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Why Faithful Stewardship Matters Now More Than Ever Before!

Ron Williams
07/12/17 - Wednesday Summer Series

Series: Summer Series 2017 "Now More Than Ever"

2 Corinthians 8:1-9

Stewardship is a Biblical Subject (Acts 20:27)

• We are not preaching this as much
• Stewardship is a test of true spirituality
• One may give and not be spiritual, but one cannot be spiritual and not give

Jesus Said Much about Stewardship

• 16 of 38 parables concern money and possessions
• Christ said more about money than heaven and hell combined
• 1 of 10 verses (288) in the Gospels are about money
• In total the Bible has: 

-500 verses about prayer

-less than 500 verses on faith

-more than 200 verses on stewardship and money

Stewardship Versus Mere Giving:

• "We give to God" implies the idea that we own it
• Stewardship implies more
• 1 Cor. 4:1-2
• Definition of a steward: Manager, executor, one who handles something of another, a surrogate of another
• Understanding stewardship will promote our giving to God (Psa. 24:1; 50:10; Hag. 2:8; Jas. 1:17)
• In giving, we give to God from what we think we own
• In stewardship we give our entire lives to God (2 Cor. 8:1, 5; Phil. 2:5-8)
• Mere giving demands money
• Stewardship demands our money, our decisions of life, our manner of living, our dress, our influence, our time, our all (Psa. 127:1-5)

More Than Ever Before We Are to Be Faithful Stewards

• Because I want to glorify God with what He's given me to use (Prov. 3:9-10)
• Because it is more blessed to give than to receive (Acts. 20:35)
• Because I want the cause of Christ to spread (1 Cor. 16:1-2)
• Because I want to control my finances, not the other way around (1 Tim. 6:6-10)
• Because I want to give more and more as God blesses me (Luke 6:38; 2 Cor. 9:6)
• Because this is a wonderful way to show God my heart of appreciation for Him (2 Cor. 9:7)

4 Things We Can Do with Our Blessings:

1. We can carelessly waste it so no one profits
2. We can spend it on self and on stuff
3. We can hoard it like the rich fool (Luke 12:16-21)
4. We can use it to glorify God and bless others (Acts 2:43-45; 4:34-37)

Take heed of covetousness! (Luke 12:15)

What shall it profit a man? (Mark 8:36-37)