FROM THE PRINCIPAL'S DESK

SPIRITAUL FORMATION



Biblical Principles of Stewardship

  1. God, the creator (Genesis 1) and sustainer of all things (Colossians 1:17) and the one “who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine” (Ephesians 3:20, NIV), is a God of infinite abundance (Psalm 50:10–11) and grace (2 Corinthians 9:8).2
  2. Acknowledging the primacy of the gospel (Romans 1:16) as their chief treasure (Matthew 13:44), Christians are called to lives of stewardship, as managers of all that God has entrusted to them (1 Corinthians 4:1–2).3
  3. A Christian’s attitude toward possessions on the earth is important to God (Matthew 6:24), and there is a vital link between how believers utilize earthly possessions (as investments in God’s kingdom) and the eternal rewards that believers receive (Matthew 19:27–30).4
  4. God entrusts possessions to Christians and holds them accountable for their use, as a tool to grow God’s eternal kingdom, as a test of the believers’ faithfulness to God, and as a trademark that their lives reflect Christ’s values (Luke 16:1–9).5
  5. From God’s abounding grace, giving by Christians reflects their gratitude for what God has provided and involves growing in an intimate faith relationship with Christ as Lord of their lives (Mark 12:41–44).6
  6. Because giving is a worshipful, obedient act of returning to God from what has been provided (Romans 12:1–2), Christian fund-raisers should hold a conviction that, in partnership with the church, they have an important role in the spiritual maturation of believers (James 3:1).7
  7. The primary role of Christian fund-raisers is to advance and facilitate believers’ faith in and worship of God through a Christ-centered understanding of stewardship that is solidly grounded in Scripture (2 Timothy 3:16).8
  8. Recognizing that it is the work of the Holy Spirit (often in partnership with fund-raising techniques), who prompts Christians to give (John 15:4–5, Isaiah 55:8–11), fund-raisers and organizations must never manipulate or violate their sacred trust with ministry partners.9
  9. An eternal, God-centered worldview promotes cooperation, rather than competition, among organizations, and places the givers’ relationships with God above the ministry’s agenda
    (2 Corinthians 4:16–18).10
  10. In our materialistic, self-centered culture, Christian leaders should acknowledge that there is a great deal of unclear thinking about possessions, even among believers, and that an eternal kingdom perspective will often seem like foolish nonsense (1 Corinthians 2:14) to those who rely on earthly kingdom worldview techniques (1 Corinthians 2:1–5).11



When these principles are implemented—principles that rely on God’s way of changing hearts more than on human methods—the resulting joy-filled generosity of believers will fully fund God’s work here on the earth (Exodus 36:6–7).12

Notes
1Matt. 6:19–21, 33
2Gen. 1; Ps. 24:1; Col. 1:17; Eph. 3:20; Ps. 50:10–11; Phil. 4:19; 2 Cor. 9:8; John 1:14
3Rom. 1:16; 1 Cor. 9:23; Phil. 3:8–11; Matt. 13:44, 25:15–30; 1 Cor.
4:1–2; 1 Pet. 4:10
4Matt. 6:24, 22:37; 1 Tim. 6:10; Phil. 4:17; Prov. 24:12; Matt. 19:27–30;
Luke 14:12–14; 1 Cor. 3; 2 Cor. 5:10; Eph. 2:10; 1 Tim. 6:19
5Luke 16:1–9; Rom. 1:1; 2 Cor. 8–9; Gal. 6:10; Col. 3:17; 1 Tim. 6:18
6Mark 12:21–22; Gen. 14:20; Ezra 2:69; Mark 12:41–44; Luke 7:36–50
71 Chron. 29:10–14; Rom. 12:1; James 3:1
82 Tim. 3:16; Exod. 34:32, 35:21
9John 15:4–5; Isa. 55:8–11; 2 Cor. 9:7; 1 Chron. 28:6, 29:9; Ps. 90:17;
Prov. 21:1; 2 Cor. 3:5
102 Cor. 4:16–18; Ps. 90:1–12
111 Cor. 1:17–31, 2:1–5, 14
12Exod. 36:6–7; Matt. 6:10