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Part of our responsibility as "Stewards" (I Corinthians 4:2) is to be faithful with the financial assets that the Lord has allowed us to use. Normally, the more secure an instrument is, the lower the return; but to get a higher yield, the trade-off is usually higher risk. One privilege available to us that enables us to increase return and maintain security is the Charitable Gift Annuity. Fortunately we live in a country that encourages charitable giving.
This flexible Gift Annuity is very attractive:
- A guaranteed, nonfluctuating income for life.
- Usually, a greater return than is currently available on savings or securities.
- Substantial income tax savings.
- Possible savings on capital gains taxes and gift and estate taxes.
- The option of having another beneficiary receive the annuity for life as your survivor.
- The pleasure of knowing that your gift will ultimately serve and benefit the Lord's Kingdom.
Here's a recent example: a retired couple (he is 78 and she is 75) had 0,000 in a low interest security. By purchasing a two-life Gift Annuity with ICR, they will receive ,800 annually (considerably more than current interest rates) for the remainder of both of their lives. ,350 of that is tax free each year, and they qualify for a ,856 charitable deduction for 2002. The expected dollar payout to the couple will likely exceed the 0,000—not including savings from the tax deduction and the on-going tax free income portion.
They are pleased with the increase in income and delighted that they can assist ICR in the process. This way we are both able to "serve one another" as required by the Lord (Galatians 5:13).
[body_edit] =>Part of our responsibility as "Stewards" (I Corinthians 4:2) is to be faithful with the financial assets that the Lord has allowed us to use. Normally, the more secure an instrument is, the lower the return; but to get a higher yield, the trade-off is usually higher risk. One privilege available to us that enables us to increase return and maintain security is the Charitable Gift Annuity. Fortunately we live in a country that encourages charitable giving.
This flexible Gift Annuity is very attractive:
- A guaranteed, nonfluctuating income for life.
- Usually, a greater return than is currently available on savings or securities.
- Substantial income tax savings.
- Possible savings on capital gains taxes and gift and estate taxes.
- The option of having another beneficiary receive the annuity for life as your survivor.
- The pleasure of knowing that your gift will ultimately serve and benefit the Lord's Kingdom.
Here's a recent example: a retired couple (he is 78 and she is 75) had $150,000 in a low interest security. By purchasing a two-life Gift Annuity with ICR, they will receive $10,800 annually (considerably more than current interest rates) for the remainder of both of their lives. $6,350 of that is tax free each year, and they qualify for a $52,856 charitable deduction for 2002. The expected dollar payout to the couple will likely exceed the $150,000—not including savings from the tax deduction and the on-going tax free income portion.
They are pleased with the increase in income and delighted that they can assist ICR in the process. This way we are both able to "serve one another" as required by the Lord (Galatians 5:13).
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Since God is our "Father," and we are His "servants," it is hardly a stretch to understand that our "stewardship" responsibilities are to be conducted with the same dedication exemplified by the young Jesus. The New Covenant era continues the tributary and offering practice begun long before Moses—still focused on the eternal values of the souls of men and the word of God. The temporal property and wealth (tithes and offerings) are "rendered" to God, who through His churches and agencies, produces eternal wealth by the work of the Holy Spirit.
Classic Biblical Examples of Stewardship
Exodus 35—the Tabernacle building project
They were recently freed slaves under many generations of poverty and want.
They had been enriched by their slave owners with gold and property.
They all gave willingly, freely, until there was more than enough.
I Chronicles 28 and 29—the Temple fundraising project under
King DavidThey gave vast amounts of wealth and building materials.
The leaders and rulers gave huge riches.
The rest gave as they were able.
They did not build—their children did—they gave to the vision.
Consider these questions.
How am I doing managing my "Father's business"?
How well have I related to God in terms of manager and owner?
Do I have possessions that I try to exclude from God's ownership?
Do I feel freedom in my role as God's steward?
Have I abused the financial freedom that God has given me?
Do I sense the urgency of "my Father's business" as young Jesus did?
How is my "eternal bank account" doing?
What is my "risk tolerance" for eternal investments?
Could I "retire" on what I have given to the Lord's work?
