CHRISTIAN STEWARDSHIP TELUGU CHRISTIAN CONGREGATION, KUWAIT Saturday, October 22, 2005

Christian Stewardship Stewardship is right at the centre of our Christian life. Satan’s strategy is that we misunderstand what stewardship is and loose its blessings 1. Introduction 2/26 2. Definition (Dr. John Haggai) Christian Stewardship is the practice of systematic and proportionate giving of time, abilities, material possessions and all God’s gifts to us based on the conviction that these are a trust from God, to be used in His service, for the benefit of all mankind in grateful acknowledgement of Christ’s redeeming love

Christian Stewardship 3/26 3. Concept of ownership Greeks – common ownership Romans – Absolute individual Jews and Christians – Ownership is God’s and Stewardship is ours Jews attached a great significance to land because for them land was sacred because it was God’s land. Ownership means propriety (Lev 25.23) “The land must not be sold permanently, because the land is mine and your aliens and my tenants”

Possession means Custody/Steward/Tenant (Lev.25.24) “Throughout the country that you hold as a possession, you must provide for the redemption of the land” Ruling principle: God as a creator, own absolutely everything and Humans are always and only Stewards. Christian Stewardship 4/26

Biblically, steward is a person who has the responsibility of managing resources entrusted to him by His master The following are the elements:- (a) A trust (b) Guided Management Responsibilities (c) Responsible to the Master (d) Representative and Agent of the Master 4. Who is a steward? Christian Stewardship 5/26

God as the creator and source of all resources. God created all things and remains the ultimate source of all that we have (Gen 1.1.) “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth” For Him and through Him are all things (Rom 11.36) “For from Him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen” Gives us the ability to create wealth (Deut 8.18) “But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth..” 5. Fundamentals of Stewardship Christian Stewardship 6/26

God retains ownership of all resources (Psa 24.1) The earth is the Lord’s and everything in it, the world and all who live in it” It is important to always remember that God intends to and actually continues to retain the ownership of all that He has created not withstanding his decision to entrust some of these resources to man 6. Fundamentals of Stewardship Christian Stewardship 7/26

God gives on trust – man’s stewardship God gave to man on trust to use and manage the resources He has created. (Gen 1.29) “Then God said, I give you every seed bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food. God gives all men life, breath and everything else (Acts 17.24,25) The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands. And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives all men, life and breath and everything else” 7. Fundamentals of Stewardship Christian Stewardship 8/26

Some key principles:- Stewards of God’s resources have responsibility for effective and efficient management of these resources. The steward needs to be guided by some key biblical principles in managing entrusted resources. What are they? 8. Stewardship of resources Christian Stewardship 9/26

1Tim 2.20(a) “Timothy, gaud what has been entrusted to your Care!!” (Dr. John Haggai) “…To the degree that the steward enlarges the corpus, enlarges the estate, to that degree the steward is enriched. And to the degree that he does not, to that degree he is impoverished. God is the owner. Man is the steward. And God has the sole right to the declaration of the use of money” How and where the Steward applies the resources determines the direction of his heart. (Matt 6.21) “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” 9. Value Principle Christian Stewardship 10/26

God requires that we are faithful in managing whatever He has entrusted to us. The Lord also rewards faithfulness. (Mat ) “..Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things..” God expects to use all the resources he gives us to best execute the responsibilities He has given to us. (1 Cor 4.2) “Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful” 10. Faithfulness Christian Stewardship 11/26

We must have an “Eternity Perspective” and apply it in the management of God’s resources entrust to us. A worthy Christian Steward must look at life in the long run with eternity clearly in view 11. The eternity perspective 12. Eternal gain principle As stewards we must allow the principle of Eternal gain or “momentary sacrifice for eternal gain” to drive the management of the resources entrusted to us. Christian Stewardship 12/26

1 Cor 4.17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far out weighs them all 13. Risk God’s measure of risk vis-avis investment of resources is a risk free investment environment. Mat 6.20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal Christian Stewardship 13/26

