Butch Ewing
Butch Ewing is a Full Stack Developer, Bass Player, Entrepreneur, Public Figure, Cancer Survivor, Ordained Minister, Comedian, and Dork.
Do you think Christians give too much or too little thought to our responsibility to steward creation? What about our responsibility to the poor?
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In this session, we will look at what the Bible says about our responsibility toward all of God’s creation. God’s love extends to what He has created and whom He has created. Our care for the planet is patterned after God’s covenant with the earth after the flood. Likewise, the gospel forms us into the kind of people who are generous with our possessions. In giving to the needy, we show the love of Christ who gave up everything for our salvation.
Christian Care
Concern for Others and the World
Humans are not supreme rulers…Their dominion is a delegated authority: They are representatives of the Supreme Ruler, called to reflect His holy and loving care for creation.–Nancy Pearcey
Poverty alleviation is the ministry of reconciliation: moving people closer to glorifying God by living in right relationship with God, with self, with others, and with the rest of creation.–Steve Corbett and Brian Fikkert
1. God calls us to take care of His creation.
(Gen. 9:8-17)
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How does God’s plan of redemption affect the way we view things such as littering, recycling, endangered species, and the treatment of animals? How does God’s care and compassion impact our view of these issues?
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Why do you think some Christians are uncomfortable with the idea of creation care? Why must we be careful not to go along with those who would deify or worship the earth?
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Though God’s creation is affected by the fall, and though humans sometimes wrongly love God’s creation more than they love the Creator himself, his creation remains good precisely because it is his creation.–Bruce Riley Ashford
Redemption covers all aspects of creation, and the end of time will not signal an end to the creation but the beginning of a new heaven and a new earth: God will make all things new (Rev. 21:5).–Charles Colson (1931-2012)
God’s plan is not to abandon this world, the world which he said was ‘very good.’ Rather, he intends to remake it. And when he does, he will raise all his people to new bodily life to live in it.–N. T. Wright
2. God calls us to manage possessions according to kingdom priorities.
(Matt. 6:19-21,24)
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What are some signs that our hearts have been captured by our possessions? In what ways does the notion of “managing” rather than “owning” our possessions impact our view of them?
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In what ways can we demonstrate a heart for God’s mission? What does managing what God has entrusted to us look like when we are focused on His kingdom?
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Money never stays with me. It would burn me if it did. I threw it out of my hands as soon as possible, lest it should find its way into my heart.–John Wesley (1703-1791)
There’s a great deal of giving that can take place even when I retain ownership—as long as I remind myself that God is the true owner, and I’m only his asset manager.–Randy Alcorn
It is grace that justifies, grace that glorifies, and grace that sanctifies. The attitudinal journey from owner to manager is part of the sanctification process and is smothered in the undeserved goodness of God. The further step of giving as Jesus and Paul commend is also empowered by God’s grace. Missional giving is not birthed from my own ‘can do’ attitude, but is a humble participation in God’s mission.–Marty Duren
3. God calls us to use our possessions to care for others.
(2 Cor. 8:1-4)
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Have you experienced generosity from someone less fortunate than yourself? How did that impact you? What is the difference between giving joyfully or begrudgingly? How does the gospel impact our motivation for giving?
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Can you think of a time you sacrificed something valuable in order to help the poor? What about a time you neglected to help? Why is it important to demonstrate the power of the gospel through our care for others?
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Biblical Christianity is Truth concerning total reality—and the intellectual holding of that total Truth and then living in the light of that Truth.–Francis Schaeffer (1912-1984)
He brought it from nothing in the past, and He also keeps it from returning to nothing in the present. In other words, God is both the beginning and conserving Cause of all that exists…He was operative in the generating of the world, and ever since He has been operative in governing it.–Norman Geisler
Conclusion
Colossians 1:15-20 teaches us the centrality of Jesus the Messiah to the gospel. Everything was made by Him and for Him, everything is held together in Him, and He will ultimately reconcile everything.
The gospel is more than just information. It is good news. It is a story. It is the story of a God who loves the work of His hands and has provided everything needed to redeem and restore it. When we care for creation, manage possessions wisely, and demonstrate care and concern for others, we are mirroring the heart of God who loves us and loves His world.
No Class
Men's Retreat
Next Week
Christian Care: Concern for Others and the World
By Butch Ewing
Christian Care: Concern for Others and the World
In this session, we will look at what the Bible says about our responsibility toward all of God’s creation. God’s love extends to what He has created and whom He has created. Our care for the planet is patterned after God’s covenant with the earth after the flood. Likewise, the gospel forms us into the kind of people who are generous with our possessions. In giving to the needy, we show the love of Christ who gave up everything for our salvation.
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