[body_edit] =>Since God is our "Father," and we are His "servants," it is hardly a stretch to understand that our "stewardship" responsibilities are to be conducted with the same dedication exemplified by the young Jesus. The New Covenant era continues the tributary and offering practice begun long before Moses—still focused on the eternal values of the souls of men and the word of God. The temporal property and wealth (tithes and offerings) are "rendered" to God, who through His churches and agencies, produces eternal wealth by the work of the Holy Spirit.
Classic Biblical Examples of Stewardship
Exodus 35—the Tabernacle building project
They were recently freed slaves under many generations of poverty and want.
They had been enriched by their slave owners with gold and property.
They all gave willingly, freely, until there was more than enough.
I Chronicles 28 and 29—the Temple fundraising project under
King DavidThey gave vast amounts of wealth and building materials.
The leaders and rulers gave huge riches.
The rest gave as they were able.
They did not build—their children did—they gave to the vision.
Consider these questions.
How am I doing managing my "Father's business"?
How well have I related to God in terms of manager and owner?
Do I have possessions that I try to exclude from God's ownership?
Do I feel freedom in my role as God's steward?
Have I abused the financial freedom that God has given me?
Do I sense the urgency of "my Father's business" as young Jesus did?
How is my "eternal bank account" doing?
What is my "risk tolerance" for eternal investments?
Could I "retire" on what I have given to the Lord's work?
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My years at ICR have been punctuated by numerous creation/evolution debates, but actually my first such debate came as a sophomore in high school. When the issue came up, I was selected to "debate" the class evolutionist.
My opponent began her presentation by defining evolution as simply "change over time." She documented many examples of change in non-living things as well as plants and animals. Even people change over time. We are, on average, taller than our ancestors just a few generations ago. As a population certainly we age. No one could dispute that these changes have occurred, thus she had "proven" that evolution had occurred.
And therein lies the crux of the matter. You simply must define terms carefully. Evolution in the meaningful sense implies big changes, like a fish turning into a person. Has this happened? Do the small changes we observe over time add up to the big changes needed by evolution? Did a single-celled organism become a marine invertebrate, then a fish, then an amphibian, then a reptile, then a mammal, then an ape-like ancestor then a person? These truly big changes must have occurred if evolution really accounts for all of life.
It's instructive to try to imagine what must happen to turn a cell into an invertebrate, or a worm into a fish, or a fish into an amphibian, etc. List the structural changes needed. A cell doesn't have the genes needed to produce even a simple nodal chord, nor does a fish have the genes to produce legs. This extra genetic information must be added from some external source, but science knows of no such source. Mutations do produce novel genetic changes, but never has a mutation been known to add coded information to an already complex DNA system. On the contrary, it usually and easily causes a deterioration of the information present in the DNA. For random mutations to add the information for a leg where there is none is asking a lot, in fact, asking too much. Never has a helpful mutation been observed, yet trillions are needed.
Listing all the differences between a fish and an amphibian, or a reptile and a bird, or reptile and mammal helps to clarify the immensity of evolution's task. Not only are there skeletal changes, but think of the totally new organs needed, different reproductive systems, altered respiratory and cardiovascular make-up, thermal schemes and on and on.
Step back and take a look at the big picture. Evolution, as a concept of everything, is worse than non-science, it is nonsense. The highly complex information laden DNA code cannot yet even be read by today's genomists. How could it have written itself by chance mutation or genetic recombination. Surely some things simply cannot be.
When a vote was taken as to who won the debate, I came out on top 32-1. The lone vote for evolution was an exchange student from Marxist China, and even he admitted I had the better arguments. He just didn't dare vote against the party line.
Maybe that's the key. It takes a prior, gut-level commitment to evolution to continue to favor it in spite of the weight of evidence to the contrary.
[body_edit] =>
My years at ICR have been punctuated by numerous creation/evolution debates, but actually my first such debate came as a sophomore in high school. When the issue came up, I was selected to "debate" the class evolutionist.
My opponent began her presentation by defining evolution as simply "change over time." She documented many examples of change in non-living things as well as plants and animals. Even people change over time. We are, on average, taller than our ancestors just a few generations ago. As a population certainly we age. No one could dispute that these changes have occurred, thus she had "proven" that evolution had occurred.
And therein lies the crux of the matter. You simply must define terms carefully. Evolution in the meaningful sense implies big changes, like a fish turning into a person. Has this happened? Do the small changes we observe over time add up to the big changes needed by evolution? Did a single-celled organism become a marine invertebrate, then a fish, then an amphibian, then a reptile, then a mammal, then an ape-like ancestor then a person? These truly big changes must have occurred if evolution really accounts for all of life.
