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Study 18 of 25

Stewardship

Stewardship is the joyful fruit of belonging wholly to Christ, not a transaction to secure His favor.

Hands-free narration of this study — good for the car.

Synopsis

Sequeira begins with the widow's two mites to show that God measures giving not by amount but by the completeness of dependence it reveals. He roots stewardship in the gospel formula 'not I, but Christ,' explaining that believers, redeemed at the cross from Satan's dominion, now belong entirely to Christ — body, time, abilities, and possessions — so that stewardship is simply a confession of that belonging, never a payment toward salvation. Examining Malachi 3, he shows the real charge against Israel was not failure to tithe but turning from God-dependence to self-dependence; withheld tithes were merely a symptom. He warns against reducing God's promised blessing to material wealth, insisting the true blessing is already given in Christ Himself. Money can become an idol replacing Christ, so Christian stewardship is fundamentally a faith issue, testifying to deliverance from the self-centeredness that has ruled humanity since the Fall.

Key points

  • The widow's two mites teach that God measures giving by the wholeness of trust it expresses, not the amount given.
  • Because believers are 'bought at a price,' stewardship is a confession of belonging to Christ, never a payment toward salvation.
  • In Malachi, withheld tithes were a symptom of Israel's deeper turning from God-dependence to self-dependence, not the root problem itself.
  • The true blessing God pours out is the spiritual riches given already in Christ, not primarily material wealth.

Key texts

  • Mark 12:41-44
  • 1 Corinthians 6:19-20
  • Malachi 3:6-10

From the book

Chapter 18 · Belief 21 · Read this chapter

  • “I had to remind her that, in giving her His one and only Son, Jesus Christ, God had already opened the windows of heaven and had blessed her more than she could imagine.” (ch. 18)
  • “Stewardship is simply a confession of faith that one belongs to Christ, along with everything one possesses.” (ch. 18)
  • “The Jews of Malachi's day have turned from God-dependence to self-dependence, and their failure to pay tithes and give offerings is but an outward evidence of the inner reality. These are symptoms, not causes, of their real problem.” (ch. 18)

Put it into practice

  • Give tithes and offerings as a grateful confession of belonging to Christ, not as payment for His favor.
  • Examine whether any area of money, time, or ability has quietly become an idol competing with Christ.
  • When facing financial disappointment, remember your greatest blessing — Christ Himself — is already given.
  • Practice generosity as evidence of deliverance from self-centeredness, following Christ's self-emptying love.
  1. Comprehension

    1. Why did Jesus say the poor widow put more into the treasury than all the rich givers, according to Sequeira's exposition of Mark 12?

  2. Scripture

    2. How does 1 Corinthians 6:20 and 7:23 ('you were bought at a price') define the true meaning of Christian stewardship?

  3. Doctrinal Clarity

    3. According to Sequeira, what was the real problem God addressed in Malachi 3, beyond withheld tithes?

  4. Contrast

    4. Contrast a legalistic view of tithing with the gospel view Sequeira presents.

  5. Comprehension

    5. How does Sequeira answer the church member who complained that her finances worsened despite faithful tithing?

  6. Doctrinal Clarity

    6. What warning does Sequeira give about money's potential to replace Christ?

  7. Doctrinal Clarity

    7. How does Sequeira connect Christian stewardship to deliverance from selfishness?

  8. Application

    8. Where in your use of time, money, or abilities are you still functioning as owner rather than steward? What single change would best reflect 'not I, but Christ' this month?