Good Stewards of God’s Gifts

GOLDEN TEXT: “The earth is the Lord’s, and the fullness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.” —Psalm 24:1

LEVITICUS 25:18-22; MALACHI 3:7-10; I CORINTHIANS 16:2

OUR Golden Text expresses a great truth which should be apparent to all. “The cattle upon a thousand hills” are the Lord’s, another text informs us. (Ps. 50:10) Nevertheless, he created the earth for man’s pleasure and benefit, as David in another psalm declares: “The earth hath he given to the children of men.”—Psalm 115:16

And not only the earth, but life itself is a gift of God. “In him we live, and move, and have our being,” Paul declared. (Acts 17:28) Indeed, every good and perfect gift cometh down from above. (James 1:17) Many of these gifts are universal in their application, for as Jesus declared, “He maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.”—Matt. 5:45

But only those who reverence the Creator and desire to be in harmony with him appreciate his gifts to the extent that they desire to return something to him as a token of their gratitude. The sentiments of their hearts are, “What shall I render unto the Lord for all his benefits toward me?” David furnishes the answer to this query, saying; “I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the Lord. I will pay my vows unto the Lord.”—Ps. 116:12-14

Paul expresses a similar thought when, in reminding us that we have been bought with the precious blood of Christ, he says that we should henceforth not live unto ourselves, but unto the Lord. (Rom. 14:7,8) Thus the Christian realizes that all he has, even life itself, properly belongs to the Lord; and in the spirit of full consecration he places his all on the altar of sacrifice.—I Cor. 6:19,20

The Lord then makes him a steward over his goods and time, to use them as directed by the Word. Those who thus devote themselves fully to the Lord consider that everything they possess belongs to him; not merely a tenth of it, as was the case with the Jews under the Law. But just as the Lord’s richest blessings upon the Jewish nation depended upon the faithfulness of the people in bringing their tithes into the storehouse, the same is true with us as individuals.

We are not under Law, but under grace. We are not commanded to give a tenth, but have agreed to give all, and having entered into this covenant with the Lord, he delights in our being faithful to our vows. He directs that a necessary portion of our time and other assets be devoted to providing for those dependent upon us. We are to be faithful in this, and we are to be faithful in using whatever of time and strength are available directly in his service.

The Lord admonished the Israelites to prove their faithfulness by bringing all their tithes into his storehouse, promising that if they would do this he would pour them out blessings beyond their ability “to receive it.” This divine principle of dealing carries through to us of the Gospel age. “There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty,” especially in spiritual blessings and growth.—Prov. 11:24

God’s arrangement for the land of Israel to rest every seventh year was a severe test upon the faith of the Israelites. To the extent that they had confidence in God’s promises, they allowed the land to rest as he directed they should. But they did not have sufficient faith, and did not allow the land to rest. This is brought to light in connection with their seventy years’ captivity in Babylon. The explanation for this is that the land might enjoy the rest it did not have while the people dwelt in it.—Lev. 26:34; II Chron. 36:20,21

It is our faith which is also tested by the sacrifices we have the privilege of making in the service of the Lord. In almost every instance we could probably find other uses for that which we devote to the Lord, and which would more directly benefit ourselves. But faith enables us to rise above self-interest and to think of the needs of others. By acting upon the impulse of faith, and motivated by love, our spiritual lives are enriched, and we lay up treasures in heaven.

Paul undertook to acquaint the brethren in Macedonia and Greece with the needs of the unfortunate ones in the church at Jerusalem, and the brethren throughout Judea. Famine conditions had impoverished them, and it placed a necessity upon the consecrated in other places to send aid. Paul assumed the task of collecting these funds for he intended to visit Jerusalem and take the money with him personally. He admonished the Corinthian brethren to lay aside what they could on each first day of the week, and to have their accumulations ready for him when he came. In the event he was unable to visit them personally he promised to send aids to pick up the collections.

QUESTIONS

How much does a Christian give to the Lord, and how is it given?

How do we know that the Israelites did not allow the land to rest as God had directed?

What element of Christian character is tested in making sacrifices in the Lord’s service?

For what purpose did Paul collect money from the brethren of his day?

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