Inter-american Theological Seminary

University of the Southern Caribbean

“Live”
A Stewardship Seminar

An Assignment

Presented in Partial Fulfillment

Of the Requirements for the Course

CHMN 575: Principles of Stewardship

by

Damieon Lewis

May 2020
 Sermon 1:

“Defining Life”

Genesis 2:7

Introduction:

Today we begin a dive into the subject of Stewardship but, from the perspective of

God’s gifts. For many Christians, the idea of stewardship is limited to what God wants from us

but, in this series, I want us to consider a new paradigm for stewardship which is ‘what God

wants for us’. In this series we look at the most significant of God’s gifts -- the gift of life. God

presents us with many benefits and the Psalmist encourages us to “forget not all His benefits”

(Psalm 103:2), but I would argue that the principle gift has to be the ability to experience all

these other gifts and this is life. But how does one define life? And, what does it mean to live?

For most life is tied to the idea of time and living is simply the time between birth --

when an individual’s time begins, and death -- when the individual’s time ends. This view of life

is limiting, and does not answer for us our teleological concerns. For this message I would like

to give a very, very simple definition to the concept and call life the “ability to live”.

Body:

When God designed the world, it was for a very specific reason. He is not just building a

planet He is preparing for something, for someone particularly important. Note that in Genesis

1:3-5 He creates light, then from verses 6 -13 He sets up conditions for the presence of life and

the growth of food. In other words, God: who does not need light and does not need food, is

expecting company that would benefit from these things. It’s quite similar to the way that

parents who are expecting a new addition to their family would invest in things such as: car
seats for a baby, a crib, stroller, formula and other baby food, and in some case even build a

new room in order to accommodate this addition.

The way the creation story is written in Genesis 1, it is evident that the purpose behind

creating the world was man. In verse 26 it is written, “and God said, Let Us make man in Our

image, after Our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the

fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the

earth.” Firstly, man is made in God’s image, an idea that is presented as a “representative

figure” coming from a root word that means to cast shade.1 Secondly he is fashioned “after” or

in “accordance with” God’s “likeness”, which indicates a resemblance to God.2 Thirdly, man is

given “dominion over”, or rulership of the creation. It is this third point that has proven to be

the pain of the stewardship concept, because the idea of dominion is often burdened with talks

of responsibility and accountability. What this does is reverses the purpose of creation and

presents a man was made for the creation and not the ruler of creation. However, it is shown

that after creating man, male and female, God said to them “be fruitful, and multiply, and

replenish the earth, and subdue it”. To “replenish” means to “fill”.3 This affirms the belief that

Earth was designed to be the dwelling place of man. Man is not the world’s servant. In fact, the

idea of “subdue” is to “bring into subjection”.4 As though the world is purposed to serve man.

Finally, man offered in the story at the end of creation, He was created last and then it is

reported that God saw that “it was very good”. This is interesting because when God creates

1
Strong’s #06754, ‫ֶצלֶם‬
2
Strong’s #01823, ‫ְּדמּות‬
3
Strong’s #04390, ‫מָ לָא‬
4
Strong’s #03533, ‫כָבַ ש‬
everything else He saw that “it was good”, but after creating man He saw an additional value

not just in man but in the whole creation, as though He was now satisfied. This fact that man is

the final piece of creation and that God’s conclusion that with man in the picture “it was very

good” suggests that he, man, was the specific purpose of creation.

But, what does this have to do with life?

Genesis 2 gives us an in-depth view of what happened on that final day of creation. In

verse 7 the writer states, “And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and

breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.” The idea of life is

established twice in the verse. In the first instance the Hebrew noun indicates an animating

force.5 This force relates to the “breath” that God “breathed” into the sculpture, indicating that

the contents of that “breath” was that quickening or animating principle. The second mention

of life is written as a participial phrase, in which something is defined by its action, “a living

soul”. This indicates that the result of the breath of life was life, therefore the power of life is

living, and the purpose of life is living. Which leads us back to our definition that “Life is the

ability to live”.

