|
||
|
STEWARDSHIP Following are four Sunday School lessons concerning stewardship. Believers in Christ should be taught what the Bible says about finances and possessions. Many simply don’t know or are not obedient to Scripture in this area. It is estimated that in most evangelical churches 20% of the people give 80% of the money. In many churches 30–40% of the membership gives nothing. Each Church should assume the duty of teaching the Biblical principles of finance in order to develop the Christians in the church, and not to raise money for the church. This development and growth towards God will result in the money, leadership, prayer and building needs of the church all being met. TEACHING PLAN Ţ Follow through with personal testimony or the testimony of class members if available. If you have a large group, divide into groups of 8-10 for sharing. Explain to them that we are looking for what is important to Jesus. Ţ When reading the verses, have members interact. Discuss the idea of stewardship. Ţ This passage can be used for all four lessons: Matthew 25:14-30. Tell of how Jesus tells the story of two stewards in these verses. One faithfully managed what was entrusted to him and was rewarded. The other mismanaged his because of fear. He was sternly punished. You are a steward of all God has created. You have a choice as to what kind of a steward you will be. Will you be trustworthy or worthless? Ţ Close in prayer: Lord, help us to be faithful stewards of all that you have entrusted to us. We know all we have comes from you. Let us never forget that. Thank you!
Lesson #1: God is the Owner of all Things Focal Passage: Deuteronomy 23:24-5; Psalm 24:1, NASB Knowledge Aim: To realize that God owns all things and does not need money or other things. Application Aim: We should give to God to express our gratitude for His goodness to us.
Lesson God’s interest for the poor is discovered in the command that the man was allowed to satisfy his hunger by taking of the fruit or grain as he passed through the fields. At the same time, this individual was duty-bound to respect the owner's property. He was not to take more than he needed and the property rights of the owner of the field or vineyard were to be respected. Essential to these practical rules of neighbor relationships are the responsibilities of Bible stewardship. Beneath it all is the love and concern of God for all men, and His right to command in the area of material things. Coupled with this truth is man's obligation to be concerned about all aspects of his fellow man. Background - The Mosaic comprehension of our responsibility toward the possessions of our neighbor is insightful. In the case of a lost animal, or any lost article of our neighbor, the Bible commands us to guard it as our own, and to return it to its rightful owner. The cost in time, or effort, or money is not to be given notice. God's concern for animals is seen in Deuteronomy 22:4, where it is shown to provide aid to the donkey or the ox which might have fallen under its heavy load. In Deuteronomy 23:24-25, we find that one of the civil rights of this time was that of revitalizing oneself in grain fields or vineyards. Jewish "poor laws" permitted people to pluck the fruit of the owner's fields to satisfy one's hunger and thirst. However, they were forbidden from harvesting the grain or the grapes to store up or to sell. The law had a function to both the person in need and to the one who owned the fields and vineyards. Scripture - “When you enter your neighbor’s vineyard, then you may eat grapes until you are fully satisfied, but you shall not put any in your basket. When you enter your neighbor’s standing grain, then you may pluck the heads with your hand, but you shall not wield a sickle in your neighbor’s standing grain.” (Deuteronomy 23:24-25). The vineyard and the grain field belong to one to whom we have a special commitment. This passage of Scripture speaks to us about stewardship. God is the owner of all things and has all right to oversee their usage. Our love for others establishes whether or not we are obedient to these commands. Our love for others, our concern for their needs and welfare, is essential if we are to be good stewards of that which God has entrusted into our hands. We must not avoid or ignore these responsibilities.
Whether or not our current lives are in a rural community is not the issue. The truths of this passage oversee our Christian stewardship in a unique way.
The earth is the Lord’s, and every thing in it, the world, and all who live in it… (Psalm 24:1). God's ownership of all is clearly revealed, and this is a truth for men of every day. Because of this ownership, He has every right to speak to us as to how we use our possessions. What we have is not our own; it is a trust from God. Whether it is the money we earn, the property we have our name, the wealth we might have in the bank; he not only has the right to say "the tithe is mine," but to also instruct us as to our utilization of the nine-tenths.
And so, as we are stewards of God’s belongings which are all there is, the Great Commission comes to light. We must remember to share the heart of the gospel with the unbelievers of the world who, like us, are under the ownership of our LORD.
