STEWARDSHIP FROM A COVENANT PERSPECTIVE

A steward is someone who manages, protects, and increases the property that belongs to someone else.

A covenant is a divinely created bond or partnership or relationship. A covenant, to simply put, is a covering.

Then God said, “Let us make mankind in OUR IMAGE, in OUR LIKENESS so that they may RULE over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” (Genesis 1:26 NIV)

• By design we were created to be like Him: in His image
• By design we were created to be like Him: in His likeness
• By design we were created to be stewards.
• Stewardship was not an afterthought. It was part of God’s original plan, His covenant!

Psalm 8:4-6 describes this covenant relationship

What are mere mortals (MANKIND) that you should think about them, human beings that you should care for them?  Yet you made them only a little lower than God and crowned them with glory and honor. You GAVE THEM CHARGE (STEWARDSHIP) of EVERYTHING you made, putting ALL THINGS UNDER THEIR AUTHORITY. (Psalm 8: 4-6 NLT)

• Only under this covenant can we be in charge of everything
• Only under this covenant can we have authority.
• The enemy is threatened by the authority we have as stewards.

How do we remain under that umbrella of stewardship?

#1 RECOGNIZE THAT EVERYTHING BELONGS TO HIM

 “If there is among you a poor man of your brethren, within any of the gates in YOUR LAND WHICH THE LORD YOUR GOD IS GIVING YOU (Deuteronomy 15:7)

 The land belongs to God not you!

• What is your land? Your land is everything that you have. All your possessions.
• God owns it all. Your role is simply the caretaker, the manager.

#2 RESPOND WITH A WILLING HEART

“You shall not HARDEN your HEART nor shut your hand from your poor brother, but you shall open your hand wide to him and WILLINGLY lend him sufficient for his need, whatever he needs.” (Deuteronomy 15:7-8)

• Don’t respond to the need of others with a hardened heart!
• Respond with a willing heart
• A willing heart that has no hidden agenda, that has no hidden motive.

#3 DEAL WITH A SELFISH HEART

 BEWARE lest there be a WICKED THOUGHT IN YOUR HEART, saying, ‘The seventh year, the year of release, is at hand,’ and your eye be evil against your poor brother and you give him nothing, and he cry out to the Lord against you, and it become SIN among you. (Deuteronomy 15:9)

• God calls selfishness wickedness or sin

#4 DEAL WITH A GRIEVING HEART

You shall surely GIVE to him, and your HEART should not be GRIEVED when you give to him because for this thing the Lord your GOD WILL BLESS YOU IN ALL YOUR WORKS and IN ALL TO WHICH YOU PUT YOUR HAND. (Deuteronomy 15:10)

• When you realize that it all belongs to God, EVERYTHING your hands touch will be blessed

CONCLUSION

• What is the Holy Spirit saying to you through this message?