“In the beginning God...” Presented by Larry R Evans, D.Min. [email protected] Associate...

“In the beginning God . . .”

Presented byLarry R Evans, D.Min.

[email protected] Associate Stewardship Director,

General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists

Biblical Foundationsfor the Biblical

Steward

1. What are the two names for God in Genesis 1 and 2?

2. Stewardship is another word for money management. True or False?

Quiz

Quiz

3. The first question a biblical steward asks is “What shall we do?” True or False?

4. Genesis 1 is primarily a scientific account of

what happened at the beginning of this world? True or False?

5.5.God is the owner. We are not. God is the owner. We are not. True or False?True or False?

6.6.There are limits to what a There are limits to what a steward should do even if they steward should do even if they do it in the name of God. do it in the name of God. True True or False?or False?

5.5.God is the owner. We are not. God is the owner. We are not. True or False?True or False?

6.6.There are limits to what a There are limits to what a steward should do even if they steward should do even if they do it in the name of God. do it in the name of God. True True or False?or False?

Quiz, contd.

.7.7. According to the first four According to the first four

chapters of Genesis, what are chapters of Genesis, what are the two questions that every the two questions that every steward must answersteward must answer??

8.8. If we are doing it for the right If we are doing it for the right reason, we should try to control reason, we should try to control the conclusions drawn by others. the conclusions drawn by others. True or False?True or False?

9. A person is not a steward if he 9. A person is not a steward if he does not believe in God. does not believe in God. True or True or False?False?

7.7. According to the first four According to the first four chapters of Genesis, what are chapters of Genesis, what are the two questions that every the two questions that every steward must answersteward must answer??

8.8. If we are doing it for the right If we are doing it for the right reason, we should try to control reason, we should try to control the conclusions drawn by others. the conclusions drawn by others. True or False?True or False?

9. A person is not a steward if he 9. A person is not a steward if he does not believe in God. does not believe in God. True or True or False?False?

Quiz, contd.

•Making Sense of the World– When we try to make sense of things

that happen to us we attach the incidents to a story line. Stories give meaning to special truths that we want to have remembered.

– The incident on the plane.

The Power of a Story

•A biblical worldview helps make sense of the chaotic events happening all around us.

•And to do that we need to start at the very beginning--with God’s story.

Stewardship as Part of a Story

•#1 God has a plan.

(He Created a perfect world. He created a world and He created man in His image. From the very beginning God gave every evidence why He could be trusted.)

God’s 4-Part Story

•# 2 The Fall—Man sinned.

[Interference with God’s original plan but the plan has not been aborted.]


•#3 Redemption – God provides a solution.

[God’s original plan made possible again.]


•#4 Restoration. Restoration of God’s original plan.

God’s 4 Part Story

•#1. Stewardship cannot be confined to an offering plate. It cannot be separated from God’s larger plan.

Stewardship as Part of God’s Story

•#2 Stewardship begins with the relationship between man and his Creator.


•#3. God’s story proposes a solution – something that will bring life back into proper balance and Stewardship is part of that story.


• There are at least 6 ways our stewardship is to be expressed:

1. Time/Living Our Life (1 Peter 1:17);

2. Talents (Matt. 25:14-29);

3. Health (1 Cor. 3:16,17);

4. Money/possessions (Luke 19:23);

5. Influence (Rom. 14:21)

6. and as we relate to our Concerns (Matt 6:33).”


•Biblical stewardship is about a total life commitment.

•Stewardship can be summarized as: ALL of me in response to ALL of God

What Is Stewardship?

•Biblical stewardship is about a relationship of trust that develops between a person and his/her Creator.

•The book of Genesis reminds us that God is the owner. We are servants or managers of what is God’s.

Introduction

• “While “our” story begins in Genesis it doesn’t end there.