It's instructive to try to imagine what must happen to turn a cell into an invertebrate, or a worm into a fish, or a fish into an amphibian, etc. List the structural changes needed. A cell doesn't have the genes needed to produce even a simple nodal chord, nor does a fish have the genes to produce legs. This extra genetic information must be added from some external source, but science knows of no such source. Mutations do produce novel genetic changes, but never has a mutation been known to add coded information to an already complex DNA system. On the contrary, it usually and easily causes a deterioration of the information present in the DNA. For random mutations to add the information for a leg where there is none is asking a lot, in fact, asking too much. Never has a helpful mutation been observed, yet trillions are needed.
Listing all the differences between a fish and an amphibian, or a reptile and a bird, or reptile and mammal helps to clarify the immensity of evolution's task. Not only are there skeletal changes, but think of the totally new organs needed, different reproductive systems, altered respiratory and cardiovascular make-up, thermal schemes and on and on.
Step back and take a look at the big picture. Evolution, as a concept of everything, is worse than non-science, it is nonsense. The highly complex information laden DNA code cannot yet even be read by today's genomists. How could it have written itself by chance mutation or genetic recombination. Surely some things simply cannot be.
When a vote was taken as to who won the debate, I came out on top 32-1. The lone vote for evolution was an exchange student from Marxist China, and even he admitted I had the better arguments. He just didn't dare vote against the party line.
Maybe that's the key. It takes a prior, gut-level commitment to evolution to continue to favor it in spite of the weight of evidence to the contrary.
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Every culture in the world understands their civil responsibility to those in higher authority. What has escaped most people—even many Christians, is that the HIGHEST authority is the Creator and Owner of all things. That is why Jesus Christ told us to do both: give to "Caesar" what belonged to him and to God what belonged to Him.
God deserves, and we are responsible to give HONOR to Him.
Several forms of "honor" are spoken of in the Scriptures: trust, love, obedience, etc., but we must not neglect to "honor the Lord with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase" (Proverbs 3:9). It is this PERSONAL "rendering" that seems to bring the most challenging pain—both to those who only render "taxes" to the government and to those who should render "tribute" to God.
God is clear about "rendering" a portion of our wealth to Him.
The New Testament is very specific that "every one of" us (I Corinthians 16:2), indeed, "every man according as he purposeth in his heart" (II Corinthians 9:7) is to give of his resources to our Lord. We are further told that it is to be "as God hath prospered him" (I Corinthians 16:2) and that it be "out of that which ye have" (II Corinthians 8:11). In more modern terms, we are to give proportionately (a percentage) of what we earn or possess. The only percentage tribute ever taught in Scripture is the tithe—10% of our "increase."
What's the Christian to do?
While not specifically demanded of the Christian, many view the tithe as a starting place for our thinking. We have both the obligation to give and the opportunity to give more. We are to give cheerfully (Acts 20:35; II Cor-inthians 9:7), lovingly (John 3:16; II Corinthians 8:8-9), expectantly (Luke 6:38 and II Corinthians 9:10-11), and sacrificially (Mark 12:41-44 and Mark 14:3-9). Our gifts should be directed to God-glorifying and Bible-honoring churches and ministries.
Can ICR help?
If we can help in your financial planning and thinking, please contact us.
[body_edit] =>Every culture in the world understands their civil responsibility to those in higher authority. What has escaped most people—even many Christians, is that the HIGHEST authority is the Creator and Owner of all things. That is why Jesus Christ told us to do both: give to "Caesar" what belonged to him and to God what belonged to Him.
God deserves, and we are responsible to give HONOR to Him.
Several forms of "honor" are spoken of in the Scriptures: trust, love, obedience, etc., but we must not neglect to "honor the Lord with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase" (Proverbs 3:9). It is this PERSONAL "rendering" that seems to bring the most challenging pain—both to those who only render "taxes" to the government and to those who should render "tribute" to God.
God is clear about "rendering" a portion of our wealth to Him.
The New Testament is very specific that "every one of" us (I Corinthians 16:2), indeed, "every man according as he purposeth in his heart" (II Corinthians 9:7) is to give of his resources to our Lord. We are further told that it is to be "as God hath prospered him" (I Corinthians 16:2) and that it be "out of that which ye have" (II Corinthians 8:11). In more modern terms, we are to give proportionately (a percentage) of what we earn or possess. The only percentage tribute ever taught in Scripture is the tithe—10% of our "increase."
