Partnership with God: Our relationship with God is based on four principles of stewardship: shared image, shared intimacy, shared governance, and shared dependence. This partnership is not earned but is a gift of God’s grace.
Shared Image: We are created in the image of God and should behave accordingly.
Shared Intimacy: We have a close relationship with God, with God dwelling in us and us in Him.
Shared Governance: We are co-workers with God, helping in governing the world.
Shared Dependence: God depends on us and we depend on Him. This is illustrated by the story of Elisha the prophet and the woman who provided for him.
Productive Partnership: Our partnership with God is productive, giving value and bearing good fruits. This includes our identity, position, power, and the fruits we bear.
Identity and Position: We are part of God’s family and His friends, placed at His right side. We don’t live a Christian lifestyle to maintain our status in the partnership, but because God has already put us in that position.
Power and Fruits: By God’s will, we are able to produce fruits. When we give and return tithes and offerings, we are not doing it to find our position in the partnership, but because we are partners with God.
Shared Image and Governance: The shared image is a blending of the divine within the human. We become partakers of His divine nature. God dwells in us and we discover our true identity.
Funding God’s Work: God chooses to depend on man to support His work. He invests in individuals, giving them health, resources, money, job, education, and peace of life, expecting that they will respond by supporting His work.
Equal Investment: God does not invest in all of us equally. He gave some five, some two, and some one. When all of us respond faithfully, glory will be added to God and the gospel will spread quickly.
