Abel obediently knelt at his altar, holding the lamb offering as God commanded. Cain, on the other hand, furiously knelt at his altar holding the fruit. Both brought offerings, yet only one brother had been obedient to God’s command. The slain lamb was accepted, but the produce from the ground was rejected. Both brothers understood … Continue reading –>
There are many precious things that we can possess. Health, love, friends, a great family – these all are blessings. But perhaps one of the most important of all is a clear conscience. Read Hebrews 10:19-22 and 1 Timothy 4:1-2. What does it mean to have an “evil conscience” and a “conscience seared with a hot iron”? Our … Continue reading –>
“No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon” (Matt. 6:24, NKJV). What does this text teach us about the supreme importance of loyalty to God? Knowing that God’s name … Continue reading –>
“Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful” (1 Cor. 4:2, NKJV). To fight and win “the good fight of faith” (1 Tim. 6:12, NKJV) is crucial for a faithful steward. “Faithful” is what God is and what we are to become through Him working in us. Being faithful means staying true to what we know … Continue reading –>
Read for This Week’s Study: Heb. 11:8-12; Rom. 4:13, Rom. 4:18-21; Matt. 6:24; Heb. 9:14; 1 John 5:2-3; Luke 16:10-12. Memory Text: “Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful” (1 Corinthians 4:1-2, NKJV). Stewards are known by their brand, or their distinctive mark, … Continue reading –>
Further Thought: The word translated as “steward” in a few Old Testament texts comes, not from a single word but from a phrase: asher al bayt, the “one who is on or over a house.” For example, Genesis 43:19 can be translated: “When they drew near to the steward of Joseph’s house, they talked with him at the door of the … Continue reading –>
Wise stewards are defined by their willingness to accept and execute the moral principle of personal responsibility. Acceptance of personal responsibility is the choice we make and the actions we take. It recognizes the relationship between cause and effect. Willingness to accept personal responsibility is a key trait that cannot be ignored when we define … Continue reading –>
When we think of stewardship, we think of tangibles and rightly so. But as we have now seen, stewardship goes beyond that. Like tangible possessions, intangible gifts come from God as well. These intangibles are spiritual possessions that God gives to us (1 Pet. 4:10) so that we can, in Christ, develop Christian characters and become the … Continue reading –>
Read Colossians 2:2-3 and 1 Timothy 3:16. What do these texts identify as a “mystery”? What does the fact that it is a “mystery” say to us about the limits of what we can know about it? Zophar the Naamathite says to Job, “Can you fathom the mysteries of God?” (Job 11:7, NIV). The word “mystery” means puzzling, obscure, … Continue reading –>
The two basic words for “steward” in the New Testament are epitropos, occurring three times, and oikonomos, occurring 10 times. Both these words describe positions that incorporate managerial responsibilities entrusted to the steward by the owner. In both the New and Old Testaments, stewards are defined by what they do. The New Testament specifically describes the steward in … Continue reading –>