Lesson #2: Defining Stewardship Focal Passage: Matthew 22:15-21, NASB Knowledge Aim: To know how the Bible defines and portrays a steward. Application Aim: To begin a personal plan to act as a steadfast steward.
Lesson According to the Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary (Tenth Edition), stewardship is the office, duties, and obligations of a steward; the conducting, supervising, or managing of something; especially the careful and responsible management of something entrusted to one’s care. The word for steward (οἰκονόμοςa) means one who is in charge of running a household, ‘manager of a household, steward’ (Greek-English Lexicon, NT). The position of a steward in New Testament times was one of responsibility and trust. A steward was not the owner or a tenant, but he was a manager. He was required to give a report of what was entrusted to him, and he was expected to produce a profit. Stewardship was a favorite subject of Jesus, as experts say that one out of every six verses in the Gospels deals with stewardship. The Bible very plainly says that God made everything and owns everything. What we have is not ours; it is God’s. If we are to accomplish the designation of a steward we must take care of what God has provided us that He owns. Background - Jesus was only days away from His death and made His triumphal entry into Jerusalem, clearing the temple of the moneychangers and others who took advantage of the flock. These actions in the temple along with His outspokenness against the Pharisees caused this group of religious leaders to intensely oppose Him and desire His death. The Pharisees were the largest and most significant of the Jewish parties, dating back to about 150 BC. They despised the Roman Empire and desired for Gentiles to become Jews. Their belief was that the way to God was through the obedience to the law. Through this misjudgment, they caused Judaism to turn to a religion of law from a religion of sacrifice. Scripture "Then the Pharisees went and plotted together how they might trap Him in what He said” (Matthew 22:15). The Pharisees are enraged because Jesus spent much of His ministry opposing their teachings. They had wanted to dispose of Jesus for quite a long time. They were concerned that the Jewish people would support Jesus if they would attempt to imprison or kill Him. The Pharisees wanted to find a way to deliberately cause Jesus to incriminate Himself. Hence, they will bear no guilt on His punishment. “And they sent their disciples to Him, along with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that You are truthful and teach the way of God in truth, and defer to no one; for You are not partial to any” (Matthew 22:16). The Pharisees sent their apprentices in the hopes that they would be seen as ordinary Jewish people seeking better understanding. Another Jewish party, the Herodians, also have aligned themselves with the Pharisees in the hopes of getting rid of Christ. The Herodians support total domination by Rome and the Pharisees support no Roman subjection. The questioners correctly identify Jesus as Teacher (rabbi). By approaching Him with hypothetical humility and sincerity, these men hope to surprise Jesus and catch Him off guard. Jesus is a man of integrity therefore He consistently speaks the truth and can be trusted. As a result, the personality does not matter to Him, only the truth.
““Tell us then, what do You think? Is it lawful to give a poll-tax to Caesar, or not?” ” (Matthew 22:17). The Roman government had levied a poll tax on the people as a way of counting them. The questioned asked of Jesus was a trick. If Jesus said not to pay taxes, the Roman overseers could be informed and might take action. If Jesus said they should pay taxes, the Pharisees were sure He would lose popularity with the people. The abuse of paying taxes to Rome through tax collectors, who normally took two or three times what was due, was a reason for hostility among the Jews. “But Jesus perceived their malice, and said, “Why are you testing Me, you hypocrites?”” (Matthew 22:18). Their effort at blamelessness actually reveals their hypocrisy. Jesus responds to their question, with a question of His own. He wants these men and those in the crowd to understand the truth in this conversation.
““Show Me the coin used for the poll-tax.” And they brought Him a denarius. And He said to them, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?”” (Matthew 22:19-20). Jesus asks for the coin (a denarius is a day’s wage) used in paying the tax. Christ wanted the men to publicly state whose image was on the coin. “They said to Him, “Caesar’s.” Then He said to them, “Then render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s; and to God the things that are God’s”” (Matthew 22:21). They replied, “Caesar’s.” These special coins were normally silver and bore the image of the Roman emperor on one side and a special inscription on the other. Because Caesar made the coin, it was his. Therefore Christ concludes that the Jews are to pay back to Caesar what belongs to him. He goes on by saying that they are to give to the Lord what belongs to Him.