What's the Christian to do?
While not specifically demanded of the Christian, many view the tithe as a starting place for our thinking. We have both the obligation to give and the opportunity to give more. We are to give cheerfully (Acts 20:35; II Cor-inthians 9:7), lovingly (John 3:16; II Corinthians 8:8-9), expectantly (Luke 6:38 and II Corinthians 9:10-11), and sacrificially (Mark 12:41-44 and Mark 14:3-9). Our gifts should be directed to God-glorifying and Bible-honoring churches and ministries.
Can ICR help?
If we can help in your financial planning and thinking, please contact us.
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God provides the resources, we are to "manage" His wealth.
Jesus gave us two illustrations that tell us how He judges His "servants" from the eternal perspective.
A "pound" is issued equally to the Lord's servants (Luke 19:11-27).
A nobleman went away to receive a kingdom, but told his servants to "occupy" until he returned. Before he left, he gave each of his servants a "pound" (a Greek mna was equal to 100 Roman denarii. One denarius was given to the labors for a days work. Two denarii were given to the innkeeper by the Good Samaritan).
When the owner returned, he judged the servants on how much investment return they had made with his money. There is no indication that the servants were expected to use the money for their needs ("My God shall supply all your need according to His riches . . . " Philippians 4:19. The lord gave rewards of authority in proportion to each servant's investment effectiveness. The lord impoverished the fearful servant and gave the "pound" to the most effective servant. Investment is directly proportional to the degree of risk. If we are too fearful to "risk" our "pound," we will be impoverished in eternity. If we "risk" for the sake of the Lord's Kingdom, we will be well rewarded.
"Talents" are granted in proportion to the servants' ability (Matthew 25:14-30).
The servants were given different amounts of money, "talents," in recognition of differing abilities. (One Greek talent was equal to 6,000 Roman denarii—nearly three years wages.) Here again the owner left the country and was gone for a "long time." The servants were to invest the money for his benefit. The reward is based on the use of the money, not the return. The one "unprofitable servant" who did not use the owner's "talent" was called "wicked and slothful" and cast into "outer darkness."
How will the Lord judge your use of HIS money when He returns to "judge the quick and the dead?" Remember, the ONLY two things in this world that are eternal are the souls of men and the word of God.
[body_edit] =>God provides the resources, we are to "manage" His wealth.
Jesus gave us two illustrations that tell us how He judges His "servants" from the eternal perspective.
A "pound" is issued equally to the Lord's servants (Luke 19:11-27).
A nobleman went away to receive a kingdom, but told his servants to "occupy" until he returned. Before he left, he gave each of his servants a "pound" (a Greek mna was equal to 100 Roman denarii. One denarius was given to the labors for a days work. Two denarii were given to the innkeeper by the Good Samaritan).
When the owner returned, he judged the servants on how much investment return they had made with his money. There is no indication that the servants were expected to use the money for their needs ("My God shall supply all your need according to His riches . . . " Philippians 4:19. The lord gave rewards of authority in proportion to each servant's investment effectiveness. The lord impoverished the fearful servant and gave the "pound" to the most effective servant. Investment is directly proportional to the degree of risk. If we are too fearful to "risk" our "pound," we will be impoverished in eternity. If we "risk" for the sake of the Lord's Kingdom, we will be well rewarded.
"Talents" are granted in proportion to the servants' ability (Matthew 25:14-30).
The servants were given different amounts of money, "talents," in recognition of differing abilities. (One Greek talent was equal to 6,000 Roman denarii—nearly three years wages.) Here again the owner left the country and was gone for a "long time." The servants were to invest the money for his benefit. The reward is based on the use of the money, not the return. The one "unprofitable servant" who did not use the owner's "talent" was called "wicked and slothful" and cast into "outer darkness."
How will the Lord judge your use of HIS money when He returns to "judge the quick and the dead?" Remember, the ONLY two things in this world that are eternal are the souls of men and the word of God.
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This portion of Acts & Facts is dedicated to challenging all of us to be faithful as "stewards" (I Corinthians 4:2) of what God has allowed us to use. Let us review the foundational principles upon which the Bible builds the responsibility of stewardship.
