Understanding Stewardship

We are not owners, but stewards.  A steward manages and takes care of that which belongs to someone else.  In this regard, God owns everything, and as stewards we manage and take care for Him.  We have an obligation to be faithful in this stewardship

The Lord holds us accountable for the special responsibility of managing and taking care of the things He has given us.  This owner-steward relationship is thus very unique and it covers the following:

• our life (Acts 17:25, 1 Cor 6:19);
• our time (Ps 90:12, Col 4:5);
• our talents and abilities (1 Pet 4:10, 1 Cor 12:4-7,11);
• our possessions (Matt 6:19-21, Col 3:1-2);
• our finances (1 Tim 6:6-10, 17-19)

It is only when we give ourselves that we learn what it means to give some of the possessions God has given us.





Rev Dr. Ronnie Ng

Generosity

"The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.  Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge" (Ps 19:12).  From this psalm, we learn that God's creation did the following:

• declare the glory of God,
• proclaim the work of His hands,
• pour forth speech, and
• display knowledge.

We can learn from God's creation if we examine it carefully.  Just as there are physical laws which bring order out of the chaos in the universe, God has also put into motion spiritual laws which govern life.  One of these is the Law of Generosity.  This teaches us that 'whoever sows generously will also reap generously' (2 Cor 9:6)





Rev Dr. Ronnie Ng

Conditions Of Fellowship

Walking in the light - Our felowship embraces the need to be open, honest and truthful with one another.  " If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth.  But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowshi with one  another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son purifies us from every sin " (1 Jn 1:6,7)

The results of fellowship in the early church were:

1. a fear of God (Acts 2:43);
2. joy (Acts 2:46);
3. favour with all people (Acts 2:47);
4. addition of new believers (Acts 2:47);
5. all needs supplied (Phil 4:19);
6. emergence of leadership (1 Cor 16:15,16)

Rev Dr. Ronnie Ng