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"Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly,
and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.
Each one must give as he has made up his mind,
not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver." – 2nd Corinthians 9:6-7 (ESV)

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Openhandedness and Stewardship

God is openhanded toward us. His character and nature to give is at the very heart of the Kingdom of God.

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16

When we give out of love, we are much like God. Stewardship that is based on love for God, love for his redemptive work and love for people opens our hands to give. Openhandedness pleases God. It also opens the movement of God’s resources for his purposes and his people.

“Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.” 2 Cor 9:6

At FBJB, we teach the biblical practice of stewardship. . Here are some stewardship basics.

God is the Owner: The whole world belongs to God. Nothing exists, including humankind, that does not belong to Him. The world belongs to Him by right of creation. The Bible declares, “All things were made by Him; and without Him was not anything made.” (John 1:3). “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world and all who live in it.” (Psalm 24:1). It is His by right of redemption. Not only did God declare His ownership in creation, He confirmed it through His redemptive act. When humanity was led away captive, God redeemed us through His son, Jesus Christ. “you are not your own, you were bought at a price” (1Corinthians 6:20). “Christ has redeemed us” (Galatians 3:13).

You are God’s steward: A steward is an asset manager– one who has responsibility to administer the property of the Owner. As managers, we have an obligation to safeguard and tend what belongs to God– everything entrusted to our care. We also are responsible to return to God a generous portion of our earnings. “For it is He that gives the ability to produce wealth” (Deuteronomy 8:18). “Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful.” (1Corinthians 4:2).

The Tithe is the Lord’s: Even before the law was established, a minimum of a tithe, ten percent, was considered God’s portion of His people’s earnings. Abraham paid tithes 400 years before the law was given. Repeatedly the Old Testament specified the tithe as God’s portion. “And all the tithe of the land...is the Lord’s“ (Leviticus 27:30). “Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse” (Malachi 3:10).

Jesus affirmed the tithe in the New Testament in Matthew 23:23. Today, we live under the law of love. Do you think love would compel us to do less than the law required? We think not.

In the light of these three vital facts, there are three important steps you can take.

• Step#1 Acknowledge God’s ownership of all things as well as yourself– your time, gifts and assets.
• Step#2 Manage, spend, and give material resources in the light of God’s ownership.
• Step#3 Give a tithe, 10 percent, to God through His church to carry on His work in the world. Express gratitude for His great gifts by giving freely of your time and abilities.