Stewardship

The quest for wealth and possession is a very absorbing human activity in contemporary society, even amongst Christians. This compulsion seems so dominant that little attention is given to its eschatological dimension. Yet, Jesus’ teachings in Luke 12:13–21 suggest there is a strong link between eschatology and the attitude of wealth acquisition. Therefore, this presentation explores Jesus’ teachings on wealth acquisition, possession, and management as well as their eschatological implications. It concludes that wealth is no substitute for goodness and character and is not a guarantee for the real essence of life, accountability towards God. Conclusively, the divine pronouncement on the rich but foolish farmer constitutes an invitation to readers to evaluate their attitude towards wealth in view of eschatology.

This important question is often asked. Therefore we will offer some brief observations from a biblical perspective. At the outset, we should bear in mind that, for the ancient Israelites, there was no question about this. In an agricultural economy, anything a person received was by default cons...

Many contemporary Pentecostal and Charismatic preachers have become wealthy by promising their givers financial prosperity. Based on the blessings associated with tithes and offerings (“Bring all the tithes . . . and try Me now in this . . .” [Mal 3:10]), some of these preachers assure that the ...

Newspapers and magazines are filled with reports about sports “heroes,” especially during world championships and the Olympic Games. We admire their skills, strength, and tenacity. The same is true for top musicians, artists, and writers. There are the actors with their incredible ability to play...

Giving is a heavenly principle (Acts 20:35). It is God’s will that we give: time, talents, and money/material possessions (Matt 22:15–22). Satan replaced the Sabbath with another day of worship in order to eliminate our understanding of God as creator. He destroyed the principle of giving the tit...

Worldwide more people die by suicide than by homicide and war. Suicide is the second leading cause of death for youth and young adults (ages 10-24). It is also one of the leading causes of death for adults (ages 25-44). Many people think about suicide at some point in their lives. In 2004 the est...

People today have a problem with time. One hundred and fifty years ago, if a merchant from Chicago had to do business in New York, he may have had to spend an entire week, because it took him so long to get to New York and back again. Today he takes an airplane and arrives there in one or two hou...

Fraud is a problem in this world. We encounter it on a daily basis. People pretend to be someone else. In a Brussel’s marathon a trainer switched roles with his athlete and ran twelve kilometers for him pretending he was the other person. It was estimated that in 1984 approximately 10,000 America...

I. Introduction This paper will explore the concept, practice and theological foundation for tithing in the writings of Ellen G. White. Historical details will enter the discussion when necessary, but the primary focus will be at the conceptual and pragmatic levels. Her writings reveal growth in ...

Systematic benevolence, as first proposed and adopted by the Sabbathkeeping Adventists in 1859, comprised a systematic plan of giving not only on a percentage basis, but also free-will offerings. Some Documentation on Systematic Benevolence and the Tithe as Launched in 1859 The following plan was...