to Him and be an example to others who are still in the old life without being influenced and enticed by them. Our focus needs to be what is going on now, what God is doing, and how we can contribute to it. Not just what can I get, but what can I learn and gain to be better for His glory? Take comfort; God does indeed have a plan for you even when you cannot see it. His will for your growth in Him is clear! He wants you to be faithful and good so others can see in you a demonstration model for the new life that they can have too. He gives you the ability, the power, and the strength to endure and to enjoy (Gal. 6:7)! The most important aspect is for us to keep our eyes focused on Christ, with racehorse blinders on to block off the rest.
Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made Himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross! (Philippians 2:5 – 8)
© 2005 R. J. Krejcir Ph.D.
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Church Stewardship
Precepts of Stewardship from Colossians 1:24-29
Paul’s Labor for the Church
24 Now I rejoice in what I am suffering for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ’s afflictions, for the sake of his body, which is the church. 25 I have become its servant by the commission God gave me to present to you the word of God in its fullness— 26 the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the Lord’s people. 27 To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
28 He is the one we proclaim, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ. 29 To this end I strenuously contend with all the energy Christ so powerfully works in me. (NIV)
Are you happy when you can suffer for others? Being poured out, used, exhausted—even abused by the church in which you serve? How is your church stewardship?
By Christians who connive against you, who take advantage of you? Paul was! He saw it as His service of stewardship to our Lord! Suffering for the church is like continuing the suffering Christ did for the Church! This is not about being abused; it is about being totally dedicated to serve and not be self-centered or only pursue what suits and pleases us as leaders.
God has given us responsibility with our “church stewardship,” and when we lead, we have to take this seriously. Our church leadership responsibility is simple; we are to proclaim Christ’s message and be His display case for others to see His Word and Work. This is also an incredible opportunity and privilege as countless others through the millennia would love to have this occasion that many of us squander or misuse or become apathetic about! We should be pleased to tell people about Christ and His message, and do so cheerfully as God cheerfully gave it to us.
For the big secret is to effective church stewardship is simple, it is where our focus and trust is placed: Christ, the One, True, God, and Creator of the Universe, lives in us as believers. He is our assurance, hope, and reason for all we are and do. And we, as leaders or not, should be grateful to share in as we display His Glory. So let us learn and grow so we can be better at knowing Him and showing Him as we depend on Christ and His Mighty Work in us—empowering us!
This passage in Colossians is the display showing us that Christ’s Lordship is universal and cosmic, crossing space, time, and thought. He is eternal—always was, and is, and will be! God comes to us as The Sovereign LORD and “pursues” us. He is the giver of unmerited redemption. He has come as an impact to the universe as His redemptive work impacts our hearts and minds. So, He is displayed by our lives as He is displayed in the universe. This is how we become good stewards with His Church. In context, this passage also tells us that since Christ is the Firstborn of all creation, He must also be so in our spiritual lives and in the leading a church. If Christ is not first in our lives, He won’t be so in our churches ministries, boardrooms or decisions, and this puts us on shaky ground, bound to crumble!
Paul’s point is that Christ is Supreme and the head of the universe and the Church, including the one we lead. if we do not get this we become not only deficient in our churches stewardship, we become disloyal and disobedient to His Lordship. Christ is above all and He is the all in all! It is His Church we merely mange it of His glory! If we do not get this we are in the wrong! Then, false teaching will replace sound doctrine, just as it did in Paul’s day, as so many misguided churches whose teachings do nothing but distance and distract people from God, His precepts, and His call (Eph. 1:21-23; 4:15; 5:23).
Charity that Pleases God PII
Matthew 6: 1- 4
Jesus calls us to righteous giving. So, what have you done about it?
This passage in Matthew 6:1-18, is in a set of three–giving, praying, and fasting. This is common, classic, Jewish teaching, which Jesus is following. Three has the significance of adding more emphases in power and meaning. The Romans did not believe in charity. They felt that people should work for their food and wages. If a person was poor, it was because they were too lazy to work, or their family forsook their responsibility. However, wealthy Greeks and Romans would build public works projects such as gyms, bathrooms, and housing, to gain popularity and support for their aspirations–personally and/or politically. As you can see, human motivations and thinking have not changed in thousands of years!
