Wesley K. Willmer: What does your use of possessions demonstrate?

“Our use of possessions demonstrates materially where we are spiritually.”

Wesley K. Willmer in God & Your Stuff (Colorado Springs: NavPress, 2003) 9.

“If we view ourselves as owners, we will live with a certain set of values. If we view ourselves as stewards, we will likely live with another set of values…

Owners value taking possession of, holding title to, and having control over. And the more possessions one amasses, the more property one takes title to, and the more things one maintains control over, the more powerful an owner one becomes.

Stewards, on the other hand, value a different set of things. For instance, stewards take joy not in what they possess, but in what they have been entrusted with; not in how much they lay title to, but in what they have access to use; and not in what they control, but in what they have available at any one time to manage most effectively on the owner’s behalf and in the owner’s best interests…

Ownership is a tremendous value in the society we live in as Americans. In fact, it is part of our American dream. Interestingly, however, it’s not particularly a value for people in the Kingdom of God. Know why? Because in the Kingdom, ownership is the sole privilege of the King. It all belongs to Him.”

Denny and Leesa Bellesi in The Kingdom Assignment: What Will You Do With the Talents God has Given You? (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2001) 69-70.

“Anything that is not given is lost.”

Mother Teresa as recounted by David R. McCurry in Called to Give: Stewardship and the Christian Faith (2010) 105.

“Americans possess far more than we truly need to live. We live in a culture of gratification, where the line is blurred between what we need and what we want.”

T.A. Parker, G.L. Sperry, and D.H. Wills in Investing in God’s Business: The “How To” of Smart Christian Giving (Atlanta: National Christian Foundation, 2005) 23.

“Christians who have wealth above their basic needs ought to share it with those who have less. Doing so is an act of worship to Christ, and demonstrates trust in Him.”

Mark Vincent in A Christian View of Money: Celebrating God’s Generosity (Eugene: Wipf & Stock) 15.

“Those who are driven by fear will never be generous givers. You have to be driven by faith, for without faith it is impossible to please God.”

Ron Blue in a message entitled: “What are the Characteristics of a Generous Giver?” at the Generous Giving Conference, Phoenix, AZ, March 2001.

“Pray and ask God if he wants you to become involved in some way…when you adjust your life to God and become a kingdom person, He can involve you in His work anywhere in the world.”

Henry T. Blackaby as quoted in a letter from Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary dated August 9, 2012.

“We’ve always been really committed to teaching stewardship regularly throughout the year. People who love to give, love to hear sermons and messages on giving. People who are generous know the tremendous blessing of giving, and want to do more. For people who don’t give, we don’t mind upsetting them. We want them to rethink why they are fearful of trusting God with their finances. We simply try to confront that confusion and unbiblical way of thinking. If we convert a few more each year, that’s our goal. We’re going after their heart, and where their treasure is, is where their heart is.”

Steve Walker, pastor of Canyon Hills Community Church in Bothell, WA, in “Why your church’s revenue isn’t over the top” blogpost by John B. Savage on 1 August 2012.

You know what has happened throughout the province of Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached—how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him. Acts 10:37-38

“Jesus appears as the benefactor of the world, carrying out God’s work of salvation and sustenance. In a similar way the disciples continue the works of Jesus to heal and to minister.”

Halvor Moxnes in The Economy of the Kingdom: Social Conflict and Economic Relations in Luke’s Gospel (Eugene: Wipf & Stock, 1988) 20.

“First, we work as a means to honor Christ (Eph 6:6-7 and Col 3:23-24)…Any job that blesses others in some way is a way to glorify God…

Second, we work as a testimony to others (1 Tim 5:13-16; Titus 2:3-6, 9-10). If Christ is real, his reality in us should show especially at our place of work, both by excellence in doing our work and excellence in relationships with others.

Finally, we work in order to have something to share with others, as well as to provide for our own needs (Eph 4:28; 2 Thess 3:10-12; Titus 3:14). The New Testament simultaneously urges Christians to be generous and to work to have something to share with others, but it also takes a din view of those who would use the generosity of Christians to indulge their own laziness. The assumption is that God’s normal means of providing for people is through their own work but that in a fallen world there will also be occasions of genuine need (James 1:27; 2:14-17). For such occasions, generosity is a Christian virtue that should be evident among God’s redeemed people, but generosity is impossible unless one works and has something to share.”

John S. Hammett in A Theology for the Church, ed. Daniel L. Akin (Nashville: B&H Publishing, 2007) 366-367.