Part 5 · Belief 21 — The Doctrine of the Christian Life
Stewardship
What we believe
We are God's stewards, entrusted by Him with time and opportunities, abilities and possessions, and the blessings of the earth and its resources. We are responsible to Him for their proper use. We acknowledge God's ownership by faithful service to Him and our fellow human beings, and by returning tithe and giving offerings for the proclamation of His gospel and the support and growth of His church. Stewardship is a privilege given to us by God for nurture in love and the victory over selfishness and covetousness. Stewards rejoice in the blessings that come to others as a result of their faithfulness.
Imagine being handed the keys to a beautiful house and a full bank account, and being told, "Take care of this for me — I trust you." That is, in a sense, what God has done with each of us. From the very beginning He placed humanity in the garden "to work it and keep it" (Genesis 2:15) and gave us responsibility over His creation. Everything we have — our breath, our hours, our talents, our money, this whole earth — is not really ours; it is on loan from a generous God. The Bible calls this stewardship, and far from making us anxious, it sets us free. When we remember we are managers and not owners, our hands open, our fears loosen, and giving becomes a joy rather than a loss.
Everything belongs to God
Stewardship begins with a single, freeing fact: we own nothing ultimately, because God owns everything. He made us "in his own image" and gave us dominion to care for the earth (Genesis 1:26-28). King David, surrounded by gifts for God's temple, prayed honestly, "All things come from you, and of your own have we given you" (1 Chronicles 29:14). We cannot give God anything He did not first give us. This humbles us and lifts us at the same time. We are not random owners clutching our possessions; we are trusted children managing a Father's estate.
Tithe and offerings: trust in action
One concrete way we acknowledge God's ownership is by returning a faithful tithe — a tenth — and giving offerings. God speaks tenderly yet boldly through Malachi: "Bring the full tithe into the storehouse... and thereby put me to the test... if I will not open the windows of heaven for you" (Malachi 3:10). It is the one place He invites us to test Him. Jesus affirmed tithing while pressing us deeper, not to neglect "justice and mercy and faithfulness" either (Matthew 23:23). And Paul reminds us the spirit matters most: "God loves a cheerful giver" (2 Corinthians 9:7). Giving is not God taking from us; it is us trusting Him.
Set free from selfishness
Here is the surprising gift hidden inside stewardship: it heals our hearts. Money and possessions have a quiet power to grip us, but generosity breaks that grip. The poor churches of Macedonia gave "beyond their means, of their own accord" because they had "first... given themselves to the Lord" (2 Corinthians 8:3, 5). When God comes first, open hands follow naturally. Tithes and offerings also fund a beautiful work — those who "proclaim the gospel should get their living by the gospel" (1 Corinthians 9:14), just as the Lord arranged (1 Corinthians 9:9-14). We give, and the good news goes farther; and meanwhile, God is gently curing us of the love of self.
Search the Scriptures
Gen. 1:26-28; 2:15; 1 Chron. 29:14; Haggai 1:3-11; Mal. 3:8-12; Matt. 23:23; Rom. 15:26, 27; 1 Cor. 9:9-14; 2 Cor. 8:1-15; 9:7.
Reflect
This week, take an honest look at your hands — are they open or closed? Try one act of glad generosity: return a faithful tithe, give an offering, or share your time with someone in need. As you give, watch what happens inside you. You may find that the gift you most receive is freedom from the quiet tyranny of "mine."
Check your understanding
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