Biblical Foundations
“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. Stewardship is another word for
money management. True or False?
2. The first question a biblical steward
asks is “What shall we do?” True or
False?
3. Genesis 1 is primarily a scientific
account of what happened at the
beginning of this world? True or
False?
Quiz, contd.
4. God is the owner. We are not. True or
False?
5. The telling of Genesis 2 has a different
purpose than that of Genesis 1. True
or False?
6. A steward has boundaries that he
must not overstep. 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. We are to be our “brother’s keeper.”
True or False?
9. A person is not a steward if he does
not profess to follow God. True or
False?
Quiz, contd.
.
10. Biblical stewardship has its
foundation in who God is and what
He has done. True or False?
Introduction
• “Stewardship is a relationship.”
• “Stewardship involves every facet of
life:
– Time (1 Peter 1:17);
– Talents (Matt. 25:14-29);
– Health (1 Cor. 3:16,17);
– Money/possessions (Luke 19:23);
– Influence (Rom. 14:21)
– and our Concerns (Matt 6:33).”
Introduction
• Biblical stewardship is a total life
commitment to the One who created
us, sustains us, died for us and loves
us. It includes money management
but it begins before we have any
possessions including money!
• Stewardship is ALL of me in response
to ALL of God
Introduction
• Stewardship is a relationship of trust
between a person and his/her Creator.
• God is the owner and we are the
servant or manager of what is God’s.
• Along with stewardship comes
responsibility and accountability:
Introduction
• “Now it is required that those who have
been given a trust must prove faithful.”
(1 Cor. 4:2)
• Being found faithful is the call of every
true steward.
• To understand what that faithfulness
looks like we need to start at the very
beginning:
The Full Story
Is Important—
Each Part Is Important to the Whole
• 1. Creation
• 2. The Fall
• 3. Redemption
• 4. Restoration
The Foundation for All Stewardship
Is:
“IN THE BEGINNING GOD. . .”
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?”
God
• A biblical understanding of the
early origins of stewardship will
help clarify what the purpose for
our life is and how we can find true
fulfillment.
Hebrew Names for God in
Genesis 1 & 2
• Elohim – Genesis 1 – Plural but used
with a singular verb and is used 2570
times in the Hebrew canon. It is used
as showing God as the Mighty One,
Creator and Judge of the universe.
(Gen. 1:1; 17:1)
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.
Yahweh is the one who is selfexistent one (Ex 3:14) present,
accessible, near to those who call on
Him for deliverance (Ps 107:13,
forgiveness (Ps 25:11) and guidance
(Ps. 31:3)
Hebrew Names for God in
Genesis 1 & 2
• The Hebrew name (YHWH) had no
vowels and was considered to sacred
to pronounce. It is designated in most
translations as LORD. Adonai was
often used instead.
The Genesis Account
• Genesis 1 begins with, “In the
beginning God . . .”
• God is eternal. He existed before
any created thing. He “was”.
• God is not dependent on any
source for life. He “is” life.
• God is the Creator and the
Sustainer. He not only created but
He also sustains!
God
• God is greater than His creation.
Genesis leaves no room for
animism (attribution of a soul to plants,
inanimate objects) or pantheism(
identifies God with the universe).
• God remains with his creation – He
is not an absentee god.
• God is love which is far superior to
love being a god.
Genesis 1
• Genesis 1 is a call to worship God for
who He is and what He has done.
• It is an invitation to honor God.
• God is not only our Creator He is the
Owner of all that He has created. This is
fundamental to understanding our
origins and for fulfilling our purpose for
being given life.
Genesis 1
• The Creation account serves as the
basis for trust and confidence which is
so critical for what is to follow in
Genesis.
• When its meaning is unpacked it can be
seen as the foundation of the gospel
which is why it is associated with the
“everlasting gospel” in the book of
Revelation (14:6).
