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Prem Kumar Devasahayam Lee. Sinner saved by grace Engineer by profession – government 20 years – railways and ministry of finance Haggai Institute 20 years Sunday school, TAFTEE, Bible Studies
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Prem Kumar Devasahayam Lee • Sinner saved by grace • Engineer by profession – government 20 years – railways and ministry of finance • Haggai Institute 20 years • Sunday school, TAFTEE, Bible Studies • Six books in print – Add to Your faith Excellence, Be Rich in Good Works, Genesis Comes Home, Leadership through Service, Have your King – Rs 200 each, Art of Fund Raising Rs 400 • pkdlee@gmail.com
LECTURE ISTEWARDSHIP A stewards understanding of the world P.K.D.Lee - Stewardship
DEFINITION FOR STEWARDSHIP • The conducting, supervising, or managing of something; especially : the careful and responsible management of something entrusted to one's care - Enc. Britannica • Sty-ward – the English root P.K.D.Lee - Stewardship
Biblical roots • In the New Testament it translates the word “oikonomia” • Oikonomos was the servant who managed the household • It carries the idea of arrangement or allocation rather than use – hence its use in art P.K.D.Lee - Stewardship
God is the owner • God created – Genesis 1 • God is the owner - Psalm 24:1 • We have been delegated authority by God • All we have is from God I Corinthians 4:7 • God does not need you to give him anything – Psalm 50:12 • He needs you to manage things for him as stewards P.K.D.Lee - Stewardship
Divine Stewardship • This is seen as God’s ordering of nature and creation • It is also seen as God’s control of and ordering of history • It is also seen as an expression of God’s love P.K.D.Lee - Stewardship
Stewardship as investment • We do not give but invest in God’s kingdom • Stewardship is all about investment of resources P.K.D.Lee - Stewardship
Implications of being stewards • These things were also given for us to enjoy - I Tim 6:17 contra the Puritans • What we have is given according to our abilities – Matthew 25:15 • We do not complain or criticize about what is given to us but rather grow our abilities • Godliness with contentment I Tim 6:6 P.K.D.Lee - Stewardship
Implications of stewardship • Stop controlling – start obeying • Stop worrying – start praying and planning • Stop boasting – see God’s glory • Stop abusing or misusing – be faithful • Stop activity – start being • Stop criticizing Walt Wiley - FCCI P.K.D.Lee - Stewardship
GOD’S CALL FOR MAN • Genesis 1:28f To have dominion over living things • Psalm 8:6 To have dominion over all creation • Genesis 2:15 To look after things material on behalf of God • According to Matthew 25 we are to multiply the resources entrusted to us • II Corinthians 5:15 John 17:18 and 6:38 We are here to do the Father’s will – this is our call • We are called “to be” more than to do – Joseph, Abraham – in being Christ-like our resources get arranged in a manner God wants P.K.D.Lee - Stewardship
CHRISTIAN DEFINITIONS • The practice of the Christian religion. It is neither a department of life nor a sphere of activity. It is the Christian conception of life as a whole, manifested in attitudes and actions – W.H. Greever • The living expression of the total content of the Christian faith – T. A. Kantonen P.K.D.Lee - Stewardship
WHAT RESOURCES ARE WE STEWARDS OF? • MONEY – Parable of Talents Matthew 25:14ff • TIME – Redeeming the Time Ephesians 5:16, II Corinthians 6:2 • GOSPEL – Stewardship of the Gospel I Timothy 1:11 • LIFE – For me to Live is Christ Philippians 1:21 • RELATIONSHIPS – Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself Matthew 22:39 P.K.D.Lee - Stewardship
DEUTERNONOMY 12:6 • Burnt Offerings • Sacrifices • Tithes • Thank offerings and vows • Freewill offerings • First fruits P.K.D.Lee - Stewardship
BURNT OFFERING • Leviticus 1:3-17 • Leviticus 1:4 – An atonement • Romans 3:25 – Christ a propitiation • A total surrender – nothing kept back • Romans 6:1-6 P.K.D.Lee - Stewardship
What is my life? • 6 a.m. to 8 a.m. Morning preparations – QT, breakfast, news • 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. WORK • 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. family activity • 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Closing preparations – dinner, prayer etc P.K.D.Lee - Stewardship
A philosophical question: What is work? • Means of getting an income? • A duty or calling from God? – Protestant ethic, dharma • My responsibility to the society? – part of the social contract? • Something to keep me busy? – a built in deep inner need in man? • Work as art or service or worship – Allan Anderson P.K.D.Lee - Stewardship
What is the object of work? • Finance my Ministry I Thess 2:9 • Platform for witness I Tim 3:7 • Fulfill God’s purpose for the organization Col 1:16 P.K.D.Lee - Stewardship
Finance my ministry • II Thessalonians 3:8-10 …. if anyone will not work neither shall he eat • Genesis 3:17-19 ….. In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread • I Tim 6:18, Acts 20:35 To be a blessing P.K.D.Lee - Stewardship
Platform for witness • I Tim 3:7 We obtain a good report with those outside – our customers • We build meaningful relationships with the world Matt 9:9-10 P.K.D.Lee - Stewardship
Deficiencies • Work has no meaning apart from a means to an end – sustenance and witness • There is no sense of call in work, just a chore • Hence we cease working the moment the objective is accomplished P.K.D.Lee - Stewardship
