LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1998, Sheet 311

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296 BIBLICAL STEWARDSHIP PRINCIPLES

As children of God through faith in Jesus Christ, and with the
Holy Spirit’s help, we will not
* employ techniques and fund-raising methods that fail to emphasize
God's love in Christ as the basis and motivation for Christian stew-
ardship;

minimize the bringing of regular offerings as a part of worship and a
loving response to God’s love for us;

de-emphasize or set aside God’s love and our response in order to
meet budgets, quotas, and goals.

VII. GOD’S STEWARDS ARE SERVED AND SERVING

What does this mean?

God’s stewards recognize that their stewardship involves a
Gospel-powered style of life which is demonstrated in servant-
hood within all the arenas of life.

What does God’s Word say about this?

Philippians 2:5-8 Your attitude should be the same as that of
Christ Jesus, who being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something
to be grasped, but made Himself nothing, tak-
ing the very nature of a servant, being made in
human likeness. And being found in appear-
ance as a man, He humbled Himself and be-
come obedient to death—death on a cross!

“Instead, whoever wants to become great
among you must be your servant, and whoever
wants to be first must be your slave—just as
the Son of Man did not come to be served, but
to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for
many.” (cf. Matt. 25:31-46)

John 13:33-5; 15-17 Jesus knew that the Father had put all things
under His power, and that He had come from
God and was returning to God; so He got up
from the meal, took off His outer clothing, and
wrapped a towel around His waist. After that,
He poured water into a basin and began to
wash His disciples’ feet, drying them with the
towel that was wrapped around Him. ... “I have
set you an example that you should do as I
have done for you. I tell you the truth, no ser-
vant is greater than his master, nor is a mes-
senger greater than the one who sent him. Now
that you know these things, you will be blessed
if you do them.”

Matt. 20:26b-28

How is this done?

As children of God through faith in Jesus Christ, and with the
Holy Spirit's help, we will
* recognize that service done for the benefit of the community and
world is also a part of Chnstian stewardship;

emphasize that just as Jesus came to serve, stewards are privileged to
serve others through their abilities and resources;

* adopt the attitude of a servant in all our relationships with others.
As children of God through faith in Jesus Christ, and with the
Holy Spirit’s help, we will not

set aside servanthood for the sake of merely reaching an organiza-
tional goal;

fail to encourage stewards to be God's servants in any decision or
action; ;

fail to challenge stewards to serve the Lord with personal acts of
compassion and service as well as financial gifts.

Scripture quotations NIV® — By permission of Zondervan

VIII. GOD’S STEWARDS LIVE WITH AN AWARENESS
OF THE PRESENT AND FUTURE, OF TIME
AND ETERNITY

What does this mean?

God’s stewards live intentionally in the light of the Lord’s eter-
nal purpose while being firmly committed to His rule in the here
and now.

What does God’s Word say about this?

Matt. 6:19-21 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on
earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where
thieves break in and steal. But store up for your-
selves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust
do not destroy, and where thieves do not break
in and steal. For where your treasure is, there

your heart will be also.”

Command those who are rich in this present
world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in
wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their
hope in God, who richly provides us with
everything for our enjoyment. Command them
to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be
generous and willing to share. In this way they
will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm
foundation for the coming age, so that they may
take hold of the life that ts truly life.

Phil. 3:12-14, 20 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have
already been made perfect, but I press on to
take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took
hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself
yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do:
Forgetting what is behind and straining toward
what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win
the prize for which God has called me heaven-
ward in Christ Jesus. ... But our citizenship is in
heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from
there, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Since everything will be destroyed in this way,
what kind of people ought you to be? You
ought to live holy and godly lives as you look
forward to the day of God and speed its com-
ing.

Then I heard a voice from heaven say, “Write:
Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from
now on.” “Yes,” says the Spirit, “they will rest
from their labor, for their deeds will follow
[with] them.”

| Tim. 6:17-19

2 Peter 3:11-12a

Rev. 14:13

How is this done?
As children of God through faith in Jesus Christ, and with the
Holy Spirit’s help, we will
* point out the eternal dimensions inherent in all that stewards decide
to do or not to do;

* pursue good planning for the present and future as part of steward-
ship education;

* rejoice in knowing that what God's stewards do now can have lasting

benefits.
As children of God through faith in Jesus Christ, and with the

Holy Spirit’s help, we will not

* be so intent on the here and now that the possibilities for extending
the kingdom after death are neglected;

+ be so intent on plans for the future that the possibilities for extending
the kingdom here and now are neglected.

February 1998