Introduction

•1. Creation

•2. The Fall

•3. Redemption

•4. Restoration

God’s Full Story & the Story of Stewardship Must Include the

“Bookends”

• To understand biblical stewardship we do not begin by asking:

“Who are we?” and “What shall we do?”

But rather, we begin by asking, “Who is God?” and “What has He

done?”

God

The Story of Stewardship Begins with God – Not with Us

• What did you see in the picture?

• Our own story may seem small but it is the story of God’s love for us and that is never small.

God’s Story Told By Us

Stewardship Begins With God

•We begin “God’s story” in the book of Genesis and do so with the names used for Him.

•“In the beginning God . . .” Genesis 1:1

God

•Elohim – Genesis 1 – The Bible begins with the words: “In the beginning God (Elohim). (Gn 1:1)

• The Mighty-Majestic, All-Powerful-One.

Hebrew Names for God in Genesis 1

& 2

•Yahweh (YHWH) – expresses the idea of God’s closeness to humans; the covenant God or Promise-Keeper.

•“When the LORD (Yahweh) God made the earth and the heavens” (Gn 2:4)

Hebrew Names for God in Genesis 1 &

2

• YAHWEH is the One who has always existed (Ex 3:14)who is present, accessible and the One who is near to those who call on Him for deliverance (Ps 107:13, forgiveness (Ps 25:11) and guidance (Ps. 31:3)

Hebrew Names for God in Genesis 1

& 2

•God is love. But love is not God although some have made love to be their god.

•There is a human tendency to use the things God has made and turn them into substitute gods.

God

• Genesis 1 is a call to a worship of praise of God for whom He is and for what He has done.

• Genesis 1 is an invitation to honor God.

• He is the Owner of all that He has created as reflected in the message of the Sabbath.

Genesis 1

•The Creation account, by calling attention to God as Elohim and Yahweh, provides the basis for trust and confidence. The basis for praise!

Genesis 1

•Genesis 1 is like a praise service . . .over and over the writer exclaims the creation was “good” and then he enthusiastically says, “It was very good!”

• Genesis 1 is a liturgy of praise.

•Creation is the foundation for the gospel and for our stewardship.

Genesis 1

•Genesis 1 portrays God as:

•The owner of His own creation. (Gen. 1: 26 -29)

•The One who gives. (Gen. 1:29)

•The One to whom we are ultimately accountable. (Gen. 1:26; 2:15)

Genesis 1

Genesis 2The Re-Introduction of God

a. This time God is introduced theologically as Yahweh, “Lord God ” – the Promise-Keeping God. The One who has a “personal” interest in all of His creations. There is no room in Genesis for a deistic God.

Genesis 2Reintroduces God

God

Man

God

Man

b. Throughout Scripture this term, Yahweh, describes God as being relational -- not just powerful.


•c. God shares His responsibilities with Adam and Eve (Gen. 2:15-17)

• and in doing so He sets boundaries.


• The Freedom in Dependence

The Tree of Life

The Tree of Knowledge of Good & Evil

• The Freedom in Dependence

The Sabbath

1. The Sabbath reveals that God retains the title to the world.

2. The Sabbath reveals that relationship with God comes first.

3. The Sabbath reveals that God is particular and must be.

4. The Sabbath reveals that restoration is part of God’s plan for man and the earth.

The Sabbath

At the beginning of the world: “In the beginning God . . .”

(Gen. 1:1)

After the exodus:“I am the LORD your God . . .” (Deut. 5:6)

Genesis 3The Drama Begins

Gen. 3 introduces us to the signs of a broken trust

relationship between God and man.

This strikes at the very heart of biblical stewardship.

Genesis 1 and 2 set the stage for the significance of Satan’s deceitful

actions in Genesis 3.

“Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the

LORD God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?”

(Gen. 3:1)

Ironically the Fall takes place in the context of a Garden filled with all the needed provisions

provided by God.