Genesis 1
• Among other attributes, Genesis 1
portrays God as the owner of His
own creation. (Gen. 1: 26 -29)
• He is shown as the One who gives.
(Gen. 1:29)
• With the uniqueness of God being
“the” Creator comes the
accountability for His stewards or
managers. (Gen. 1:26; 2:15)
Genesis 2
• Genesis 2 is not a second Creation
account but rather a theological
and historical expansion of
Genesis 1.
Genesis 2
• Chapter 2 introduces God with
a new description:
– He is introduced as, Yahweh, “LORD
God”—the covenant God. (2.4)
– Gen. 2 gives emphasis to
relationship. The name connotes
relationship—an important theme in
Genesis 2 - 4 and beyond.
Genesis 2
• Throughout Scripture this
description reflects His willingness
and desire to enter into an unending
fellowship with humanity.
• He is the true “Promise Keeper”
• In this chapter God is portrayed as
the Provider.
Genesis 3
• Genesis 3 introduces us to the
“Fall of Man” and its impact
upon the desired relations God
intended.
Genesis 3
• A steward is not an “owner”
but a manager.
– With this role comes boundaries.
(Gen. 2:15-17)
– And this becomes important as the
foundation laid prior to the entrance
of sin.
Genesis 3
• The root of all true fulfillment
and all sin is wrapped up in the
issue of stewards (or
managers) vs. owner.
Early Stewardship
• Genesis 2:15-17
• 15 The LORD God took the man
and put him in the Garden of Eden
to work it and take care of it. . . .
Early Stewardship
• 16 And the LORD God commanded
the man, "You are free to eat from
any tree in the garden; 17 but you
must not eat from the tree of the
knowledge of good and evil, for
when you eat of it you will surely
die." Gen 2:15-17 (NIV)
Genesis 3 & 4
• After the Fall God asks 2 questions
that have been asked of mankind
throughout history and are being
asked of us today.
• These two questions are the focus
of every temptation and the root of
all personal fulfillment, the
foundation for our personal
stewardship. So what are they?
Genesis 3 & 4
• The Question Asked Of Adam and
Eve:
• 8 “Then the man and his wife heard the
sound of the LORD God as he was
walking in the garden in the cool of the
day, and they hid from the LORD God
among the trees of the garden. 9 But
the LORD God called to the man,
‘Where are you?’”Gen 3:8-9 (NIV)
Genesis 3 & 4
• Adam and Eve attempted to hide from
God.
• God obviously knew where they were
but He was giving them an opportunity
to confess what had been done.
• Ultimately God was asking, “Are you
for Me or against Me?”
• Each person is a steward and is being
asked the same question.
Genesis 3 & 4
• After Cain’s offering was not
accepted God asked a second
question that should resonate
with each of us today:
Genesis 3 & 4
• 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) Who asked this
question?
• Was Cain supposed to be his
brother’s keeper?
Genesis 3 & 4
• So again we ask: Who raised
the question about “keeping?”
• Was Cain supposed to be his
“brother’s keeper”?
The Mark of Cain
• Once again, God knew the answer.
He was giving Cain an opportunity
to confess and blamed someone
else.
• Cain, like his parents, evaded the
opportunity.
• God’s stewards care not only for
themselves but for others but does
this mean “keeping”?
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 is
limited to nature. Adam and
Eve were to be stewards of the
natural world.
The Mark of Cain
• On the other hand, a “keeping”
function as suggested by Cain,
carries with it control. The kind
given to us over animals and
prisoners.
The Mark of Cain
• Cain failed not because he
wasn’t acting like his “brother’s
keeper” but because he was
doing just that! He had taken
on keeping rather than being a
brother.
The Mark of Cain
• 7 times the word “brother” is
used in Gen. 4:1-11. Cain, not
God, is the one who injects the
word “keeper.” He did so to
avoid his responsibility of
being a “brother.”
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 22:3640).
• A story of true “brotherhood.”
• God has given us authority over
the earth but not “controlling
authority” over one another.
