Stewardship of Goods: Neighbors and Ours
Minister: | Rev. Ronald Van Overloop |
Date: | 2/17/2013 AM |
Text: | I Timothy 6; Lord's Day 42 |
Psalters: | 285, 35, 405, 59 |
- The idea.
- God is the sole Proprietor of all things (Ps. 24:1,2; 50:11,12).
- This is true because of His being Creator, Sustainer, and Governor of all things.
- While everything is His, He distributes without letting go, requiring an accounting and returns.
- These truths make man a steward, accountable to God.
- God created man as His friend and servant, who was given dominion over creation for God’s glory.
- Sin made man a thief, claiming creation for his purposes.
- In salvation God restored to the redeemed the ability to be proper stewards.
- God is the sole Proprietor of all things (Ps. 24:1,2; 50:11,12).
- The violation of our God-given relationship to possessions is called stealing.
- Important observations.
- First, we steal from God.
- God made work, but man sees it as a necessary evil (cf. II Thess. 3:10 and Eph. 4:28).
- We from steal from God when we refuse to acknowledge ourselves to be but stewards
- We steal from God by not giving first to the causes of His kingdom (Malachi 3:8-10).
- We steal from God when we misuse our abilities and our time.
- We steal from our neighbor when we take advantage of him so he has a loss.
- The importance of our showing our gratitude by keeping this command.
- Follow the example of Jesus Who was/is the perfect steward.
- Only those united to Christ by faith can live by faith as true stewards.
- To avoid the sin of stealing...