What is stewardship?
The starting point of stewardship is to recognize that God initiates stewardship. He gives us life and invites us into intimate partnership. This partnership begins with accepting Jesus Christ as Savior—experiencing the joy of Salvation. This then leads us to trust Him enough to accept Him as Lord or Owner of our lives.
What is Biblical stewardship?
The Bible tells us that only a person who has a relationship with God can truly partner with Him and worship Him with their whole life. Stewardship is acknowledgement of God’s ownership and sovereignty and also of Jesus Christ’s claim of lordship in our lives.
Is money part of stewardship?
Yes. Yet, stewardship also includes every area of life: our bodies, skills, time, environment, and work. In loving God with all of our heart, mind and soul, all of our affairs reflect who we are in relationship to who God is. Therefore, with this all-inclusive view of stewardship, Jesus is also Lord of our financial resources.
What is tithe?
Tithe is one tenth of your increase from either money or product that is returned to God. It is holy and belongs to Him, the Owner of all of our material possessions and lives (Lev. 27:30). The returning of tithes is an expression of our faithfulness to God.
Is there a difference between tithes and offerings?
Yes. Tithes are returned while offerings are given. Offerings are our response of love and gratitude to God’s blessings and goodness. In giving tithes and offerings we worship God and advance His mission to make disciples in the world.
How is the tithe distributed?
Within the Seventh-day Adventist Church tithe is received by the local congregation and sent on to the local conference/mission/field office. This is the central “storehouse” for distribution in keeping with Church Policy.
How is the tithe used?
While the distribution percentages vary somewhat in different conferences, the largest portion of the tithe is used to support the ministry of local churches through pastoral salaries, as well as evangelism and additional services provided to the local church.
Why should we tithe?
By returning one tenth of our increase to Him, we remember God is the owner of everything He has entrusted into our hands. Tithing incorporates our worship to partnership with God, support of His mission, ministry, and church. Tithing is also an expression of loyalty that connects us with God’s promises and blessings, giving us a sense of fellowship in the divine-human partnership.
What are offerings?
Offerings are our response of love responding to God’s blessings and goodness. They serve as a means of helping to further integrate God into the financial side of our lives. Recognizing God as Owner, we follow the convicting of the Holy Spirit— managing what He has placed in our hands and worshiping God by returning some of what He has placed in our hands. We give where and how the Holy Spirit convicts and empowers us to do so. We give to worship God—and we do so by supporting His Church, by advancing His mission, by helping others—but most of all by listening to Him, following where He leads, and doing what He convicts.
How should I give offerings?
Two principles should guide our offerings—as God blesses and as He guides us through His Spirit. “Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Cor. 9:7, NIV). The Macedonian churches give us an example of the way to give. “For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints. And they did not do as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us in keeping with God’s will” (2 Cor. 8:3-5, NIV).
These questions and answers have been taken from the General Conference Stewardship Ministries Department website.
