Biblical Foundations
for the Biblical Steward
“In the beginning God . . .”
Presented by
Larry R Evans, D.Min.
EvansL@gc.adventist.org
Associate Stewardship Director,
General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists
Quiz
1. What are the two names for God in
Genesis 1 and 2?
2. Stewardship is another word for money
management. True or False?
Quiz
3. The first question a biblical
steward asks is “What shall we
do?” True or False?
4. Genesis 1 is primarily a scientific
account of what
happened at
the beginning of
this world?
True or False?
Quiz, contd.
5. God is the owner. We are not. True or
False?
6. There are limits to what a steward
should do even if they do it in the
name of God. True or False?
Quiz, contd.
.
7. According to the first
four chapters of
Genesis, what are the two questions
that every steward must answer?
8. If we are doing it for the right reason,
we should try to control the
conclusions drawn by others. True or
False?
9. A person is not a steward if he does
not believe in God. True or False?
The Power of a Story
• Making Sense of the World
– When we try to make sense of things that
happen to us we attach the incidents to a
story line. Stories give meaning to special
truths that we want to have remembered.
– The incident on the plane.
Stewardship as
Part of a Story
• A biblical worldview helps make
sense of the chaotic events
happening all around us.
• And to do that we need to start at
the very beginning--with God’s
story.
God’s 4-Part Story
• #1
God has a plan.
(He Created a perfect world. He
created a world and He created man in
His image. From the very beginning
God gave every evidence why He
could be trusted.)
God’s 4-Part Story
• #2
The Fall—Man sinned.
[Interference with God’s original
plan but the plan has not been
aborted.]
God’s 4-Part Story
• #3
Redemption – God provides
a solution.
[God’s original plan made possible
again.]
God’s 4 Part Story
• #4
Restoration. Restoration of
God’s original plan.
Stewardship as
Part of God’s Story
• #1. Stewardship cannot be confined
to an offering plate. It cannot be
separated from God’s larger plan.
Stewardship as Part
of God’s Story
• #2 Stewardship begins with the
relationship between man and his
Creator.
Stewardship as Part
of God’s Story
• #3.
God’s story proposes a
solution – something that will
bring life back into proper
balance and Stewardship is part
of that story.
Stewardship as Part
of God’s Story
•
There are at least 6 ways our
stewardship is to be expressed:
1. Time/Living Our Life (1 Peter 1:17);
2. Talents (Matt. 25:14-29);
3. Health (1 Cor. 3:16,17);
4. Money/possessions (Luke 19:23);
5. Influence (Rom. 14:21)
6. and as we relate to our Concerns
(Matt 6:33).”
What Is Stewardship?
• Biblical stewardship is about a total life
commitment.
• Stewardship can be summarized as:
ALL of me in response to ALL of God
Introduction
• Biblical stewardship is about a
relationship of trust that develops
between a person and his/her
Creator.
• The book of Genesis reminds us
that God is the owner. We are
servants or managers of what is
God’s.
Introduction
• “While “our” story begins in
Genesis it doesn’t end there.
God’s Full Story & the Story of
Stewardship Must Include the
“Bookends”
• 1. Creation
• 2. The Fall
• 3. Redemption
• 4. Restoration
God
• To understand biblical stewardship we
do not begin by asking:
“Who are we?” and “What shall we do?”
But rather, we begin by asking,
“Who is God?” and “What has He done?”
The Story of
Stewardship
Begins with
God – Not with
Us
•
What did you see in the picture?
God’s Story Told By
Us
• Our own story may seem small
but it is the story of God’s love for
us and that is never small.
Stewardship
Begins With God
God
• We begin “God’s story” in the book
of Genesis and do so with the
names used for Him.
• “In the beginning God . . .” Genesis
1:1
Hebrew Names
for God in Genesis 1 &
2
• Elohim – Genesis 1 – The Bible
begins with the words: “In the
beginning God (Elohim). (Gn 1:1)
• The Mighty-Majestic, All-PowerfulOne.
Hebrew Names
for God in Genesis 1 & 2
• Yahweh (YHWH) – expresses the
idea of God’s closeness to humans;
the covenant God or Promise-Keeper.
• “When the LORD (Yahweh) God made
the earth and the heavens” (Gn 2:4)
Hebrew Names
for God in Genesis 1 &
2
• YAHWEH is the One who has always
existed (Ex 3:14)who is present,
accessible and the One who is near to
those who call on Him for deliverance
(Ps 107:13, forgiveness (Ps 25:11)
and guidance (Ps. 31:3)
God
• God is love. But love is not
God although some have made
love to be their god.
• There is a human tendency to
use the things God has made
and turn them into substitute
gods.
Genesis 1
• Genesis 1 is a call to a worship of
praise of God for whom He is and for
what He has done.
• Genesis 1 is an invitation to honor
God.
