The Bible on Stewardship of Money by S. J. Kendall

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Tacoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Mar 16, 1916

The Bible on Stewardship of Money

By S. J. Kendall

THE supreme need of the hour is that the disciple of Jesus shall have a clear understanding of the claims of God on his life. The believer must know that he is a steward. 1 Cor. 4: 1; Luke 16: 1, 5; 1 Peter 4: 10. We need an intelligent apprehension of the entire subject of getting, possessing, and using our substance. The principles of stewardship, as set forth in the Word, reveal everything we possess—life, children, talent, influence, training, possessions—to be held as a trust for the extending of the kingdom of God. 1 Cor. 16: 6, 19, 20, and Rom. 14: 7, R. V. It is important for us to understand that—

God is the Absolute Owner of All Things

No man is an absolute owner of anything. He is but a steward. God declares the earth to be his. Ps. 24: 1; Deut. 10: 14. The land is his. Lev. 25: 23. He holds this right by creation. Col. 1: 16; Ex. 20: 11; Rom. 11: 36. We are his. Titus 2: 14; 1 Peter 1: 18, 19; Acts 20: 28. The gold and silver are his. Haggai 2: 8. He has never quitclaimed his right to his possessions.

God is the Giver of All We Get

All that we have comes from him. 1 Cor. 4: 7; Rom. 12: 3. He gave the earth. Ex. 9: 29; Ps. 115: 16. He gives life. Acts 17: 25. The resources of the earth, the mines, the forests, the fields, are his. Deut. 10: 14; Ps. 24: 1; Acts 14: 17; Eccl. 5: 19. Our food, our mental ability, our physical strength, our power to get, come from him. John 3: 27; 1 Chron. 29: 14-16.

Getting and Hoarding Money for Its Own Sake is a Great Evil

The love of money is a great evil. 1 Tim. 6: 9, 10. It is difficult to get men to see this, but the Word is plain. Prov. 15: 27; Mark 10: 23; Matt. 19: 21, 22. It possibly hinders more men from being saved than any other thing. Matt. 13: 22. Abundance of riches does not satisfy. Eccl. 5: 10. Because of undue desire for wealth, many are hindered from coming to the Lord. Matt. 19: 16, 22. A word to the rich. 1 Tim. 6: 17-19; James 5: 1-6.

Withholding from God is Dishonest and Sinful

He who does not make faithful returns to God robs him. Mal. 3: 8, 9; Mark 12: 1, 9; Luke 12: 16-21. Many are withholding from God and using their money in ways he cannot approve. It is offensive to God. Haggai 1: 2, 5, 9, 11.

Giving is to be a Part of Worship

In connection with the first record of worship, we have “offerings unto the Lord.” Cain chose his own way, and the curse of God was upon him. Gen. 4: 3-7. The Old Testament plan was an offering and worship. Ps. 96: 8; Deut. 16: 16, 17. The New Testament presents the same system. Acts 10: 4; Heb. 13: 15, 16. All are to participate: “None shall appear before me empty.” Ex. 23: 15; 34: 20.

Giving Should be Proportionate

The Scriptures are plain as to the portion that is sacredly the Lord’s. Lev. 27: 30. While all our possessions and all our time are the Lord’s, one tenth of our income and one seventh of our time are sacredly his. Neither of these requirements had its origin in the Levitical law. Both are moral obligations. Neither was abrogated by change of dispensation. Our obligation to observe the tithe law rests on the same basis as the observation of the Sabbath law. Abraham and Jacob recognized this law. We should adopt it as the minimum of our gifts. God orders it. Num. 18: 20-24; Deut. 14: 22-27.

One tenth is the least portion; many should give more. Patriarchs and prophets recognized it. Jesus approved it. Matt. 23: 23; Luke 11: 42; Matt. 22: 21. The apostles taught it. 1 Cor. 9: 11-15; Heb. 7: 4-10. The early church fathers practiced it.

Rich Blessings are Promised to Faithful Stewards

To the individual: The blessings promised are spiritual (Prov. 11: 25; 2 Cor. 9: 7, 10) and temporal (Prov. 3: 9, 10; Luke 6: 38). Giving is a spiritual grace. 2 Cor. 8: 7, 9. Spiritual blessings are withheld because of our withholding. Mal. 3: 10. Our giving is to be liberal. Rom. 12: 6.

To the church: Great blessings will come to our churches. Blessings and prosperity were manifest in Israel’s history when they honored God with their substance. 2 Chron. 31: 5, 12. When the tithe was withheld, religion waned, and poverty and captivity followed. The church today has fallen far below the Jewish low-water mark, and yet the people wonder why we do not enjoy the overflow of blessing. Mal. 3: 8, 11.

If we adopt this system, it will make our giving an offering unto the Lord. It will do away with that miserable, grudging feeling that is so often experienced, and put our giving on a higher plane. 2 Cor. 9: 7; 1 Cor. 16: 1, 2.—S. J. Kendall, D. D., in Christian Observer.