II. GOD'S STEWARDS ARE MANAGERS,
NOT OWNERS.

What does this mean?

God's stewards have been entrusted with life and life's resources and given the privilege of responsibly and joyfully managing them for Him.

What does God's Word say about this?

Gen. 2:15 The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.

Ps. 24:1 The earth is the LORD'S, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it. (cf. Ps. 89:11)

1 Chron. 29:14 But whom am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand. (cf. 29:1-20)

2 Cor. 8:5 And they [Macedonian Christians] did not do as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us in keeping with God's will. (cf. 8:1-7)

Luke 12:48b From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked. (cf. 12:41-48)

1 Tim. 6:17-19 Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.

How is this done?

As children of God through faith in Jesus Christ, and with the Holy Spirit's help, we will:

·Encourage proper management of all of life and life's resources for God's purposes;

·Promote materials and approaches to stewards that are firmly grounded in the Owner/manager understanding of stewardship;

·Encourage cheerful, firstfruit, proportionate (including but not limited to tithing) living and giving in all areas of life by Christian stewards; and,

·Receive and use God's gifts with thanksgiving.

As children of God through faith in Jesus Christ, and with the Holy Spirit's help, we will not:

·Approach the steward as if he or she is the Owner;

·Neglect to remind the steward of Who the Owner is;

·Forget the Owner for the sake of the interests of the entity being represented; or,

·Fail to remind Christian stewards that greater blessings call for greater responsibility to manage them according to God's purposes.