A Biblical view: Fulfilling God’s purpose • Naaman and the slave girl – means of showing love • Colossians 1:16 The social contract – service to humanity. I Tim 6:18 • Increasing productivity to sustain higher population numbers – Psalm 104:14-18, Genesis 1:28 • Work need not be related to income – but has an end in itself P.K.D.Lee - Stewardship
Can work always have a meaning? • I Corinthians 7:20-23 use your opportunity for freedom, do not be a servant of man • Joseph – did he have a meaning as a slave and prisoner? P.K.D.Lee - Stewardship
VISION Meaning for today’s suffering and sacrifice ‘REBEL LEADERSHIP’ J.V. DOWNTON P.K.D.Lee - Stewardship
Entrepreneurs and professionals • Vision of what to do • Vision of what’s the meaning of my activity • Joseph’s vision for self • Abraham’s vision for self • My own experience in HI
Develop a clear purpose for your life for your field ASK WHY WHY WHY P.K.D.Lee - Stewardship
THE WORD OF GOD • Deuteronomy 17:19 ‘ ..... He shall read it all the days of his life....’ • Rom 10 : 17 Hear • Deuteronomy 17 : 19 Read • II Timothy 2 : 15 Study • Psalm 119 :11 Memorize • Joshua 1: 8 Meditate • Deuteronomy 4:6f, James 1: 22 Do P.K.D.Lee - Stewardship
BUILDING A VISION READ EXTENSIVELY ON YOUR FIELD P.K.D.Lee - Stewardship
Stewardship of Gifts and Talents • Acts 1:6 – Stephen • Gifts and talents are used to fulfill the call and is not the call • Call is not what you want to do and but what the people need you to do • Call is to invest my resources for the kingdom P.K.D.Lee - Stewardship
DEUTERNONOMY 12:6 • Burnt Offerings • Sacrifices • Tithes • Thank offerings and vows • Freewill offerings • First fruits
Sacrifices • For Sins - Leviticus 5:1-19 • Jesus is the sacrifice for our sins • I John 1:9 – Confession in lieu of sacrifice Psalm 51 • Matthew 5:23-25, Numbers 5:6-8 –Restitution
Stewardship of my relationship with God • Be loyal and faithful • Sin as lack of loyalty and faithfulness • Confess whenever you have trusted something other than God • Make a restitution whenever possible
TITHES • Literally one tenth • It is returning what belongs to God • It is not a giving • Does not show passion – only obedience • Not a part of the Law – Abraham and Melchizedek, Deuteronomy 14:26f
Points to ponder • Does God’s ownership of the tithes change after the sacrifice of Christ? • If the tithe is built into creation does the death and resurrection of Christ change things like the Sabbath and tithes? • What is the status of the Law for us?
Attitudes to a legal tithe • We’ve cheated the parson; • We’ll cheat him again • For why should a blockhead • Have one in ten • For prating so long like a book learned sot • Till pudding and dumpling burn to pot?
Motivation to give • Giving must be motivated, and the motivation will centre either in Christ or in self. When it centres in self, a great assortment of abuses develops ... – Luther P. Powell, Stewardship in the history of the Christian Church
Attitudes to a legal tithe • God save us from these raiding priests • Who seize our crops and steal our beasts • Who pray, “Give us our daily bread” • And take it from our mouths instead”
THANKSGIVING AND VOWS • For what God has done • An expression of gratefulness • Is emotional • No rules – only an expression of passion
FREEWILL OFFERINGS • An expression of love for what God is Hab 3:17-19 • Not because of what God has done • No Rules
FIRST FRUITS • My Salvation is from God Exodus 13:11ff • My Success is from God
The gospel of the poor Nazarene manifesto – cannot be spiritualised away Matthew 11:1-5 – the gospel is an answer to the needs of the poor The transformation of the hearts of the rich Lev 23:22 It was the responsibility of the haves to look after the have-nots John 17:18 and 20:21 Matt 11:28 – concept of love Salaries for lowly workers; delivering people from impossible situations; reputation in our colony Can I pay less than the minimum wage prescribed by the government and call myself a Christian? I Tim 5:17, I Cor 9:14
The gospel of the kingdom Identifying the gospel from the four gospels rather than the epistles The need to see Romans and Galatians as a commentary on the gospel rather than THE gospel Matthew 4:17 what was offered was the kingdom – of dignity and love We see this being practised in Acts 4:32-37 and is the gospel in action John 13:35 – there is no gospel if people are hungry in the church Giving dignity – watchman in Kolkata Giving equality – Chennai Beyond your ability - Chennai There is no gospel without the church
The gospel of repentance Matthew 4:17 – the call to repentance What are we to repent from? Matthew 6:24 – you have to choose between money and God John 8:1-11 and Matthew 19:16-22 A religion of faith or works? Colossians 3:5 – covetousness which is idolatry
Root of evil Love and trust in the world P.K.D.Lee - Stewardship
Some passages which cause concern • Matthew 19:23f, Luke 18:24 should I aspire to be rich? • I Timothy 6:6-9 Should I aspire to be rich? • Matthew 8:20 Luke 9:58 Why does Jesus say this? • Proverbs 23:4-5 • Decide now on your maximum standard of living
I Tim 6:17-19 • Not to trust money • Not to be proud because of their wealth • To be generous with money – Isaiah 58:6-12 • I Peter 4:8-10 – Let God’s generosity work through you • To enjoy our wealth
What does it mean for financial management? • There is no poverty with God • Financial accountability is a reflection of the nature of God • Resources and its use must glorify God • Every expense needs to be approved by Him • Budgets reflect our conviction of what God wants and what honours God • We will be generous • Other missions are fellow-workers P.K.D.Lee - Stewardship