God Man

Man Assumes Role of Owner & Focuses on Self-

Authority & Possessions

Man

Sin Moves God Out of the

Center of Life

god

GodMan

Sin displaces God from being the focal point of

relationships and moves man to the center. With this move, “self” becomes

primary and not praise for what God has provided. The full meaning of life cannot be

experienced and the implications are not confined

to man.

By their distrust displayed in this “simple” act, all relationships came to be impacted. Relationships

*with God, *with one another

and*with nature.

•Eve’s fall redefined the relationship:

• 1.) Redefines what is good.

(God had said what was good to eat and what was not.)

3 Early Signs of the Broken Relationship


• 2.) Redefines how to use God’s provisions.

(Determined was could be used for food.)



• 3.) Redefines source of wisdom and counsel. (God’s word was no longer considered sufficient wisdom and

counsel was sought outside that relationship.)


•The worldview of Adam and Eve becomes the same worldview that led to war in heaven.

•It would lead to multiple wars on earth.

A New Point of Reference

Changes Everything

•Personal Value Diminished

•Lost: “What brings a person value, significance, and hope is not what he does but “with whom” he does it.” (Skye Jethani)

•Regained: The true biblical steward does what he does because he works “with” God.

Values Are Changed

• After the Fall God asks 2 questions that have been asked in some fashion ever since.

• These questions are still relevant today!

• They are at the heart of our own personal identity and purpose.

God Comes Searching

The First Question

•The first question is asked of Adam and Eve after they disobeyed God’s clear instructions:

•“Where are you?” (Gen. 3:9)

•Adam and Eve attempted to hide from God.

•Ultimately God was asking, “Are you for Me or against Me?” Do you trust Me?

Genesis 3 & 4

•The first question was to Adam & Eve:

•“Where are you?” (Gen. 3:8,9)

•1. God knew the answer but did they?

•2. Their answers were evasive!

•3. God’s question was a sign of grace and a call for repentance.

Two Questions(Adam & Eve)

•4. With the background of Genesis 1 & 2 the real question was:

Do you trust Me?

God’s First Question(Adam & Eve)

•After Cain’s offering was not accepted God asked a second question. It is also a question of stewardship.

God’s Second Question

(Cain)

•9 Then the LORD said to Cain, "Where is your brother Abel?“

•"I don't know," he replied. "Am I my brother's keeper?" (See Gen. 4:6-9, NIV)

God’s Second Question(Cain)

•Once again, God knew the answer and once again it was an indication of God’s grace knocking at the door.

• He was giving Cain an opportunity to confess and but Cain evaded his own responsibility.


•Cain, like his parents, evaded the opportunity to confess his wrong.

• However, does this mean he should have been “keeping” his brother?


•What do you think? Had Cain been acting like a “keeper”? Or like a “brother”? Is there a difference?


• The word keeper is used only once in this passage (4:1-11) and that is when Cain used it. (v.9)

• However, 7 times the word “brother” is used. It is Cain, not God, inserts the word “keeper.”

• Biblically the word “keeper” carries with it control and force – for example prisoners and bees have keepers.

•God’s Second Question(Cain)

• The point: Only the Owner has the authority to be the “keeper” of other men. Only He has the authority to dictate and even then, when He does, it comes out of mercy.

• We have been commissioned to be “brothers” and care responsibly for them. It’s only how we go about it that is questioned and Cain knew that!


•In Gen. 1:28 Adam and Eve were to have dominion or “rule over” the animals as an expression of being in the image of God.

•“He [Adam] was placed, as God’s representative, over the lower orders of being.” Patriarchs and Prophets, p.45.

The Mark of Cain

•In Genesis this authority of Adam and Eve was limited to nature. They were to be stewards of the natural world as God’s stewards.

The Mark of Cain

•Cain failed because he was not acting like a brother.

•He failed because tried to control by force what he did not like about his brother.

•He acted like a “keeper” and not a “brother.”