Alms, or charitable deeds in most manuscripts, are from the Greek word eleemosunen, which refers specifically to almsgiving, or charitable deeds. While there are some older manuscripts that the NASB uses that have the Greek word dikaiosunen, which refers more to righteousness. The difference is that one is speaking in specific terms, while the other is more general. Since the context of the passage refers to several points from specific to general, either word would fit the context. However, there is greater textual support for the word dikaiosunen.
We are not to exhibit righteousness, just to be seen by others! This does not mean to avoid all or any practice of righteousness (Matt. 5:16). Rather, it is to avoid doing them JUST to be recognized and self-glorified. We cannot secure the praise for God when we are trying to secure praise for ourselves! The consequences for our misplaced motivations are that we miss our real, and true reward, which is far richer, better, and more lasting than temporary human praises. What we do in secret will be made known (Ecc 12:14; 2 Cor. 5:10) to God, and even to others, if God so desires.
No reward: This was a proclamation that submission to God was more crucial, and essential for life and faith, than personal agendas. By giving to the poor in secret, we are showing our love to God, rather than seeking personal glory (Psalm 41:1-3).
Trumpet Jesus is using ‘hyperbolic speech’, which is exaggeration, to make His point. Obviously people did not blow trumpets when they gave, but they did make it known when, and how much, they gave. Also, the charity box at the temple was in the shape of a trumpet! Jesus is the Master teacher, and He often uses humor and word plays to get His point across that are clear in the Greek, but not in English.
Hypocrites: This literally means acting, or an actor in a play. It is one who claims to have a relationship with God, and to be following His precepts, while actually doing the opposite. The ancient actors did this by holding up masks to proclaim their part in the play, and their expression of feelings, while their real feelings were hidden. The hypocrites in the Church seek themselves, and their agenda, under the façade of being a Christian. Sometimes their evil is so ingrained in them that they do not even realize they are hypocrites, as Jesus points out in chapter 23. Some of the religious people in Jesus time were very charitable. The Pharisees would give 10–20% percent to God (Luke 18:11-12). They tithed everything, even seeds (Luke 11:42). However, their deeds did not please God because their motivations were wrong!
Do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing: This is another word play. Many Middle Eastern cultures ate with one hand and wiped their rears with the other. You did not want to do these at the same time, or with the same hand! This means not only avoiding the praise of others but from yourself as well (1 Tim. 6:17-19).
In classic Jewish thought the right hand represented a good deed, and the left, my good opinion about the deed. This does not mean we are reckless with our financial giving. Rather, it means that it becomes second nature, without much thought, as anything we do in righteousness (Acts 2: 44-45; 4:34-37).Reward in full, or He Himself will reward you: This refers to the theme of a business transaction that has been repaid, a receipt for it.
What do you need to do to make sure your motivation is submission to God, because that is more crucial and essential for your life and faith than any personal agendas?
We are not to be reckless with our financial giving. Rather, it should become “second nature,” without much thought, as anything we do in righteousness should be. So, how can your giving reflect God’s precepts?
What are the different ways to give? Remember, money is only one aspect of giving. We also have time, talent, and treasures. Can you think of others?
Charity that Pleases God PI
Matthew 6: 1- 4
Do you think you are you a charitable person? If so, are you sure that your charity is pleasing to God? Why, or why not?
This passage sets out to proclaim the true lasting motivations for our daily pursuits of giving, praying, and fasting, extending to other pursuits in the coming chapters (6:1-33). These motivations for rewards will show how we exhibit our piety before God and people. Such motivations can either glorify God or become of hypocritical contempt to God, as well as ridicule and shame for the Church. Jesus calls us to righteous giving, that we should only be giving to others in order to please God. We are not to seek to please ourselves, and certainly not others. When we only seek the praise of others, our giving becomes fuel for selfishness, and God is not glorified. Our reward will only be the momentary praise, and a much greater reward will become lost due to our misplaced motivations. God will not reward us twice, so, we must choose which reward we want, one from feeble temporary people, or one from the Great, Eternal God.
