Loving Neighbor Concerning His Possessions
Minister: | Rev. Ronald Van Overloop |
Date: | 10/6/2019 AM |
Text: | I Timothy 6; Lord's Day 42 |
Psalters: | 285, 35, 405, 57 |
- The idea.
- The sixth commandment reveals God as the Owner of all, Who distributes as He will, and Who demands an accounting.
- God is the sole Proprietor of all things (Deut. 10:14; Ps. 24:1,2; 50:11,12).
- These truths make man a steward, accountable to God for the care of that which God puts under him for a while.
- God created man as His friend and servant, who was given dominion over creation to replenish and subdue it (Gen. 1:28).
- Sin made man a thief, claiming creation for his purposes, locking out God, either selfishly or making man serve the creation.
- In salvation God restored to the redeemed the ability to be proper stewards.
- Four important conclusions.
- God identifies as stealing the violation of the relationship He has given to our possessions.
- First, we steal from God.
- We steal from God when we refuse to acknowledge ourselves to be but stewards, claiming things as our own or for us.
- We steal from God by not giving first to the causes of His kingdom (Malachi 3:8-10).
- We steal from God when we misuse our abilities and our time.
- We steal from our neighbor when we take advantage of him so he has a loss.
- First, we steal from God.
- The importance of our showing our gratitude by keeping this command.
- Follow the example of Jesus Who was/is the perfect steward, fulling all the obligations and duties God gave Him to do.
- Only those united to Christ by faith can live by faith as true stewards.
- To help us avoid the sin of stealing there are four things we must consider.