Presenting a Biblical response by concerned former Seventh-day Adventists to the Sabbath School Bible Study Guide.

This website is NOT connected to the Seventh-day Adventist Church. The offical Seventh-day Adventist Church website is linked here.

BibleStudiesForAdventistsHead

Commentary on "Stewardship"

RICHARD TINKER

 

Day 3: Monday, June 8, 2009

Today's lesson is titled "Time" and deals with time management. Besides suggesting that the student read some books on time management, the lesson suggests we can learn about the Christian's correct use of time by reading the Bible and by studying the life of Jesus. The lesson also says that there must be "balance" in how we divide our time.

 

Problems

If we understand correctly that all that we have been given belongs to God (see yesterday's commentary), the idea that we can learn how to use our time from secular time management books is ridiculous. The Word of God found in the Bible should be our source of wisdom.

The further idea that by studying the life of Jesus we can know how to use our time is also misleading. He did not come primarily as our example. Jesus came to die for us. He came to be our substitute. We are never going to be anyone's savior! Moreover, if we do look at how Jesus lived, we don't find balance. He took really long walks (Matt. 16:13); he spent long hours in prayer (Luke 6:12); fasted 40 days (Matt. 4:2), and preached through meal time (Matt. 14:14-21).

"…the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many" (Matt. 20:28).

The majority of the lesson deals with imitating Jesus. One of the first behaviors of Jesus mentioned was his not missing the blessings of the Sabbath, and implying that we must also keep the Sabbath to avoid missing blessings. This is not Biblical. Jesus IS our Sabbath rest. We don't go to a day—we go to Jesus:

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest" (Matt. 11:28).

In the New Covenant there is no command to keep a specific day of worship. For further study on the Sabbath, go here. For a study on the covenents, both old and new, go here.

The idea of living a "balanced" life is presented in the last paragraph. Balanced living is not taught in the Bible—it is an idea borrowed from Buddhism. One of the faculty members at the Loma Linda University School of Dentistry who is Buddhist once explained the concept to me of how he must attempt to balance his life—keeping the yin and yang equal. The Bible, in stark contrast, teaches submission. All we are and all we have is completely God's. We humbly submit our all to our Lord Jesus. All of our time belongs to Him and we use it as he directs.

 

Summary

  1. Time management books are not the source of wisdom for the Christian.
  2. Jesus did not come primarily as our example. His mission was to save us by dying in our place.
  3. The concept of balanced living is not biblical. The Bible teaches submission.

 

Important Resouces

Be sure to watch this sermon: "Generous Living" by Gary Inrig. This is an excellent study on the Bible's teaching on giving. More of Gary's sermon's in the series "Dollars and Sense" are found here.

 

 

 

 

Copyright 2009 BibleStudiesForAdventists.com. All rights reserved. Revised June 6, 2009. This website is published by Life Assurance Ministries, Glendale, Arizona, USA, the publisher of Proclamation! Magazine. Contact email: BibleStudiesForAdventists@gmail.com.

The Sabbath School Bible Study Guide and the corresponding E.G. White Notes are published by Pacific Press Publishing Association, which is owned and operated by the Seventh-day Adventist church. The current quarter's editions are pictured above.

 

Official Adventist Resources

Standard Edition Study Guide Week 11

Teacher's Edition Study Guide Week 11

Easy Reading Edition Study Guide Week 11

Search the Complete Published Ellen G. White Writings

Notes20092
Quarterly20092

HOME | 2009 | SECOND QUARTER | WEEK 11 | DAY 1 | DAY 2 | DAY 3 | DAY 4 | DAY 5 | DAY 6 | DAY 7