• He is the Owner of all that He has
created as reflected in the message
of the Sabbath.
Genesis 1
• The Creation account, by
calling attention to God as
Elohim and Yahweh,
provides the basis for trust
and confidence. The basis
for praise!
• Genesis 1 is like a
•
praise service . . .over
and over the writer
exclaims the creation
was “good” and then
he enthusiastically
says, “It was very
good!”
Genesis 1 is a liturgy of
praise.
Genesis 1
• Creation is the foundation for the
gospel and for our stewardship.
Genesis 1
• Genesis 1 portrays God as:
• The owner of His own creation.
(Gen. 1: 26 -29)
• The One who gives. (Gen. 1:29)
• The One to whom we are
ultimately accountable. (Gen.
1:26; 2:15)
Genesis 2
The Re-Introduction of God
Genesis 2
Reintroduces God
a. This time God is introduced
theologically as Yahweh, “Lord
God” – the Promise-Keeping God.
The One who has a “personal”
interest in all of His creations.
There is no room in Genesis for a
deistic God.
enesis 2Reintroduces God
b. Throughout
Scripture this term,
Yahweh, describes
God as being
relational -- not just
powerful.
God
Man
Genesis 2
Reintroduces God
• c.
God shares His
responsibilities with Adam
and Eve (Gen. 2:15-17)
• and in doing so He
sets boundaries.
•
The Freedom
in Dependence
The Tree of Life
•
The Freedom
in Dependence
The Tree of Knowledge of Good & Evil
The Sabbath
1. The Sabbath reveals that God
retains the title to the world.
2. The Sabbath reveals that
relationship with God comes first.
3. The Sabbath reveals that God is
particular and must be.
4. The Sabbath reveals that
restoration is part of God’s plan for
man and the earth.
The Sabbath
At the beginning of the world:
“In the beginning God . . .” (Gen. 1:1)
After the exodus:
“I am the LORD your God . . .” (Deut. 5:6)
Genesis 3
The Drama Begins
Gen. 3 introduces us to the signs
of a broken trust relationship
between God and man.
This strikes at the very heart of
biblical stewardship.
Genesis 1 and 2 set the stage for the
significance of Satan’s deceitful actions in
Genesis 3.
“Now the serpent
was more crafty
than any of the wild
animals the LORD
God had made. He
said to the woman,
“Did God really say,
‘You must not eat
from any tree in the
garden’?”
(Gen. 3:1)
Ironically the Fall takes place in the
context of a Garden filled with all the
needed provisions provided by God.
Sin Moves God
Out of the Center
of Life
God
Man
Man
Man
Man Assumes
Role of Owner &
Focuses on SelfAuthority &
God
god
Sin displaces God from being the
focal point of relationships and
moves man to the center. With
this move, “self” becomes
primary and not praise for what
God has provided. The full
meaning of life cannot be
experienced and the implications
are not confined to man.
By their distrust displayed in
this “simple” act, all
relationships came to be
impacted. Relationships
*with God,
*with one another and
*with nature.
3 Early Signs of the
Broken Relationship
• Eve’s fall redefined the
•
relationship:
1.) Redefines what is good.
(God had said what was good to
eat and what was not.)
3 Early Signs of the
Broken Relationship
• Eve’s fall redefined the
•
relationship:
2.) Redefines how to use
God’s provisions.
(Determined was could be used
for food.)
3 Early Signs of the
Broken Relationship
• Eve’s fall redefined the
•
relationship:
3.) Redefines source of
wisdom and counsel.
(God’s word was no longer
considered sufficient wisdom and
counsel was sought outside that
relationship.)
A New Point
of Reference
Changes Everything
• The worldview of Adam and Eve
•
becomes the same worldview that
led to war in heaven.
It would lead to multiple wars on
earth.
Values Are Changed
• Personal Value Diminished
• Lost: “What brings a person
value, significance, and hope is
not what he does but “with
whom” he does it.” (Skye Jethani)
• Regained: The true biblical
steward does what he does
because he works “with” God.
God Comes
Searching
• After the Fall God asks 2 questions
that have been asked in some
fashion ever since.
• These questions are still relevant
today!
• They are at the heart of our own
personal identity and purpose.
The First Question
• The first question is asked of
Adam and Eve after they
disobeyed God’s clear
instructions:
• “Where are you?” (Gen. 3:9)
Genesis 3 & 4
• Adam and Eve attempted to
hide from God.
• Ultimately God was asking,
“Are you for Me or against
Me?” Do you trust Me?
Two Questions
(Adam & Eve)
• The first question was to Adam & Eve:
• “Where are you?” (Gen. 3:8,9)
• 1. God knew the answer but did
they?
• 2.
• 3.
Their answers were evasive!
God’s question was a sign of
grace and a call for repentance.
God’s First Question
(Adam & Eve)
• 4.
With the background of
Genesis 1 & 2 the real
question was:
Do you trust Me?