14. Return The minimum rate of return in God’s treasury is a hundred times. Mat And every one who has left houses or brothers or sisters or Father or Mother or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life Under God’s investment principles, the risk free rate of return is a hundred times (10,000%) plus eternal life Christian Stewardship 14/26

15. Regarding money and possessions Use money as Master directs but do not serve it as a master Money and possessions is so important and hits at the very crux of our Christianity that the bible says so much on it than most other topics and about 15% of all recorded words of our Lord is related in one way or other to this subject of money Christian Stewardship 15/26

16. Time Very few Christians realize that they are expected to give account of the stewardship of the time, the Lord has entrusted to them. Some people say, time is money, but time is much more than money. Time is God given Psalms Your eyes saw my unformed substance, and in your book all the days of my life were written, before ever they took shape, when as yet there was non of them Christian Stewardship 16/26

17. Time as resource Realizing that time is a resource, the challenge is: How can I use my talents and gifts from God in the time I have received from God in order to fulfill my purpose from God? Urgency about time: Job 7.6 My days are swifter than a weaver’s shuttle James 4.14 Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes Christian Stewardship 17/26

18. Fund raising for Christian ministries Fund raising is defined as “Encouraging and soliciting maximum use of the resources of God held in trust by His people and is available to be invested in the work of His Kingdom” Biblical basis for fund raising:- Building Tabernacle, Temple, Wall Neh 2.8 Christian Stewardship 18/26

19. Principles of Fund raising – Be guided by Biblical principles The Bible contains account of how God worke3d in providing for building projects, staff and priests maintenance and other special needs Christian Stewardship 19/ Principles of fund raising – Focus more on God than methods We should prayerfully focus more on God the great provider than on methods. Consequently, the focus should be which methods will God have us use to fund the work.

21. Principles of fund raising – God’s vision The resources we require must be for the pursuit of a God-given vision and a commitment to a faithful application of the resources Christian Stewardship 20/ Essentials of Fund raising Development Luke 6.38 Give and it will be given unto you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. Gal 6.7 Do not be deceived, God can not be mocked. A man reaps what he sows

23. No crisis appeals Don’t make crising appeals your fund raising strategy otherwise next time you will need a ore serious crisis to raise funds. 24. No guilt trips Don’t get people to give out of obligation or guilt but out of celebration for the opportunity to invest in God’s venture Christian Stewardship 21/26

22/ Watch for Integrity Christian Stewardship People give to people they trust. Be honest even when it will cost you the money. People must believe in you and that you will use the money for the purpose. When you have had enough for a purpose or project, be honest to stop collecting it. Ex Equality of gift and not sacrifice The widow’s mite Mark Our emphasis should not be equality of gift but on the equality of sacrifice

Christian Stewardship 23/ What? Whom? and Why? What? What is the need? Whom? Whom from? Whosoever as a willing heart Ex 35.5 From what you have, take an offering for the Lord. Every one who is willing is to bring to the Lord gold, silver, and bronze….. Why? Why do you need the fund? What are the benefits to People/souls?

28. Pareto Principle Christian Stewardship 24/26 80% of the money, time and work are given by 20% of the people. 20% of the people give 80% of your funds. Focus a little more on the highly productive 20% 29. Ask to cover your needs only It is not sufficient to accept just because someone is willing to give you something or sell you something at a substantial discount. Unless you need it, some donated or super deal items may be harmful than helpful

Christian Stewardship 25/ Thank you We should never, never forget to say thank you to those who have responded to our call. We must also remember to thank those who respond to express their inability to give, someday they may be in a position to give 31. Fund raising fundamentals - Know your donors - Contact them - Challenge them - Educate and update them - Ask them again and again

Christian Stewardship 26/ Ways to contact - Brochures/News letters - Visits - Letters and personal proposals - Phone calls and special occasion cards - Audio and Video tapes - Internet and electronic mail