Stewardship and Tithing
As taught in the Seventh-day Adventist tradition
The faithful management of God's resources, including time, talent, and treasure, as an act of worship.
In the intricate tapestry of Seventh-day Adventist theology, a central question resonates through every facet of the believer’s life: "Who holds the title deed to my existence?" While much of the modern world operates on the assumption of autonomy and personal ownership, the Adventist tradition posits that human beings are not owners but "stewards." This subtopic, nested within the broader doctrines of the Law and the Sabbath, answers the fundamental inquiry of how a child of God relates to the material and temporal world in light of the Great Controversy between Christ and Satan. Stewardship is not merely a financial strategy for church growth; it is a spiritual discipline that acknowledges God’s sovereignty as Creator and Sustainer.
By the end of this lesson
- **Identify** God as the sole proprietor of all things based on the doctrine of Creation.
- **Distinguish** between the "tithe" (the Lord’s portion) and "offerings" (the believer’s gratitude).
- **Explain** the "Body Temple" concept as a vital component of holistic stewardship.
- **Articulate** the historical development of "Systematic Benevolence" into the modern tithing system.
- **Trace** the biblical precedent for tithing from the pre-Mosaic era through the teachings of Jesus.
- **Defend** the continuing validity of tithing in the New Covenant era against the "abolition of the law" arguments.
- **Apply** the principles of stewardship to the management of time, specifically regarding the Sabbath.
- **Compare** the Adventist "Storehouse" principle with contemporary congregational models of funding.
Scripture
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