God’s Second Question
(Cain)
• After Cain’s offering was not
accepted God asked a second
question. It is also a question of
stewardship.
God’s Second Question
(Cain)
• 9 Then the LORD said to Cain,
"Where is your brother Abel?“
• "I don't know," he replied. "Am I my
brother's keeper?" (See Gen. 4:6-9,
NIV)
God’s Second Question
(Cain)
• Once again, God knew the answer and
once again it was an indication of
God’s grace knocking at the door.
• He was giving Cain an opportunity to
confess and but Cain evaded his own
responsibility.
God’s Second Question
(Cain)
• Cain, like his parents, evaded
•
the opportunity to confess his
wrong.
However, does this mean he
should have been “keeping”
his brother?
God’s Second Question
(Cain)
• What do you think?
Had Cain
been acting like a “keeper”?
Or like a “brother”? Is there a
difference?
•God’s Second Question
(Cain)
• The word keeper is used only once in this
passage (4:1-11) and that is when Cain
used it. (v.9)
• However, 7 times the word “brother” is
used. It is Cain, not God, inserts the word
“keeper.”
• Biblically the word “keeper” carries with
it control and force – for example
prisoners and bees have keepers.
•God’s Second Question
(Cain)
• The point: Only the Owner has the
authority to be the “keeper” of other men.
Only He has the authority to dictate and
even then, when He does, it comes out of
mercy.
• We have been commissioned to be
“brothers” and care responsibly for them.
It’s only how we go about it that is
questioned and Cain knew that!
The Mark of Cain
• In Gen. 1:28 Adam and Eve were to
have dominion or “rule over” the
animals as an expression of being
in the image of God.
• “He [Adam] was placed, as God’s
representative, over the lower
orders of being.” Patriarchs and
Prophets, p.45.
The Mark of Cain
• In Genesis this authority of
Adam and Eve was limited to
nature. They were to be
stewards of the natural world as
God’s stewards.
The Mark of Cain
• Cain failed because he was
not acting like a brother.
• He failed because tried to
control by force what he did
not like about his brother.
• He acted like a “keeper” and
not a “brother.”
•God’s Second Question
(Cain)
• Do you see any similarities with
the story of the Good
Samaritan? (Lk 10:25-37; Matt
22:36-40)?
• Who is the “neighbor” in that
story? Is there a “brother” in the
story? A “keeper”? (Priest,
Levite and Samaritan)
The Mark of Cain
• Jesus uses “neighbor” in the story of
“the good Samaritan” to describe how
we are to relate to others. (Lk 10:25-37;
see also Matt 22:36-40).
The Mark of Cain
• Notice the insightful comment by Ellen
White:
• “Any man, be he minister or layman,
who seeks to compel or control the
reason of any other man, becomes an
agent of Satan, to do his work, and in
the sight of the heavenly universe he
bears , mark of Cain.” (MS 29, 1911). SDA
Bible Commentary, (Gen 4:15) 7A, p.19.
Brother or Keeper?
• Stewards DO have a
responsibility of caring for others
but not coercing their wills to
comply.
December 18, 2008
The Story in Summary
• So what have we learned to far?
1. The creation story emphasizes “who”
God is and, therefore, who “we” are.
2. Being created in God’s image explains
the kind of relationship God wants with
us.
3. Sin attempted to change that
relationship. It has also changed our
relationship with others.
The Story in Summary
4. God has been moved to the
sidelines in many relationships.
5. True stewardship reverses what
sin has done. It puts God back
into the center.
6. An understanding of our role as
God’s stewards was at stake.
One Timeless Truth
Says It All
• Our identity, our life’s purpose,
our personal fulfillment are
found in the first four words of
Scripture: “In the beginning
God . . . “
“In the beginning god”
• Stewardship begins and
ends with the beginning
words of Scripture:
• “In the beginning God . . .
“
Quiz
1. What are the two names for God in
Genesis 1 and 2.
[Elohim & Yahweh]
2. Stewardship is another word for money
management.
[False]
3. The first question a biblical
steward asks is “What shall we
do?”
[False]
4. Genesis 1 is primarily a scientific
account of what
happened at
the beginning of
this world?
[False?]
Quiz, contd.
5. God is the owner. We are not.
[True]
There are limits to what a steward
should do if they do it in the
name of God.
[True]
Quiz, contd.
.
6. There are limits to what a steward
should do even if they do it in the
name of God. True or False?
[True]
Quiz, contd.
.
7. According to the first
four chapters of
Genesis, what are the two questions that
every steward must answer?
[Where are you? & Where is your
brother?]
8 . If we are doing it for the right reason,
we should try to control the
conclusions drawn by others.
[False]
Quiz, contd.
.
9. A person is not a steward if he
does not believe in God.
[False]
The foundation for all stewardship
begins with:
“In the beginning
God. . .”