Counsels on Stewardship -- Study Guide

Important Comment

Caution should be exercised in order to understand properly the spiritual intent of chapters 59-61. The main emphasis is not on the financial part of an agreement to give, but on the spiritual part. When the Holy Spirit influences you to give a certain amount to God, the agreement should be fulfilled not primarily because of the money involved but because of the spiritual implications of the agreement. Often, it is in the process of fulfilling an agreement that the greatest spiritual growth takes place. Lucifer will use his influence to cause you to break the agreement. Occasionally God tests your spiritual integrity by permitting perplexities to make it difficult for you to abide by the terms of the agreement. God loves to demonstrate that He is God by keeping His promises, even amid difficulties. If your “heart” does not change, and you are still under the influence of the Holy Spirit, He will make it possible for you to fulfill your agreement with Him. Instead of a covenant, pledge, or promise being something to be avoided, it should be the cutting edge of a continually maturing spiritual relationship with Jesus Christ. CS-SG 49.5