More than Time

Therefore, to limit life to simple time does not do justice to its purpose. When God

creates Adam, the first man, he responds to time not to measure his life, but to note seasons

and itemize his activities. Man was blessed with conditional immortality which means that he

has no reason to measure his life. What he has in life is a framework in which to experience the

things God gave him. For him the value of his life would be the quality of his experiences and

5
Strong’s #02416, ‫ חַ י‬connected to #02421 ‫ חָ יָה‬a verb which is translated as to “revive” and to “quicken”
the satisfaction of the great purpose he was given. Some of these activities are specified in

Genesis 1 and 2.

1. Multiply and fill the earth (Genesis 1:26)

2. Have dominion over the animals (Genesis 1:26)

3. Dress and keep the Garden (Genesis 2:15)

4. Enjoy the fruits of the garden (Genesis 2:16)

5. Resist sin (Genesis 2:17)

6. Not to work alone, but respect the partnership of the woman (Genesis 2:18-25)

7. Live in communion with God, as evidenced by the fellowship between Adam and God,

and the establishment of the Sabbath (Genesis 2:1-3)

One of the most powerful witnesses of God’s goodness is that after man’s fall He did not

annihilate him, but instead gave him time and so our lives are measured by time. This is grace,

but this time is also noted as probation and so the value of our lives is determined by how we

spend time. For us exists a concept called “wasting time” and to waste time, is to waste life. In

the Spirit of Prophecy we read, “It is the duty of every Christian to acquire habits of order,

thoroughness, and dispatch”.6 We are encouraged to employ proper time management

practices and to apply order to how we live. These practices will help us best enjoy the gift of

grace that we have been given. Our ability to live gives us very special benefits, such as:

1. The first is the benefit of engaging in worship. Worship is done at the personal, familial,

and congregational levels. Time is structured and so structured timeframes would add

practicality to our worship.

6
Ellen White, Christ Object Lessons. 344
 2. The second benefit is the opportunity to engage in evangelism. Ellen White admonishes

us that “Now is our time to labor for the salvation of our fellow men”.7 This is the

activity that must take priority in our days.

3. Another benefit is to purpose to live each day better that the one before, and to live

each day as if it were our last.

4. We also have the benefit of spending time in recreation. This can be helpful to

developing the mental faculties and strengthen the family bond.

5. An added benefit is the opportunity to set intimate time with the spouse.

6. The benefit to work hard; but don’t overwork. Our labor remains unto the Lord

7. And remember the blessed benefit of the Sabbath.

Conclusion:

While our life is made of activities done in time, our lives are not limited to the passing

of time. We are called to enjoy life, for what it is – a gift from God.

7
Christ Object Lessons, 343
 Sermon 2:

“Preserving Life”

Genesis 2:15-17

Introduction:

Today we continue our journey into the subject of Stewardship but, from the

perspective of how we treat with life. We have discovered that we live in time, but we have

also discovered a definition of life which insists that life is the “ability to live”. Life is a gift from

God, let’s unpack this.

Body:

Genesis 2:7 reads, “And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and

breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.” “Life” came from

the “breath” which came from God. “Life” came from God, and so man’s life is a gift from God.

What this implies is that He (God) has the monopoly on life, however, one of the first things

God did after gifting man with life was to enlist his partnership in preserving it. In verse 17 God

said, “but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day

that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.” Another passage of Scripture that

commemorates this verse is found in Deuteronomy 30:15 which reads in the NIV8, “see, I set

before you today life and prosperity, death and destruction.” The command in Genesis 2:17

outlines the consequence of disobedience – death. Ellen White pens in Patriarchs and Prophets

chapter three “the dwellers in Eden had been placed upon probation; their happy estate could

8
New International Version
be retained only on condition of fidelity to the Creator’s law.” Deuteronomy 30:19 says, “now

choose life, that you and your children may live.”

