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Introduction:
Through out the Bible God has proved that He was a God of order. The Psalmist says:
- Psa. 47:6 Sing praises to God, sing praises! Sing praises to our King, sing praises!
- Psa. 47:7 For God is the King of all the earth; Sing praises with understanding.
- Psa. 47:8 God reigns over the nations; God sits on His holy throne.
- Psa. 47:9 The princes of the people have gathered together, The people of the God of Abraham. For the shields of the earth belong to God; He is greatly exalted.
- Dan. 9:9 To the Lord our God belong mercy and forgiveness, though we have rebelled against Him.
- 1Cor. 14:33 For God is not a God whose ways are without order, but a God of peace; as in all the churches of the saints.
God has through out the Word constructed ways and means to full fill life’s task in an orderly form. He instructed man with laws and by keeping and obeying these laws success would follow. These laws disciplined man to keep his mind focused on prosperity. The whole earth belongs to God and the fullness thereof
- Psa.24:1. God’s wishes are for man to be prosperous and to live in plenty. It is to get the remedy right.
- 2Pe 3:9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his word, as he seems to some, but he is waiting in mercy for you, not desiring the destruction of any, but that all may be turned from their evil ways.
Stewardship oikonomos the Greek word:
The literal sense of “manager” or “steward” is found in
- Luk. 12:42 And the Lord said, Who then is that faithful steward, the wise man whom his master will set over those in his household service to supply them their allowance of food at the appointed time?
- : 43 Blessed (happy and to be envied) is that servant whom his master finds so doing when he arrives.
Out of these entire scriptures one can actually see what God has meant by stewardship. In your judgment of yourself, are you taking care of the work of the Lord?
Do we know the meaning of this meaningful word?
- Tit 1:7 For a bishop must be blameless, as a steward of God, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money,
- 1Pet. 4:10 As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
- 1Cor. 4:1 Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God.
- 1Cor. 4:2 Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful.
All of mankind has been given the instruction to look after Gods creation. The word stewardship reflects on the fact that we have been delegated too take care of Gods wealth. We were to manage and care for it. Man failed in this. Riches became his first priority (2Ti 3:2. For people will be lovers of self and [utterly] self-centered, lovers of money and aroused by an inordinate [greedy] desire for wealth) ………and that which belonged to God he has claimed for himself. No wonder God calls it robbing ….. Mal 3:8 Will a man rob or defraud God? Yet you rob and defraud Me. But you say, in what way do we rob or defraud You? [You have withheld your] tithes and offerings.
- : 9. You are cursed with the curse, for you are robbing Me, even this whole nation. [Leviticus 26:14-17]
- : 10. Bring all the tithes (the whole tenth of your income) into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house, and prove Me now by it, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. [Malachi 2:2]
Managing Finances:
- The failure in managing finances lies in the budget that is set up. Man has set up a budget in which he sometimes just wastes away that which has been given to him. Man has the tendency not to share. One of the hardest things to do when trouble lurks is that man seem to think that he should stop sowing and start hording. This word hording is a stickler in ones growth process. It is only by sowing that we can reap, if we store and not sow then there will be no reaping. As children of God our faith does not lie in our possessions but our faith and trust in the Lord. We believe He is God the provider and that there is nothing impossible for Him to do. Being faithful and loyal to God, obeying His word we believe He will take care of us. God has entrusted us to take care of His assets. I am well aware that many have different opinions and they do not believe in God or in His order. They also do not believe that they are here on earth by His Grace as they feel, “they” labor and toil. They spend there energy and time in the work place so why should they share Gods blessings with others. Yep, that is the failure of selfishness. But to be honest with you man has again been fooled to believe the story that was told to Eve and Adam in the Garden of Eden. Eve was told: Gen 3:1. Now the serpent was more subtle and crafty than any living creature of the field which the Lord God had made. And he [Satan] said to the woman, Can it really be that God has said, you shall not eat from every tree of the garden? [Revelation 12:9-11]
- : 2. And the woman said to the serpent, We may eat the fruit from the trees of the garden,
- : 3. except the fruit from the tree which is in the middle of the garden. God has said, You shall not eat of it, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.