The Mark of Cain

•Do you see any similarities with the story of the Good Samaritan? (Lk 10:25-37; Matt 22:36-40)?

•Who is the “neighbor” in that story? Is there a “brother” in the story? A “keeper”? (Priest, Levite and Samaritan)


• Jesus uses “neighbor” in the story of “the good Samaritan” to describe how we are to relate to others. (Lk 10:25-37; see also Matt 22:36-40).

The Mark of Cain

•Notice the insightful comment by Ellen White:

•“Any man, be he minister or layman, who seeks to compel or control the reason of any other man, becomes an agent of Satan, to do his work, and in the sight of the heavenly universe he bears , mark of Cain.” (MS 29, 1911). SDA Bible Commentary, (Gen 4:15) 7A, p.19.

The Mark of Cain

•Stewards DO have a responsibility of caring for others but not coercing their wills to comply.

Brother or Keeper?

December 18, 2008

• So what have we learned to far?• The creation story emphasizes “who”

God is and, therefore, who “we” are.• Being created in God’s image

explains the kind of relationship God wants with us.

• Sin attempted to change that relationship. It has also changed our relationship with others.

The Story in Summary

4.God has been moved to the sidelines in many relationships.

5.True stewardship reverses what sin has done. It puts God back into the center.

6.An understanding of our role as God’s stewards was at stake.

The Story in Summary

•Our identity, our life’s purpose, our personal fulfillment are found in the first four words of Scripture: “In the beginning God . . . “

One Timeless Truth Says It All

• Stewardship begins and ends with the beginning words of Scripture:• “In the beginning God .

. . “

“In the beginning god”

1. What are the two names for God in Genesis 1 and 2.

[Elohim & Yahweh]2. Stewardship is another word for money management.

[False]

Quiz

3. The first question a biblical steward asks is “What shall we do?” [False]

4. Genesis 1 is primarily a scientific account of what happened at the beginning of this world? [False?]

5.5. God is the owner. We are God is the owner. We are not.not.[True][True]

There are limits to what a There are limits to what a steward should do if they steward should do if they do it in the name of God. do it in the name of God. [True] [True]

5.5. God is the owner. We are God is the owner. We are not.not.[True][True]

There are limits to what a There are limits to what a steward should do if they steward should do if they do it in the name of God. do it in the name of God. [True] [True]

Quiz, contd.

.

6. There are limits to what a 6. There are limits to what a steward should do even if steward should do even if they do it in the name of they do it in the name of God. God. True or False?True or False?[True][True]

6. There are limits to what a 6. There are limits to what a steward should do even if steward should do even if they do it in the name of they do it in the name of God. God. True or False?True or False?[True][True]

Quiz, contd.

.7. According to the first four 7. According to the first four chapters of Genesis, what are the chapters of Genesis, what are the two questions that every steward two questions that every steward must answermust answer??

[Where are you? & Where is [Where are you? & Where is your your brother?]brother?]8 . If we are doing it for the right 8 . If we are doing it for the right reason, we should try to control reason, we should try to control the conclusions drawn by others. the conclusions drawn by others.

[False][False]

7. According to the first four 7. According to the first four chapters of Genesis, what are the chapters of Genesis, what are the two questions that every steward two questions that every steward must answermust answer??

[Where are you? & Where is [Where are you? & Where is your your brother?]brother?]8 . If we are doing it for the right 8 . If we are doing it for the right reason, we should try to control reason, we should try to control the conclusions drawn by others. the conclusions drawn by others.

[False][False]

Quiz, contd.

.

9. A person is not a steward if 9. A person is not a steward if he does not believe in God. he does not believe in God. [False][False]

9. A person is not a steward if 9. A person is not a steward if he does not believe in God. he does not believe in God. [False][False]

Quiz, contd.

The foundation for all stewardship begins with:

“In the beginning God. . .”

“In the beginning God...” Presented by Larry R Evans, D.Min. [email protected] Associate...

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