I believe that God is calling us to partner with Him in the preservation of life:

Healthful Practices

It is interesting that the first point of self-care in Scripture was a discussion and

description of diet. God has laid out for us what is best for our bodies, Ellen White indicates

that in the universe “everything is under fixed laws, which cannot be disregarded”. 9 When

these principles of health are neglected they limit life, both in quantity and quality. Someone

once said that the best way to avoid ending up in holes is to stop digging. Perhaps it is time to

stop digging by eating clean and returning to a plant-based diet. Perhaps it is time to stop

digging by abstaining from things that bad and being moderate in those that are good. Perhaps

its time to stop digging my changing into a more active lifestyle that embraces the values of a

NEWSTART: Nutrition, Exercise, adequate Water, Sunlight, Temperance, fresh Air, Rest, and

Trust in God.

Service

In this sin riddled world, we are surrounded by injustice, and misfortune. If one must

preserve life, then one cannot stop at him/herself. The prophet Micah contemplates the

meaning of life as responding to the requirements of the One who gave it, his question was,

“What does the LORD require of you?” What a universal question and the answer reaches both

within and without the individual, “to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your

God?” (Micah 6:8). Justice and mercy are expressions to our fellowmen, a context for our

9
Patriarch’s, 52
interaction and priorities, a guide to “act” and to “love”, and a template for service. The word

justice dictates that one’s treatment of another is not based on personal preferences but Divine

law, while mercy dictates that our valuation of others be based on Divine love. Justice says that

my service at Church cannot be determined by my feelings about who is in leadership, justice

proscribes nepotism and cronyism, justice rejects racism, sexism, and classism, and justice

opposes sexual harassment, and predatory lending. For how can I live at the expense of

another? Mercy, on the other hand, seeks to lift the fallen, the broken, the weary, and the

erring. Mercy forgives the wrong doer, provides opportunity for the downtrodden, offers hope

to the mistreated, and exemplifies a new way to the vindictive.

Conclusion:

It is clear that our lives are a gift from God, and as such there is a higher purpose, and

higher calling to our lives. For some us we have chosen this idea of purpose to determine where

we work, but I wish to submit that wherever we work the call to partnership with God still

applies. This call to better our lives and the lives of others adds further context to the great

Commission. This call makes heaven even more desirable for there would be no sickness, or

injustice there. This call puts things into perspective, Jesus says to us “Inasmuch as ye have

done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me” (Matthew 25:40).

Appeal:

What are you going to do with the gifts God has given you?

How are you going to respond to His call to partnership?

I pray that your is full of purpose.

 Sermon 3:

“To Live.”

Romans 6:23

Introduction:

Today marks our final lesson in this series of stewardship. At our last message we

viewed ways to preserve life, but the central question of this seminar is what does it mean to

live? The answer to this question has become nebulous because of sin, but one must have an

answer, a philosophy or position. Our perspective of stewardship is from an epistemological

viewpoint called “the Great Controversy”, that is that there is a battle going on behind the

scenes of existence for allegiance, loyalty and worship. The philosophy of the controversy is

that on of these forces is an enemy that seeks to “steal, kill, and destroy” (John 10:10) life and

all the gifts that God has given man. Stewardship is that central theme, which connects worship

with dominion, it insists that worship is not only a program or ritual, but the way a person

responds to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. A response to the gift of life, but what does it mean to

live!

Pleasure vs Purpose

There are some who would insist that the answer could only be found in one of two

paths: pleasure or purpose. And that it is impossible to have both, for purpose is found at the
end of sacrifice, the abandonment and surrender of pleasure for a higher calling. But pleasure

can be found in purpose! Jewish Rabbi Noah Weinberg highlights 5 levels of pleasure:10

• Physical and material pleasure (1st level)

• Love and relationships (2nd level)

• Purpose and doing good (3rd level)

• Power (2nd level)

• Intimacy with God (1st level).