Foundational Principle #1: God is the Creator and Owner of all things.
The teaching of God's creative ownership is absolutely clear in Scripture. Psalm 24:1 claims the Lord's ownership of the earth "and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein." Psalm 50:10 is the famous verse about God owning "the cattle upon a thousand hills." "All things," Paul says, "were created by Him, and for Him" (Colossians 1:16).Foundational Principle #2: God is the Source and Foundation of all wealth and power. "Both riches and honor come of thee . . ." (I Chronicles 29:12), and "The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, saith the Lord of hosts" (Haggai 2:8). Indeed, ". . . He giveth to all life, and breath, and all things" (Acts 17:25), as well as "Every good gift and every perfect gift" (James 1:17).
Foundational Principle #3: God is the Ruler and Sovereign over all authority. Christ's commission to His disciples was based on Him having "all power" (Matthew 28:18). I Chronicles 29:11 and 12 say in part: "Thine, O Lord, is the greatness . . . for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine; . . . and thou reignest over all; and in thine hand is power and might; and in thine hand it is to make great, and to give strength unto all." He is the "King of Kings and Lord of Lords" (Revelation 19:16).
Foundational Principle #4: God delegates authority and we are to manage His resources. The initial authorization was given to Adam and Eve (Genesis 1:18) and later to Noah (Genesis 9:1-7). The parables of the Talents (Matthew 25:14-30) and the Pounds (Luke 19:11-27) reinforce our responsibility to "steward" God's resources for His glory.
It is easy to forget our "stewardship" responsibilities in a world that lauds monetary success and accumulation. Our goal should be to build "treasures in heaven" (Matthew 6:20) through our good stewardship on this earth. There are only two things now present in this earth that are eternal: the souls of men and the word of God. How have we used our resources to invest in these eternal things?
Happy New Year!
If you are led to make a year-end gift to ICR of something other than cash (stocks/bonds/real estate/a vehicle, etc.), please know that I will be in the office to assist you. Keep in mind that, to qualify for a 2001 receipt, we must take delivery of your gift by December 31.
[body_edit] =>This portion of Acts & Facts is dedicated to challenging all of us to be faithful as "stewards" (I Corinthians 4:2) of what God has allowed us to use. Let us review the foundational principles upon which the Bible builds the responsibility of stewardship.
Foundational Principle #1: God is the Creator and Owner of all things.
The teaching of God's creative ownership is absolutely clear in Scripture. Psalm 24:1 claims the Lord's ownership of the earth "and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein." Psalm 50:10 is the famous verse about God owning "the cattle upon a thousand hills." "All things," Paul says, "were created by Him, and for Him" (Colossians 1:16).Foundational Principle #2: God is the Source and Foundation of all wealth and power. "Both riches and honor come of thee . . ." (I Chronicles 29:12), and "The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, saith the Lord of hosts" (Haggai 2:8). Indeed, ". . . He giveth to all life, and breath, and all things" (Acts 17:25), as well as "Every good gift and every perfect gift" (James 1:17).
Foundational Principle #3: God is the Ruler and Sovereign over all authority. Christ's commission to His disciples was based on Him having "all power" (Matthew 28:18). I Chronicles 29:11 and 12 say in part: "Thine, O Lord, is the greatness . . . for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine; . . . and thou reignest over all; and in thine hand is power and might; and in thine hand it is to make great, and to give strength unto all." He is the "King of Kings and Lord of Lords" (Revelation 19:16).
Foundational Principle #4: God delegates authority and we are to manage His resources. The initial authorization was given to Adam and Eve (Genesis 1:18) and later to Noah (Genesis 9:1-7). The parables of the Talents (Matthew 25:14-30) and the Pounds (Luke 19:11-27) reinforce our responsibility to "steward" God's resources for His glory.
It is easy to forget our "stewardship" responsibilities in a world that lauds monetary success and accumulation. Our goal should be to build "treasures in heaven" (Matthew 6:20) through our good stewardship on this earth. There are only two things now present in this earth that are eternal: the souls of men and the word of God. How have we used our resources to invest in these eternal things?
Happy New Year!
If you are led to make a year-end gift to ICR of something other than cash (stocks/bonds/real estate/a vehicle, etc.), please know that I will be in the office to assist you. Keep in mind that, to qualify for a 2001 receipt, we must take delivery of your gift by December 31.
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