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Biblical Foundations

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. Stewardship is another word for money management. True or False?

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Biblical Foundations

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  1. 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

  2. Quiz • Stewardship is another word for money management. True or False? • The first question a biblical steward asks is “What shall we do?” True or False? • Genesis 1 is primarily a scientific account of what happened at the beginning of this world? True or False?

  3. 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?

  4. Quiz, contd. 7. According to the first four chapters of Genesis, what are the two questions that every steward must answer? We are to be our “brother’s keeper.” True or False? A person is not a steward if he does not profess to follow God. True or False? .

  5. Quiz, contd. 10. Biblical stewardship has its foundation in who God is and what He has done. True or False? .

  6. 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).”

  7. 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

  8. 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:

  9. 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:

  10. The Full Story Is Important—Each Part Is Important to the Whole • 1. Creation • 2. The Fall • 3. Redemption • 4. Restoration

  11. The Foundation for All Stewardship Is: “In the Beginning God. . .”

  12. 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?”

  13. 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.

  14. 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)

  15. 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 self-existent 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)

  16. 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.

  17. 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 Creatorand the Sustainer. He not only created but He also sustains!

  18. 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.

  19. 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.

  20. 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).

  21. 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)

  22. Genesis 2 • Genesis 2 is not a second Creation account but rather a theological and historical expansion of Genesis 1.

  23. 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.

  24. 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.

  25. Genesis 3 • Genesis 3 introduces us to the “Fall of Man” and its impact upon the desired relations God intended.

  26. 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.

  27. Genesis 3 • The root of all true fulfillment and all sin is wrapped up in the issue of stewards (or managers) vs. owner.

  28. 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.. . .

  29. 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)

  30. 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?

  31. 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)

  32. 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.

  33. Genesis 3 & 4 • After Cain’s offering was not accepted God asked a second question that should resonate with each of us today:

  34. 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?

  35. Genesis 3 & 4 • So again we ask: Who raised the question about “keeping?” • Was Cain supposed to be his “brother’s keeper”?

  36. 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”?

  37. 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.

  38. The Mark of Cain • In Genesis this authority is limited to nature. Adam and Eve were to be stewards of the natural world.

  39. 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.

  40. 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 keepingrather than being a brother.

  41. 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.”

  42. 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). • A story of true “brotherhood.” • God has given us authority over the earth but not “controlling authority” over one another.

  43. 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.” (MS29, 1911). SDA Bible Commentary, (Gen 4:15) 7A, p.19.

  44. Genesis StewardshipSummarized • 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).

  45. Genesis StewardshipSummarized • 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.

  46. Genesis StewardshipSummarized • These two issues summarize two penetrating questions asked by the Creator of every steward: • Where are you? Where are you in your relationship with Me? Are you really for me or are you against me?

  47. Genesis StewardshipSummarized 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?

  48. 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.

  49. 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.”

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