Biblical stewardship is built upon basic beliefs: 1. The steward must put to use all that is given to him. 2. The steward must use what is given him according to the will of the owner. 3. This use must bring to the owner the greatest returns possible. 4. The trust must be faithfully administered.
Lesson #3: Stewardship is unto the Lord Focal Passage: 2 Corinthians, NASB Knowledge Aim: Stewardship is not a gift, it is a responsibility. Application Aim: Paying of the tithe is a weekly recognition of proper Christian stewardship.
Lesson In 2 Corinthians 8-24 Paul appeals to the Corinthians to open their hearts and their purses. The stewardship motivation and method he initiates for stewardship are specifically for their possessions. Without using the word money, he explains through the blessings they have such as ministering, grace, bounty, and proof of love. Background - Paul sets forth the principles which should manage Christian giving. The reason for this communication was the need for a relief offering to take care of poverty stricken believers who lived in Jerusalem. Paul was appealing to Gentile Christians to come to the aid of their Jewish brothers and sisters. Paul wanted a practical expression of the oneness of all believers in Christ. The response of Gentile churches to this crisis would verify the capability of Christ to bring together the races in one fellowship of love and service. In the first seven verses of chapter 8, Paul tells the Corinthians of the admirably sacrificial gifts of the Macedonian Churches for the assistance of the Jerusalem brethren. He informs them that he is sending Titus to them in order to complete in them the grace of giving. The Corinthians had not responded well to the aid. Scripture - “I am not speaking this as a command, but as proving through the earnestness of others the sincerity of your love also“(2 Corinthians 8:8). Paul reminds his readers of the charitable nature of Christian giving. Rather he asks that they remember the zeal of others, and by their own response confirm the genuineness of their love for Christ. Men are told in both the Old and the New Testament to "bring their tithes into the store house" and to give with full security that they will be blessed. The response must come from the heart or they will not be blessed.
“For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich“(2 Corinthians 8:9). Jesus, the utmost model of love, is given as a motive for generosity. Christ sowed the greatest self-sacrifice that is known to mankind. He possessed all the glory of heaven and left it to give eternal life to all of mankind. He suffered so that we might be lifted out of our poverty and blessed with salvation. Through His example of love, ours should become an abandoned spark of joy to the world.
“I give my opinion in this matter, for this is to your advantage, who was the first to begin a year ago not only to do this, but also to desire to do it. But now finish doing it also, so that just as there was the readiness to desire it, so there may be also the completion of it by your ability. For if the readiness is present, it is acceptable according to what a person has, not according to what he does not have. For this is not for the ease of others and for your affliction, but by way of equality— at this present time your abundance being a supply for their need, so that their abundance also may become a supply for your need, that there may be equality; as it is written, “He who gathered much did not have too much, and he who gathered little had no lack.” “(2 Corinthians 8:10-15). Paul delicately impresses upon the Corinthians that it is their responsibility to set an example in Christian giving. Paul suggests that the church finish what it had begun. Something churches today should heed. The Corinthians had started the gift the year before but for some reason had stopped short of the goal. Herein lays an important stewardship principle: God's approval of what man gives is measured by the possessions he has to give (v. 12). Paul touches upon another rule of Christian compassion when he says that giving to the relief of fellow Christians is a matter of shared kindness (vv. 13-15). The Corinthians were not being asked to help others at their own risk. From their abundance they were to supply the need of the Judean Christians with the awareness that some day the situation might be reversed. Sharing in this way would balance the burdens so that none would suffer.
“But thanks be to God who puts the same earnestness on your behalf in the heart of Titus. For he not only accepted our appeal, but being himself very earnest, he has gone to you of his own accord. We have sent along with him the brother whose fame in the things of the gospel has spread through call the churches; and not only this, but he has also been appointed by the churches to travel with us in this gracious work, which is being administered by us for the glory of the Lord Himself, and to show our readiness, taking precaution so that no one will discredit us in our administration of this generous gift; for we have regard for what is honorable, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men. We have sent with them our brother, whom we have often tested and found diligent in many things, but now even more diligent because of his great confidence in you. As for Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker among you; as for our brethren, they are messengers of the churches, a glory to Christ. Therefore openly before the churches, show them the proof of your love and of our reason for boasting about you“(2 Corinthians 8:16-24). Paul outlines the procedure of efficiency and honesty to be followed in the administration of the funds provided for the plan of relief. When people are convinced that money is being handled competently and is being used for the purposes for which it was given, they respond more readily with additional gifts. Paul mentions two men whom he is sending along with Titus to receive and disburse the offering.
