1. Biblical Stewardship 28 November 2015
St Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, Kgotsong
Presenter: Elder H.G. Booysen

2. What is Biblical Stewardship?
Ordinary meanings (according to Merriam-Webster):
Biblical (def.): of, relating to, or being in accord with the Bible
Stewardship (def.): the conducting, supervising, or managing of something; especially: the careful and responsible management of something entrusted to one's care.
Therefore: Biblical Stewardship is the careful and responsible management – in accord with the Bible – of something entrusted to one’s care.

3. Who is Entrusted with Biblical Stewardship?
All God’s people
All groups of the people of God
All Institutions within the Kingdom of God
All authorities within the Kingdom of God
Therefore: ALL OF US who are here today

4. How Old and How Wide is Stewardship?
26 Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals,[a] and over all the creatures that move along the ground.”
27 So God created mankind in his own image,     in the image of God he created them;     male and female he created them.
28 God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.”
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. 30 And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds in the sky and all the creatures that move along the ground—everything that has the breath of life in it—I give every green plant for food.” And it was so.
31 God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning— THE SIXTH DAY.

5. #1 – The Who’s in Charge Principle God is the Owner, I am the Manager
Psalm 24:1 ‘The earth and everything on it belong to the Lord. The world and its people belong to Him.’
If God owns it all, what am I doing with it?
Stewardship is the missing piece in the equation.
Q: What is a steward?
A: ‘A steward is one who owns nothing, but is responsible for everything.’

6. #2 – The Give and Grow Principle Practicing stewardship produces growth
Practicing stewardship enables people to: a) Find their spiritual gifts b) Increase their faith c) Become spiritually sensitive d) Be fruitful in God’s kingdom e) Receive blessings from God f) Be a blessing to others g) Make a lasting contribution to God
If we possess these qualities we are growing!
Most people say: – ‘When I feel good I’ll do it.’ ‘When I have more I’ll give it’
Mature people say: – ‘I’ll do it then I’ll feel good’ I’ll give then I’ll have more’

7. # 3 – The Do It Now Principle What are you doing with what you have right now?
Stewardship deals with the present resources you have.
‘The person who waits to do a great deal of good at once – will never do anything.’ (Samuel Johnson)
Things people say: – ‘If I had a million dollars I’d give a lot to the Church’
Luke 16:10 ‘He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much.’
Here is the principle: ‘If we are not sacrificially with what we have now, we will not give sacrificially when we have more.’

8. # 4 – The I Am in Debt Principle The moment I am born I am in debt
Many times the young generation thinks the world owes them something.
By the time we are born we already owe somebody for 9 months of room and board!
God did not create us to collect, but to be a giving agency.
I am indebted to:
1) God 2) Last generation 3) Next generation
I pay that debt by reaching my potential and becoming a good steward to the next generation.

9. # 5 – The Fountain of Youth Principle We live forever through our giving
‘We exist temporarily through what we take, but we live forever through what we give.’ Douglas M. Lawson
We cannot take anything with us.
Matthew 19:21 –Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”
‘What I spent, is gone; What I kept, I lost; But what I gave away Will be mine forever.’

10. # 6 – The Who Is Number One Principle God desires the first, not the last, the leftover crumbs
Proverbs 3:9 Honour the LORD with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops
1 Corinthians 16:2 On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made.

11. # 7 – The Cheerful Attitude Principle Stewardship begins with loving and not giving
How much do we really love God?
2 Corinthians 9:7 – Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
Freely we have received and freely we must give.
When we give the spirit, the attitude with which we give becomes extremely important, because even the Pharisees in Jesus’ day were extremely proud of their giving, but they were giving with a wrong motive, to be seen of man!
‘We can GIVE without LOVING But we cannot LOVE without GIVING!’
‘Love asks – ‘How much can I give? Legalism asks – ‘How little can I give?’
‘I’m not sure all happy people are generous, but I’ve never seen a generous person who was not happy!’ – John Maxwell

12. # 8 – The Big Shovel Principle We cannot outgive God
Luke 6:38 Give, and it will be given to 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.”
We shovel out and God shovels in, and remember His shovel is bigger!
John Bunyan said,
‘A man there was, And they called him mad; The more he gave, The more he had.’

13. # 9 – The River Principle Our life is like a river and not a reservoir
We are not responsible to keep what we get, but to channel what we get somewhere else.
God will give us what He knows will flow through us!
S. D. Gordon said: ‘There is one inlet of power in the life – anybody’s life – any kind of power; just one inlet – the Holy Spirit. He is power. There are five outlets of power; five avenues through which this One within shows Himself and reveals His power.’
1) Through our LIFE – what we are. 2) Through our LIPS – what we say. 3) Through our MINISTRY – what we do. 4) Through our MONEY – what we give. 5) Through our PRAYER – what we claim in Jesus’ name.
We make a LIVING by what we GET.
We make a LIFE by what we GIVE.

14. # 10 – The Who Has Who Principle Until God is in control of my life, I am out of control
Stewardship has to do with us as people:-
our belief system,
our character
and values,
and not with our:-
treasure or
purse!