The Great News of Biblical Stewardship for Being Formed in Christ: 10 Principles
Through the ages, God’s people have been numbered among the most generous and have found great joy in giving. To give is to follow the model of Christ. Giving itself is an act of formation into disciples. The more we give the more we are deeply drawn into the heart of God and the more peace we have with the world and our resources. In a world that calls us to be afraid and has raised wealth and materialism into idolatry, followers of Jesus have discovered another way – a priceless way.
1. Biblical stewardship is about raising people and not money. The relationship we have with our money is of critical importance to God. Other than the kingdom of God, Jesus taught more about money than about any other issue.
2. We are managers (stewards) and not owners of anything. The scriptures are consistently clear. Everything belongs to God. Being created “in the image of God” means that we act as “agents” for God. Giving is fundamental to being a child of God.
· The scriptures give stern warnings to those who think that they actually own their resources.
· The scriptures warn about our taking credit for what financial success we may have.
· The Bible places much of the blame on the ills of the world and the brokenness of our relationships with God and each other on our faulty attitudes toward money.
· The kingdom of self is a heavily fortified kingdom!
3. Faithful and generous stewardship is the outcome of our belief. Disciples of Jesus reorder their lives based upon the empty tomb and the promises of God. Our resources are for God’s work.
· As persons grasped by the empty tomb we are not reactive to the forces of fear in the world but respond generously because of the certainty of the promises of God.
· We breathe the air of an ethic of scarcity in this world, but the empty tomb calls us to operate out of an ethic of abundance.
4. The more we give, the more we are drawn into the heart of God. Jesus says, “For where your treasure is there also will be your heart” (Matthew 6:21).
5. The great commandment is that we are to love God with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength. The scriptures teach us that to love Jesus is to love his church. Love is not a feeling. It is a choice and includes tangible acts of love like giving generously.
6. The scriptures speak about tithing, which is giving to God’s church ten percent of one’s income. The scriptures also speak about “proportionate giving” (II Corinthians 8:3). Proportionate giving means that one’s giving increases as a percentage of one’s income and resources as one’s income and resources rise. This means that a tithe, for some people, may not truly honor God. This is why the church is filled with double and triple tithers and even more generosity.
7. The scriptures teach first fruits giving. The first allocation of what we receive is to go to God’s church. It is to put first things first and an act of faith that God will make the rest of one’s resources sufficient for one’s needs.
8. Making a financial pledge is biblical (II Corinthians 9:5).
9. We can never out-give God! God always multiplies our generosity in ways that are not always measurable and yet are priceless (see Malachi 3:10).
10. God does not desire that we give begrudgingly or through guilt. God does indeed love a cheerful giver! (II Corinthians 9:7).
On Sunday, August 21, Epiphany people gathered on the hill that fronts Peachtree Industrial Boulevard to "break new ground." This important milestone in the life of Epiphany was also a statement to the world and to ourselves that we are committed to breaking new ground as a congregation.