I find it interesting that these were found in Eden. Man experienced material pleasure because

he is given health and a home. He is given a wife, and has the fellowship of the Angels,

therefore he has love and relationships. God gave him purpose and the ability to satisfy this

purpose, he is fruitful. “Dominion” is a type of power, and man has intimacy with God, he walks

and talks with Him in the cool of the day. This is life lived. This is formula that Satan hated, this

is the reality that Satan envied, this is the truth that Satan misunderstood.

Sadly this truth is consistently overlooked today, it is why young people leave God in a

quest to find life, it is why the ambitious leave God in their quest to find fulfillment, it is why

relationships with lovers are chosen over intimacy with God. Eve is deceived into thinking that

purpose would be found in power. The serpent says to her “ye shall be as gods”, seeking to

make his burden her burden, “for thou hast said in thine heart”, it is said of Lucifer, “I will

ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will also sit upon the mount

of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I

10
“Five Levels of Pleasure”, Noah Weinberg, aish.com
(https://www.aish.com/sp/f/Five_Levels_of_Pleasure.html)
will be like the most High.” (Isaiah 14:13,14). But there can be only one God! He…Jesus alone is

worthy. He is worthy in might and there is none that can conquer Him. He is worthy in ability

for He created all that was, is, and ever will be. He is worthy in love, for when no one else could

and no one else would “Christ died for the ungodly”. The evangelist John wrote in his Gospel:

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same

was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing

made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men.” (John 1:1-4)

Adam is deceived because he deduced that to live was to be in the company of Eve,

their love and companionship were a tremendous priority for him. Ellen White documents this

terrible ordeal as a struggle in the mind of Adam as he weighed his purpose, and his intimacy

with God, against the possibility losing Eve. She writes, “Love, gratitude, loyalty to the Creator –

all were overborne by love to Eve.”11 Everything that man was given was built to contribute to

his intimacy with God. You see, man had to make a choice against God, a decision to see God in

a different light, and to question His intentions. The terror of sin is that it separates man from

his creator, and it isn’t God who pulls away. Verse 8 reads, “and they heard the voice of the

LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves

from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden.” The question I’ve asked

is why did they hide? In verse 10 Adam gives the answer, “I was afraid”. He was afraid, perhaps

he was afraid that God knew and came to execute judgement and end his life. He was afraid,

because he was naked and ashamed, which is what sin does, it makes us aware of our

nakedness and we become ashamed to come into the presence God.

11
Ellen White. Patriarchs and Prophets. 56
 Rabbi Weinberg illustrates these levels of pleasure as classes in an airplane. He calls

level one, first class the best of all the accommodations in an airline. The second level is

business class, the third is economy class, but that’s it. Traditionally airplanes only provide

three classes and so he muses that the fourth class had to be where the luggage is kept and

where animals are housed. Fifth class is a rope tied to the undercarriage of the plane. Then he

expressed that most persons spend their lives hanging on to a rope.12 I would add that most

persons spend their lives fighting to hang on to a rope. Adam almost lost everything when he

chose “life” over God. He lost his Edenic home and perfect health, he lost the peace of his

relationship with his wife and communion with the Angels. So too many lose out on life in an

attempt to have life without God.

CONCLUSION

What does it mean to live? I submit to you the words of the wise man Solomon in

Proverbs 3:6-8, “In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Be not wise in

thine own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil. It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow

to thy bones.” It’s in the original model God had for man. Intimacy with God. What does Jesus

say about this, “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things

shall be added unto you.” (Matthew 6:33). God wants you to live, He wants you to thrive, He

wants you to be happy.

Appeal

Don’t let the desires of this world steal your opportunity to live. Don’t spend the rest of

your life hanging on to a rope when you can have first class.

12
Weinberg, “The Five Levels of Pleasure”