1. He told the people about the needs; informed Christian will be a responsive Christian. 2. Paul emphasized the believer’s accountability to the Lord for the resources placed in his hands. 3. He insisted upon the utmost integrity in handling funds given by the churches.
Lesson #4: Stewardship of Finances Focal Passage: Mark 12:41-44; 2 Corinthians 8:12; NASB Knowledge Aim: As we abundantly receive from God so others should freely receive from us. Application Aim: To commit to be faithful to God in the use of my personal finances.
Lesson As we look back to lesson two, we will remember that the definition of a steward is that of a caretaker of someone else’s things. Furthermore, as we remember lesson one; we understand that all we have is Gods. As a steward, it is important for us to be a good caretaker of God’s things. That includes the money which He allows us to use. In this lesson we are going to focus on the proper use of God’s money. Background – After His triumphal entry into Jerusalem on the Sunday before His crucifixion, Jesus spent time with the people for a few days. During this time, He replied to questions from the religious leaders as they tried to intimidate Him into doing something which might lead to His death. Mark 12:34 tells of the Jewish religious leaders finally stopping their questions. At this time Jesus asked a question which no one answered. Then He describes (Mark 12:38-40) the traits of a ruthless church leader. Scripture - Jesus spent much of His time with people – healing, watching, teaching, and forgiving. While He was in the Temple, Jesus began watching those giving their financial gifts to the church. “And He sat down opposite the treasury, and began observing how the people were putting money into the treasury; and many rich people were putting in large sums. A poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which amount to a cent” (Mark 12:41-42). Jesus is in the Court of Women in the Jerusalem Temple. This area contains thirteen trumpet-shaped brass receptacles which hold the gifts given by the people. As a result of the shape and material of these receptacles, there was a clanging sound when coins hit the sides and bottom. Mark records there were many rich persons giving their money to the temple treasury; and also a poor widow. As a Jewish woman, she held few basic rights and since she was poor there was little hope for a better future or even her next meal. She dropped two very small coins into the noisy brass receptacles. Mark gives two different Greek words for these coins; the first word represents the smallest Jewish coin and the second word is the smallest Roman coin. Scholars disagree as to the exact value of her donation, but they do agree that her gift is worthless – less than a penny! The actual value is immaterial.
“Calling His disciples to Him, He said to them, “Truly I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all the contributors to the treasury; for they all put in out of their surplus, but she, out of her poverty, put in all she owned, all she had to live on” (Mark 12:43-44). Jesus then summons His disciples and shares His recent observation. Jesus calls the widow’s gift superior to all the others. According to Jesus, the wealthy only give a portion of their entire wealth. The woman has given her entire financial worth. Jesus’ elevation of this small donation accentuate that what a person keeps is of greater significance than what one gives. The portion of the gift and the size of her faith are what are of value.
“For if the readiness is present, it is acceptable according to what a person has, not according to what he does not have” (Corinthians 8:12). Paul specifies that there must be an eagerness to give. Paul wanted to make sure that the Corinthians were giving because they wanted to, not because they wanted to be held in a high regard within the Christian community.
Final thought – In today’s society, people tend to find excuses and try to back away from their responsibilities to God. Some question the responsibility to tithe by exclaiming the fact that we live under grace and not the law. Explanations of what tithing is concern others, “Is it gross income or net income? Do we tithe gifts or bonuses?” A good steward needs to remember that all he/she has is from God. God simply cares about the heart and attitude of the giver. In addition, Acts 2:45; 2 Cor. 8:5; 9:6–7; Mark 12:44; and Luke 6:38 emphasize giving more than the tithe. The act of stewardship itself means that a Christian is accountable for more than giving God his tithe. We are not tenants who are required to pay a percentage, but we are stewards.
These Sunday School Lessons were written by Terri LaGuardia Scruggs on 17 September 2007, Copyright © |
||
|
BOOK REVIEWS EVANGELISM DISCIPLESHIP COMMENTARIES S. S. LESSONS DAILY WALK |
