AY Honors/Stewardship/Answer Key 2

2. Read and discuss with your counselor or pastor the following: Section IV (pp. 111 to 130); paragraph 1 and 2, p. 14; and paragraph 1, p. 66 of Counsels on Stewardship written by Ellen G. White.

This book is available on the Internet, though not with a direct link. Go to http://egwdatabase.whiteestate.org/nxt/gateway.dll?f=templates$fn=default.htm$vid=default and look for a pull-down menu that says "Choose search form." Select "Go to: Book and Page" and then select "Counsels on Stewardship."

You can also purchase the book from http://www.adventistbookcenter.com/Detail.tpl?sku=0828015708

3. Learn what is done with the tithe in your local church, your local conference, your union, and the General Conference.

This working policy, published by the General Conference describes how tithe may and may not be used by the local churches, local conferences, unions, divisions, and the General Conference itself. It would be good for you as the instructor to download and read it in its entirety, but a short summary is provided below.

Tithe is to be collected by the local churches, and all of it is to be forwarded to the local conference. Local churches are under no circumstances to retain any portion of the tithe. Local conferences in turn take a portion of the tithe for the uses listed below, and forward the remainder to the union. The union does the same, forwarding the remainder to the division, and the division forwards the remainder to the GC.

Acceptable Uses

1. Support of Pastors, Evangelists, Ministers
2. World Missions
3. Soul-winning Support Personnel
4. Conference/Mission Operating Expense
5. Literature Evangelist Benefit Fund
6. Subsidies for Specified Activities (such as youth evangelism camps)
7. Evangelistic and Conference/Mission Office Equipment
8. Bible/Religion Teaching and Support Personnel in Schools
9. Retired Employees

Unacceptable Uses

1. Capital Expenditures for Buildings and Churches
2. Equipment (other than for conference/mission use)
3. Local Church Operating Expense
4. School Operating Expense

4. From your pastor, church treasurer, or elder learn about your church budget, what finances your church must meet and the purpose of each item listed on your church tithe and offering envelope.

Ask for this information well ahead of time so that the pastor, treasurer, or elder does not have to scramble to gather the information for you. Adventist churches generally have a budget which is approved by the local church in business session. If they a copy of the budget is not handy, this information can also be gleaned from a finance report presented by the church treasurer during regular church board meetings.

5. Keep a chart on how you spend your time for one weekend and one week day. In this chart make a list of how much time you spend in the following areas:
a. Work for pay
b. Family time
c. Personal devotions
d. Public worship
e. Family worship
f. Fun things
g. Reading
h. Television
i. Meals
j. Sleep
k. Personal needs
l. Class time
m. School study
n. Travel
o. Music lesson
p. Music practice
q. Home chores
r. Shopping

For each of the three days be sure your time adds up to 24 hours. After completing the chart, discuss with your pastor or counselor your responsibility in the steward­ ship of your time.

If you find yourself spending time on things that do not fall in the categories above (such as the Internet), make an additional category. The discussion aspect of this requirement can be met by having a group discussion with the honor instructor. Encourage all to participate.

6. Do one of the following:

b. If you are not in the category above, make a list of how you would spend an income of $50 a month in the following categories:
(1) Clothes
(2) Entertainment
(3) Eating out
(4) Gifts
(5) Personal items (toiletries)
(6) School supplies
(7) Tithe and offerings
(8) Transportation

From your list determine what percentage of your total income is spent on each item. After completing the chart and percentages, discuss with your pastor or coun­selor the advantages of a budget and how to stay within a budget.

The advantage of a budget is that it allows you to think objectively about your priorities and record them. It is difficult to be objective in the store when you're looking at the latest electronic "must have" gadget. Budgeting helps to control impulse buying, and if the budget is followed, it ensures that your spending is in line with your priorities. It also helps avoid the problem of running out of money before payday, because you know ahead of time how much to keep back for essential items (such as food and gas).

When making a budget, the essential expenses (including tithe!) are dealt with first. Be sure to include money for expenses that occur on a larger time scale than the budget period. Examples include income taxes and insurance payments. These are often due annually or semi-annually, but you should set aside money every month for them so that when they are due, you don't have to take money out of the budget elsewhere to cover them.

After the essentials are taken care of, discretionary spending can be added. It's also a good idea to budget for savings and investments.

After making out a new budget and trying to live with it for a month or two, it may become apparent that you forgot to budget for something. If this happens, adjust the budget (but do it in writing!) Do not adjust the budget on the fly (especially when you are in a store considering a purchase). The key to sticking to a budget is resisting purchases that are not on the budget. If you see something you've "got" to have, and it's not in the budget, stop! don't buy it! Save your money for it, and buy it only after you have the money in hand.

Many Christians find it easier to stick to a budget if they have made it a subject of daily prayer.