The Purpose of Stewardship
In His Presence: Genesis 12:2-3
What is God’s purpose for stewardship? We can sum it up in one verse, Deuteronomy 8:18: “You shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He who is giving you power to make wealth, that He may confirm His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day.” To put it simply, the reason God blesses us and the purpose of stewardship is the covenant.
The covenant is the program of God’s kingdom. The principle of the covenant is that God expands His program of His kingdom rule in history through His servants. When God first made His covenant with Abraham, He promised to bless him, but not only that, He promised to bring blessings through him.
We often hear Acts 20:35 quoted: “It is more blessed to give than to receive,” but we don’t really understand it. This verse means that if you are giving, it is only because God has given to you. If we receive blessings from God, we are obligated to be a blessing to someone else.
Deuteronomy 8:18 also emphasizes that it is God who gives us power to make wealth. God does not want us to forget the source of our blessings. It is He who allows us to work and be productive. Work has always been in God’s plan for mankind, starting with Adam and Eve, who had the job of tending the garden and its inhabitants. There is no quick way to make a buck—true wealth is provided by God.
One Minute Please
When we give of our blessings, God will expand our roles as givers and allow us to keep on giving.
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