Do not do your chartable deeds before men: Jesus is affirming the positive value of such deeds. But, He also warns that they must be done with the correct, proper attitudes and motivations.
Classic Judaism states that our motivation for performing good deeds should not be for rewards from others. Rather, we should wait for our reward in Judgment. Jesus affirms this classic teaching, and challenges the teachers of the Law to uphold it. They, of course, did not, as they proclaimed elaborate displays, and speaking to draw attention to themselves when they gave, the opposite of what they thought (Tobit 12:8 Jewish Tex])! Charity was so essential to the Law that some rabbis were teaching that alms giving meant a sure place in Heaven. The Law did not teach this. The Law stated that you could give up to 20% of your tithe to the poor, but no more than that. Otherwise, the priests would not have enough funds to run the county. OT tithes were also state taxes. You could, of course, give more from your personal discretionary income, just as we do today.
Have you ever considered that some forms of charity actually displease God?
Remember Jesus taught His disciples to have a righteousness that exceeded that of the Pharisees, meaning they must be real in their faith, and in their walk in Christ (Matt. 5:20)! The Scribes and Pharisees were practicing the art of hypocrisy–not righteousness! Jesus does not pay any attention to the people who say one thing and do another, nor does He pay attention to misplaced motivations or religious gab and gossip! Is He paying attention to you?
What would Jesus say about your true motivations in your daily pursuits of piety, such as in giving? Why are our motivations for rewards important?
Motivations will glorify God or will be hypocritical and contemptible to God, as well as bring ridicule and shame to the Church. Why?
It has been said that the check register or day planner is a great sign to determine the spiritual health of that person. How does your check register or bank statement reflect your relationship in Christ?
What CNN reports on Tithing?
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That’s a lot of questions, and I’d like to unpack some of them in future posts. But for now, watch the CNN video above and stop by Out of Ur to follow the discussion there.
My 2 cents: Those who think Tithing is not in the Bible have not read the Bible! They just want to rationalize their own spiritual betrayal and disobedience…
secular case for tithing?
This blog is based on my 2nd Ph.D. dissertation on Stewardship, saw this and said “interesting,” anti church, but a secular case for tithing…interesting, what do you think?
http://biblicalstewardship.net/ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_bIWztdOlZg
be blessed!
Matthew 22:34-40; “Stewardship Prime”
This passage is about aligning ourselves up to what is important, our relationship to God, our relationship to others and to self and our purpose for His Glory. Thus, what does God want us to do with our stewardship of faith and purpose of life?
The context is that the Sadducees and Pharisees were not concerned with truth; they only wanted to argue and attack Jesus. This is nothing new as people like to argue, just for the sake of an argument and not for finding true Truth and real effectual meaning. By the way this is reprehensible before God, as you will see in the next chapter, Matthew 23! They are only capable of causing division, hypocrisy, and strife. God desires humility and for the fruit of His Spirit to empower us (Gal. 5:22-23; Phil. 1:9-11; Col. 1:3-8)! When we are too full of ourselves, there is no room for God to be at work in us (Rom. 7:4-6; Gal. 5:19-21)! The Sadducees and Pharisees were experts in ignoring God’s purpose for them; therefore, they spent their time attacking those who were centered on God. Jesus was their main target.
- God…of the living means, God is the God of those who exist. God of the dead means, lording over those who do not exist. Thus, if the people who have passed on are still in existence, then there is a resurrection. The Patriarchs are in eternal relationship with God, so they are living—not dead. Dead refers to nonexistence.
- Silenced. Pleased that Jesus silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees sought to get Jesus with their well-crafted, non-winnable arguments.
- Which is the greatest…? Jewish rabbis counted 613 to 619 individual laws in the Law, and endeavored to distinguish between “great” and “light” commands. (Since they did not disciple people, serve the needy, or serve the Lord, I guess they had nothing better to do!)
- Love. The Greek verb is agapao, not phileo! Phileo means, brotherly love, as in friendly affection; but, agapao means a deep commitment and devotion that comes from our willingness and our realization that it is a duty (1 Cor. 13). It is also a response of our gratitude for the love God gave us (1 John 4:19-21)!