- : 4. but the serpent said to the woman, You shall not surely die, [2 Corinthians 11:3]
- : 5. for God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing the difference between good and evil and blessing and calamity.
- : 6. And when the woman saw that the tree was good (suitable, pleasant) for food and that it was delightful to look at, and a tree to be desired in order to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate; and she gave some also to her husband, and he ate.
- : 7. Then the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves apron like girdles. Ah, what a shame, that we are so gullible to believe the lies of the enemy. The church fails in the commission and the expectations of God we hear what other men have to say about how to obey Gods word. Anything then that would make it easy for us so we may gain something out of our loss we would then choose that route. But God said…. bring all the tithes (the whole tenth of your income) into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house, and prove Me now by it, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. [Malachi 2:2] Wow, what a statement from God! No wonder the Solomon in his great wisdom cried out and said, “Prov. 3:9, Honor the Lord with your capital and sufficiency [from righteous labors] and with the first fruits of all your income; [Deuteronomy 26:2; Malachi 3:10; Luke 14:13, 14]
- : 10. So shall your storage places be filled with plenty and your vats shall be overflowing with new wine. [Deuteronomy 28:8]
In managing Gods affairs and to do it right, one has to look at what God wanted us to do, and how he wanted us to deal with His affairs. It always makes me think of Jesus when He told the parable of the master that went away and left his servants with shares behind. He entrusted them with 5 and 2 and 1 share. The servant with 5 made 5 more and the one with 2, 2 more but the one with 1 hid it away. When the master returned he was asking for those whom he had given the shares to bring into the store house that which they have worked for.
We must understand the fact that we are working for God. That we are not here for self gain or to accumulate riches for our selves, but that God loves the cheerful giver. This is not something that comes easily but it cost one to discipline one self to put God first in being grateful. To be great full means that one actually appreciates Gods blessing that He blesses us with great aspirations.
- Tim.6:6 [And it is, indeed, a source of immense profit, for] godliness accompanied with contentment (that contentment which is a sense of inward sufficiency) is great and abundant gain. That we would the lovers of God that He attends it to be. One of the greatest commandments that God gave, and the example that He had set up for us. God love a cheerful giver. Pro 19:1 Better is a poor man who walks in his integrity than a rich man who is perverse in his speech and is a [self-confident] fool.
- : 2 Desire without knowledge is not good, and to be overhasty is to sin and miss the mark.
- : 3 The foolishness of man subverts his way [ruins his affairs]; then his heart is resentful and frets against the Lord.
- : 4 Wealth makes many friends, but the poor man is avoided by his neighbor. [Proverbs 14:20]
- : 5 A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he who breathes out lies shall not escape. [Exodus 23:1; Deuteronomy 19:16-19; Proverbs 6:19; 21:28] 6 Many will entreat the favor of a liberal man, and every man is a friend to him who gives gifts.
- : 7 All the brothers of a poor man detest him--how much more do his friends go far from him! He pursues them with words, but they are gone.
- : 8 He who gains Wisdom loves his own life; he who keeps understanding shall prosper and find good.
- : 9 A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he who breathes forth lies shall perish.
- : 10 Luxury is not fitting for a [self-confident] fool--much less for a slave to rule over princes.
- : 11 Good sense makes a man restrain his anger, and it is his glory to overlook a transgression or an offense.
- : 12 The king's wrath is as terrifying as the roaring of a lion, but his favor is as [refreshing as] dew upon the grass. [Hosea 14:5]
- : 13 A self-confident and foolish son is the [multiplied] calamity of his father, and the contentions of a wife are like a continual dripping [of water through a chink in the roof].
- : 14 House and riches are the inheritance from fathers, but a wise, understanding, and prudent wife is from the Lord. [Proverbs 18:22]
- : 15 Slothfulness casts one into a deep sleep, and the idle person shall suffer hunger.
