When Adam sinned, he sold the whole human race to Satan. As a result,
Scripture tells us that, apart from the redemption we have through Jesus
Christ, the whole world is under the sway of the evil one. That is why Jesus
referred to Satan as the “prince of this world” on more than one
occasion (see John 12:31; 14:30; 16:11).
When we, by faith, accept Christ as our personal Saviour, we not only
pass from death to life, or from condemnation to justification, but we also
change our spiritual citizenship from this doomed world under Satan and
we become citizens of heaven, the kingdom of God (1 John 5:19).
Therefore, as Christians we are God’s stewards, entrusted by Him
with time and opportunities, abilities and possessions, and the blessings
of the earth and its resources. We acknowledge God’s ownership of all
that we are and have by faithful service to Him and our fellowman. We also
acknowledge His ownership by returning tithes and giving offerings for the
proclamation of His gospel and the support and growth of His church, the
body of Christ.
True Christian stewardship is a privilege given to us by God for nurture
in love and the victory over selfishness and covetousness. As ambassadors
of Christ we represent Him here on earth by our faithful stewardship to
the gospel commission. This is what this study on Christian stewardship
is all about.
1. To whom does this earth and all it contains belong?
Psalm 24:1 __________________________________________________
2. To whom did God give dominion over this earth and all that it contains?
Psalms 8:4-8 __________________________________________________
3. Who claimed this dominion when Jesus was tempted in the wilderness?
Luke 4:5,6 __________________________________________________
Note: At creation God placed man in charge of all that He had
created (see Genesis 1:26). When Adam and Eve sinned, Satan usurped this
dominion and became the prince of this world. Therefore, apart from the
redeeming grace of Christ, humanity is a slave to Satan. This is mankind’s
predicament.
4. What price did Christ pay in order to redeem the human race?
Note: The word “blood” in the Bible represents life,
and shed blood means life laid down in death. This was the infinite price
Christ paid for our redemption.
5. When was this infinite price paid?
John 12:31-33 __________________________________________________
Note: When Christ laid down His life in death at the cross, He
was paying the infinite price for our sins by accepting its wages on man’s
behalf. Therefore, when we by faith accept Christ as our Saviour we also
recognize Him as our Lord and Master.
6. As a result of what happened at the cross, to whom do Christians
belong?
1 Corinthians 6:19,20 __________________________________________________
Note: At the cross Christ reclaimed as His own that which man
had surrendered to Satan at the Fall. Because Christians have accepted this
salvation in Christ, God now appoints His people to serve as stewards of
His possessions.
7. How are Christians to acknowledge God’s ownership?
1 Corinthians 10:31 __________________________________________________
Note: Life can be divided into four basic areas, each a gift from
God. He gave us a body, abilities, time, and material possessions. As God’s
stewards we must take care of all four as faithful stewards.
8. What does God require of believers as His stewards?
1 Corinthians 4:2 __________________________________________________
Note: A steward is a person entrusted with management of the estate
of another. To the Christian, stewardship means being responsible for, and
the use of, everything entrusted to the believer by God — life, physical
being, time, talents, and possessions.
9. What is our main responsibility as God’s stewards?
2 Corinthians 5:20 __________________________________________________
Note: As God’s stewards, our main responsibility is to witness
the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ to our fellowman. This means sharing
with others the good news of the gospel, that in Jesus Christ they have
already been reconciled to God (verses 18, 19).
10. To whom are we to administer the gifts God has given us?
1 Peter 4:10 __________________________________________________
11. What are we to avoid as God’s faithful stewards?
1 Timothy 6:20 __________________________________________________
Note: As God’s faithful stewards, we are to avoid any controversy
that creates doubts about God or what He has revealed in His Word. True
faith is taking God at His word even though it may disagree with our rationale
or the opinions of science.
12. What is the root of all evil that we must avoid as faithful stewards?
1 Timothy 6:10 __________________________________________________
Note: Please notice that the text does not say that money
is the root of all evil but the love of it. Money is the ingredient
that runs this world. As citizens of heaven it is not a sin to be rich,
but we must not make money our god. Like the apostle Paul, we must learn
to be content with whatever condition we find ourselves in (read Philippians
4:11-13).
13. What are we guilty of when we fail to support God’s church
in tithes and offerings?
Malachi 3:8-10 __________________________________________________
Note: The tithe is a tenth of all that we earn, and offerings
are what we give of our own free will for the cause of God. When we fail
in these things it is an outward sign that our faith in God’s ability
to take care of us is weak. Please notice that when the Jews failed to pay
tithes and offerings, this was an indication that they had turned their
backs on God (read verses 6,7).
14. Who are the two masters we cannot serve at the same time?
Matthew 5:24 __________________________________________________
Note: Money is the god of this world. Therefore, one cannot make
money one’s god and at the same time be loyal to Christ. Being a Christian
means we become totally God-dependent.
15. On whom must we Christians fully rely for our every need?
Matthew 6:33 __________________________________________________
Note: To understand the full implication of this statement, please
read verses 25-34. Here Jesus is teaching His followers that, when we become
Christians, we must place ourselves entirely in the hands of God for our
every need. This does not mean we must not work for our living but that
our ultimate confidence for survival is God, who is able to supply all our
needs.
16. How should we live while we patiently wait for the Lord’s
return?
Luke 19:13 __________________________________________________
17. Since we Christians admit we belong to God, how should we live?
Romans 14:8 __________________________________________________
Note: Because by faith we admit we belong to God, we must consider
everything we are and have as God’s — our bodies, our money, our
time, and all our God-given abilities. To be faithful stewards, we must
join Paul in declaring: For me to live is Christ (Philippians 1:21).
18. What attitude should believers have regarding their possessions?
Acts 4:32 __________________________________________________
Note: The idea that all we possess belongs to God is not easy
for our sinful natures to accept. It is only through experiencing the power
of the cross that we can accept this fact and really know this truth.
19. How much did Jesus say the poor widow gave to God?
Mark 12:41-44 __________________________________________________
Note: This poor widow gave what she really needed to survive.
In giving all to the cause of God, she was manifesting complete faith in
God’s promise to take care of her. This is true stewardship.
20. After admonishing young Timothy to flee from covetousness, what
six things did he advise him to follow after?
| 1 Timothy 6:11: | (i)______________________ | (ii)______________________ |
| (iii)______________________ | (iv)______________________ | |
| (v)______________________ | (vi)______________________ |