- Heart, soul, mind are the imperative commands that form the heart of the Law (Lev. 19:18; Duet. 6:5). The purpose is to encompass; we are to love with all we are—our entire personhood. It is not just a part, or an aspect—it is all.
- Some translations have might, which means mind. Mark 12:30 adds your strength. The Septuagint (the Greek translation of the O.T.) adds “mind.” Jesus combined the Greek and Hebrew meanings to refer to the entire person—his thoughts, behaviors, and goals.
- This passage in Deuteronomy is called the “Shema;” Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one (Deut. 6:4). This is the Jewish “confession of faith,” and sets the theme for verse five. This passage was memorized and recited frequently at worship services. And the second. Jewish teachers often combined various commands, summarizing them into one. Jewish teachers often taught that love is paramount and covers all we are and all that we should do in life, in service to God and others. Love is who we are and who we are to be. Because God loves us, we should have the motivation to love others (Rom. 8:1-4; 13:8-10; 1 Cor. 13; 1 John 4)!
- The Law and the Prophets. Together, Law and Prophets refer to the entire O.T., including the writings. Law refers to the first five books of the Bible, Prophets referred to Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel (the Major Prophets), as well as the twelve Minor Prophets—Jonah, Daniel, etc. This was said to make the point that all of the testimony given to us is from God! Jesus’ point is that He fulfills the Law and the Prophets; He does not dissolve them, but makes them deeper, and takes our place in obeying them (Ex. 20:1; Matt. 5:17).
This is “stewardship prime,” Who is your Lord (Psalm 110)? If Jesus is your Lord, questions do not pose a problem! Your life will be centered on Him, be filled with purpose and meaning, and will benefit all those around you! When we grasp the real Truth, our private faith will become more real and more impacting; then, our public activities will be a blessing to others (Rom. 13; Phil. 2:1-11; Col. 2:2-3). When we love God, we will love our neighbor. If we do not love others, it is highly likely that God is just a convenience, and our love for Him is not sincere! Our “truth” is made up, or misdirected; it is not real Truth! And this will be the baseline on how we see and uses and then grow in the stewardship prime of our faith and live!
What does the “Parable of the Talents” teach us about Stewardship?
Do not misjudge yourself; rather, seek Him and let your confidence be in whom you are in Him, not in how others respond to you! Allow yourself to be used! It is each Believer’s responsibility to find, develop, and exercise the talents and gifts given to him or her (1 Peter 4:10; 1 Corinthians 12:7,11). How we are to behave and interact with one another is governed by the Spirit working through each of us with these gifts (see our Spiritual Gifts Channel). We must acknowledge our role in the Body; there are no lone wolves in Christ! We have a duty to fulfill, and a role to play. When we refuse to find and use our gifts, we not only hurt ourselves, but each other and our Lord! The Spirit empowers us beyond just the “natural talent” (1 Corinthians 2:14-15; Galatians 1:15-16;1 Peter: 5). At His second coming, Jesus will be looking for those who are prepared and faithful. Are you prepared and faithful, using what He has given to His glory in a faithful way? Yes we will fail; we will forget; we will miss opportunities. The important thing is to not let fear captivate you; rather, do your best in striving to use what He gives. Because, not doing anything is what is wicked; failing is not wicked!
Do not allow yourself to become prideful, lazy, or conceited in your outlook toward others. This thinking is straight from another source other than the Bible and God’s call (Matthew 28)! Satan does not want you to discover your gifts; he wants you to ignore your responsibility and nurture of one another!
The question we need to be asking today is, how do you think God feels when we do not put to use what He gives us? What does it mean to you that our God trusts you with His most valuable goods and people? What have you done? What will you do? Do you really believe that real wealth in life is not in money, but rather in relationships and obedience? If not, why? If so, why? What happens when we allow our fear to take us over? How can you take comfort that God only gives us the opportunities to match the abilities He has given us? How would this help you eradicate your fear? What do you need to do to allow Christ to let your confidence be who you are in Him, and not in how others respond to you? How would this help you learn and be confident in witnessing? What do you believe God has given you? What have you done with it? Where do you invest what He gives you? How do you make it count for His glory?
The answer to these questions will put you on the right track to the percepts Jesus is communicating!