The Mark of Cain
• “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.
Genesis Stewardship
Summarized
• Note the context of the two
questions:
• The two questions asked by the
“LORD” in Genesis 3 & 4 come
after God established who He is
and what He has already done for
us. (Genesis 1 & 2).
Genesis Stewardship
Summarized
• The fall of Man came as a result of
taking over the role of the Creator
and failing in the area of
stewardship given to them.
Genesis Stewardship
Summarized
• These two issues summarize two
penetrating questions asked by the
Creator of every steward:
1. Where are you? Where are you in
your relationship with Me? Are
you really for me or are you
against me?
Genesis Stewardship
Summarized
2. Where is your brother? How do
you relate to others? Do you see
them as My children for whom you
are to unconditionally respect and
care?
Stewardship
Encompasses All
• A person who makes no
profession is just as much a
manager (steward) of God’s goods
as the one who does.
• He has also been entrusted with
time, talent, and a means for which
he is responsible and will be held
accountable.
Christian Stewardship
• In its truest sense, Christian
stewardship refers to the
relationship which exists between
man and God.
• “True biblical stewardship is the
lifestyle of one who accepts
Christ’s lordship, walking in
partnership with God and acting as
His agent to manage His affairs.”
Invitation to Biblical
Stewardship
• The call to stewardship begins
and ends not with just a
historical fact but with all the
hope and promises and love
found in the opening words of
Scripture
The Framework for Our
Salvation
The early chapters of Genesis lay a critical
foundation for understanding who this God
is and this forms an important basis for a
much needed revival and reformation. He
is:
–
–
–
–
–
The God who creates (Gen 1)
The God who provides (Gen. 2)
The God who seeks (Gen. 3&4)
The God who reproves (Gen 3-6)
The God who saves (Gen 5 - 12)
The foundation for all stewardship
remains:
“IN THE BEGINNING GOD. . .”
“In the Beginning God”
Such a statement:
1. Speaks of God in ways that cannot be
compared to anyone or anything else.
(Isa 46:5)
2. Speaks of God as transcending the entire
created universe. (1 Ki 8:27)
3. Speaks of God as being personal by
being willing to into a created world and
preserve it. (Gen 1 & 2)
“In the Beginning God”
4. Speaks of God as being personal by
being willing to enter into a created world
and preserve it. (Gen 1 & 2)
5. Speaks of God as the Creator Who Is the
Owner of His Own Creation. (Ps 89:11)
“In the Beginning God”
Such a statement:
1. Speaks of man as being created and
having a beginning whereas God is
eternal. (Gen 1:27)
2. Speaks of man as not being selfsufficient. He is to work with the Creator
for his own preservation.
“In the Beginning God”
Such a statement:
3. Speaks of man as living within time and
space. This means our use of time is one
of the most important aspects of our
creation. It forms, changes and modifies
who we are and can become.
4. Speaks of man as a manifestation of
God’s selfless love.
Stewardship begins and ends
with the beginning words of
Scripture:
“IN THE BEGINNING
GOD”
Quiz
1. Stewardship is another word for
money management. True or False?
[False]
2. The first question a biblical steward
asks is “What shall we do?” True or
False?
[False]
Quiz, contd.
3. Genesis 1 is primarily a scientific
account of what happened at the
beginning of this world? True or
False?
[False]
4. God is the owner. We are not. True or
False?
[True]
Quiz, contd.
.
5. The telling of Genesis 2 has a
different purpose than that of
Genesis True or False?
[True]
6. A steward has boundaries that he
must not overstep. 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?” and “Where is your
brother?”]
8. We are to be our “brother’s keeper.”
True or False?
[False]
9. A person is not a steward if he does
not profess to follow God. True or
False?
[False]
10.Biblical stewardship has its foundation
in who God is and what He has done.
True or False?
[True]
The foundation for all stewardship
remains:
“IN THE BEGINNING GOD. . .”