THE CONTRIBUTION

TEXT:  1 Cor. 6:19-20

INTRODUCTION:

A.      LIFE IS A STEWARDSHIP.

          1.  We own nothing.  That which is ours belongs to God.

          2.  Giving is the discharge of a stewardship.

B.      STEWARDSHIP - THE ACTIVE MANAGING OR DISBURSING OF THAT WHICH

          BELONGS TO ANOTHER FOR HIS BENEFIT.

C.      WE MUST ACKNOWLEDGE OUR POSSESSIONS AS A SACRED TRUST FROM GOD.

I.      GOD'S OWNERSHIP IS COMPLETE AND UNDISPUTABLE.

A.      HEAVEN & EARTH ARE HIS ( Gen. 14:19; Deut. 10:14; Psa. 24:1;  89:11 ).

          BY VIRTUE OF HIS CREATION ( Gen. 1:1 ).

B.      ISRAEL WAS THE STEWARD OF THE LORD'S LAND( Lev. 25:23 ).

C.      EVERY BEAST BELONGS TO GOD ( Psa. 50:10-12 ).

D.      ALL THE EARTH'S RICHES ( Hag. 2:8 ).

E.      ALL POLITICAL POWER ( Rom. 13:1; Acts 17:26;  John 19:10-11 ).

F.      EVEN OUR SOULS ARE HIS ( Ez. 18:4;  1 Cor. 6:19-20 ).

II. CONSEQUENTLY, ALL LIFE IS A STEWARDSHIP.

A.      JESUS STRESSED THE PRINCIPLE OF GOD'S OWNERSHIP AND  OUR

          STEWARDSHIP IN HIS TEACHINGS.  Talents, unjust stewardship, husbandman.

B.      PAUL RECOGNIZED HIS MINISTRY AS A STEWARDSHIP ( 1 Cor. 4:1-2 ).

C.      PETER TAUGHT ALL BLESSINGS AS A TRUST ( 1 Pet. 4:10-11 ).

D.      GIVING THEREFORE, IS THE DISCHARGE OF A STEWARDSHIP.

III.SOME PRINCIPLES OF NT GIVING ARE SUMMARIZED IN 2 Cor. 8,9.

A.      IT IS DESCRIBED AS A GRACE ( 8:1-7 ), NOT MANDATORY TITHING.

B.      IT IS A FELLOWSHIP ( vs. 4 ). PARTICIPATION WITH THE LORD.

C.      PROOF OF LOVE ( vs. 8-9;  1 John 3:16-18 ).

D.      A MEANS OF PROVIDING FOR EQUALITY ( 8:12-15 ) VOLUNTARY ( vs. 12 ).

E.      PURPOSED & FOREDETERMINED TO THE BEST INTEREST OF THE WORK

          ( 9:1-5 ).

IV.   FIRST PRINCIPLES OF NT GIVING FOUND ELSEWHERE.

A.      PERIODICALLY - Upon the first day of the week( 1 Cor. 16:1-2 ).

B.      PERSONALLY - Let each one of you ( 1 Cor. 16:2; Rom. 14:12 ).

C.      PROVIDENTIALLY - Lay by in store.

D.      PROPORTIONALLY - As he may prosper.

E.      PREVENTATIVE - No collection be made when I come.

F.      PURPOSEFULLY ( 2 Cor. 9:7 ).

G.      CHEERFULLY ( 2 Cor. 9:7 ).

H.      WITH LIBERALITY ( Rom. 12:8 ).

I.       CONFIDENT ( 1 Tim. 6:18-19;  Acts 20:35 ).

V.    MORE IS REQUIRED THAN JUST OUR WEALTH OF MONEY.

A.      A LIVING SACRIFICE ( Rom. 12:1 ).

          1.  The example of Paul ( Gal. 2:20 ).

          2.  The apostles ( Mat. 19:27 ).

B.      A SACRIFICE OF WILLS ( Heb. 5:8-9 ).

C.      FAITHFUL WITH WHAT THE LORD HAS ENTRUSTED TO US ( 1 Cor. 4:1-4 ).

CONCLUSION:  THE KEY TO ALL & ANY OBEDIENCE ( 2 Cor. 8:5 )