- : 16 He who keeps the commandment [of the Lord] keeps his own life, but he who despises His ways shall die. [Luke 10:28; 11:28]
- : 17 He who has pity on the poor lends to the Lord, and that which he has given He will repay to him. [Proverbs 28:27; Ecclesiastes 11:1; Matthew 10:42; 25:40; 2 Corinthians 9:6-8; Hebrews 6:10]
Pleasing God
The order of the day is pleasing God. The church has been lied to by the enemy and yes many wolves have entered the church to destroy the church by having the church believe that the finances are the spoils for misuse. What a terrible thing to do! But to just ignore the fact that we need to please God and obey His Word and do what is right in His sight is to be foolish. Proverbs 13:18 says that it brings poverty and shame.
- God is the one who can raise you up from the deepest of despair. 1Samuel 2:8He raises up the poor out of the dust and lifts up the needy from the ash heap, to make them sit with nobles and inherit the throne of glory. For the pillars of the earth are the Lord's, and He has set the world upon them.
Keep Gods Word
- Jos.1:8 This Book of the Law shall not depart out of your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night that you may observe and do according to all that is written in it. For then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall deal wisely and have good success.
- : 9 Have not I commanded you? Be strong, vigorous, and very courageous. Be not afraid, neither be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.
Fear the Lord
- Deut. 14:22 You shall surely tithe all the yield of your seed produced by your field each year.
- And you shall eat before the Lord your God in the place in which He will cause His Name [and Presence] to dwell the tithe (tenth) of your grain, your new wine, your oil, and the firstlings of your herd and your flock that you may learn [reverently] to fear the Lord your God always.
Release Gods blessings in your life
- Pro 3:9 Honor the Lord with your capital and sufficiency [from righteous labors] and with the first fruits of all your income; [Deuteronomy 26:2; Malachi 3:10; Luke 14:13, 14]
- So shall your storage places be filled with plenty, and your vats shall be overflowing with new wine. [Deuteronomy 28:8]
Conclusion
If the church of Jesus fails in these commands how thin or starved will the bride be? Gods Word needs to be spread around it needs to be sent world wide and the local church is the basis where God starts to teach and build His church.
The question we have to ask our selves today, “Has the Church failed in its stewardship?” The bride of Jesus only needs to have the best. Is it possible for you to help prepare the Bride (Church) for the Groom (Jesus)?
- It really does not matter what you send or donate or how you do it if it is a Rand, a Dollar, a Pound, a Yen no matter what, do it for the Lord, be faithful in you preparation to meet the Him soon. Or would He find you wanted and unprepared as the foolish maids were in the parable of the 5 wise and the 5 foolish virgins!
- Mat 25:1 Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom.
- : 2. Five of them were foolish (thoughtless, without forethought) and five were wise (sensible, intelligent, and prudent).
- : 3. For when the foolish took their lamps, they did not take any [extra] oil with them;
- : 4. But the wise took flasks of oil along with them [also] with their lamps.
- : 5. While the bridegroom lingered and was slow in coming, they all began nodding their heads, and they fell asleep.
- : 6. But at midnight there was a shout, Behold, the bridegroom! Go out to meet him!
- : 7. Then all those virgins got up and put their own lamps in order.
- : 8. And the foolish said to the wise, Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.
- : 9. But the wise replied, There will not be enough for us and for you; go instead to the dealers and buy for yourselves.
- : 10.But while they were going away to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were prepared went in with him to the marriage feast; and the door was shut.
- : 11. Later the other virgins also came and said, Lord, Lord, open [the door] to us!
- : 12. But He replied, I solemnly declare to you, I do not know you [I am not acquainted with you].
- : 13. Watch therefore [give strict attention and be cautious and active], for you know neither the day nor the hour when the Son of Man will come.
I pray that the Lord whom we have pledged our allegiance to will inspire you to give to the Glory and to the extension of His Kingdom.
Thank you and God bless you!!
Pastor Carel Roux
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