Christians are to work to provide for
themselves and their families and to have something to
share.
Christians are to manage their
resources as stewards of what belongs to God.
Christian workers have the right of
support.
Christian workers should be grateful
for financial support but not depend on it.
It is important not only to keep
financial integrity before god but also to be perceived as
doing so by others.
Christians can be content and thankful
for God’s supply.
Some Christians may be more
impoverished than others, but that gives them no right to be
idle and to depend solely on “welfare” from others.
Improper
motives for getting money can lead to all sorts of trouble.[6]
Ten Laws of Giving
General principle
The lord honors the generous and
withholds from the miserly.
Christians should beware of giving
with mixed motives.
Christians should give according to
what they have, not according to what they do not have
The surplus that some Christians have
should be used to make up for the deficiency of others.
Whoever shows generously will also
reap generously.
The Christians are to do good to all
people, especially to fellow believers.
Christians are to have Christ the
attitude of self – sacrificing humility and love for others.
Inappropriate giving can excuse others
from taking responsibility.
Christians should beware of favoritism
in their giving.
Love the man’s
that a Christian never denied a brother in need when it is
in his power to help.[7]
Serve One Another
As those who share in god’s grace with each
other [Philippians 1:7], who have been qualified to share in the
inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light, [Colossians
1:12] who share in the heavenly calling [Hebrews 3:1] who share
in his holiness [Hebrews 12:10], and who will share in the glory
to be revealed [1 Peter 5:1], we as partners in the work of God
affirm the:
We are called to invest our lives and
resources in Christ ministry of reconciliation [2
Corinthians 5:18]
God has given his church a variety of
gives to complement each other in the ministry of the
quipping it to fulfill its mandate for the glory of Christ
[Ephesians 4:11-13]
In seeking to fulfill this mandate, we
recognize that our ability does not depend on human criteria
such as wealth, education, experience, and so on, but on the
Holy Spirit [Zechariah 4:6]
It is both an honor and an obligation
for Christians to assist of one another in the work of
Christ 2 Corinthians 8:1-15]
Any God – honoring service should be
carried out in a spirit of mutual respect, trust and
submission in the Lord [Colossians 3:23-24, Galatians 5:13]
Mutual accountability is an integral
aspect of Christians stewardship [1 Corinthians 4:2,
Romans14:12]; and
Our motivation
should be that of a servant in keeping with the example of
Christ [Philippians 2:1-11].[8]
[6] Rickett, Daniel. Building
Strategic Relationships: A Practical Guide to Partnering
With Non – Western Missions. Partners International:
Winepress Publishing, 2003. p. 38.
[7] Rickett,
Daniel. Building Strategic Relationships: A
Practical Guide to Partnering With Non – Western
Missions. Partners International: Winepress
Publishing, 2003. p. 39.
[8] Rickett, Daniel. Building
Strategic Relationships: A Practical Guide to Partnering
With Non – Western Missions. Partners International:
Winepress Publishing, 2003. p. 44.
Global Ministry
1 Cor. 12:12-13 For as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body; so also is Christ. 13 For also by one Spirit we are all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether bond or free, even all were made to drink into one Spirit.
