God: "I looked for someone to take a stand for me, and stand in the gap" (Ezekiel 22:30)
No other religion has ever claimed that its historical founder is the one and only supreme deity. Nor has any other religion ever dared to suggest that the one true God loves us enough to die for us. This is the glory and the beauty of Christianity. Because God is just, there had to be a payment for sin. Because God is love, He was willing to make the payment in the Person of His own Son.
Summary of Principles for Christian Stewardship: 1. Giving is to be in proportion to wealth - 1 Cor. 16:2; 2 Cor. 8:3, 11, 12; 9:8-11 (precisely what percentage that might be is never stated by Paul). 2. Giving is to be regarded as a privilege; indeed, it is an act of worship and praise - 2 Cor. 8:4; Phil. 4:15-18. 3. Giving is to be voluntary, not forced - 2 Cor. 8:3,11-12; 9:5,7. 4. Giving is to be preceded by the dedication of oneself to the Lord's work in whatever capacity possible - 2 Cor. 8:5. 5. Giving is to be characterized by a spirit of reciprocity - 2 Cor. 8:13-15. 6. The administration of Christian giving should take into consideration the principles [of integrity] that governed Paul's approach to the collection [he assembled] - 2 Cor. 8:16-24. 7. Giving is to be characterized by forethought and prayer - 2 Cor. 9:7. 8. Giving must never be characterized by sorrow over money lost or by covetousness - 2 Cor. 9:5, 7. 9. Giving should always be cheerful and joyous - 2 Cor. 9:7. 10. Giving should not be undertaken with a view to personal enrichment; rather, one should give with the expectation that God will supply the giver with abundance for additional giving - 2 Cor. 9:8-11. 11. All giving is to be understood as finding its source, power, and pattern in the grace of God in Christ - 2 Cor. 8:1,9; 9:14-15.
