The Holy Scriptures and the writings of Ellen G. White re-echo again and again the unique relationship man shares with his Creator. In the book of Genesis, God's supreme ownership as creator of heaven and earth is clearly established. Man, the crowning act of God's creation, comes on the scene after everything else has been created. Into his hands God committed the entire creation when he said, "Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it, have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth" (Gen.1:28). "Then the Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to tend and keep it" (2:15).

Humankind has been blessed and privileged to occupy the important position of tending and keeping God's creation. More importantly, however, through the vicarious death of Jesus Christ our Saviour we have been made stewards of His grace. It is in the context of this supreme act of love that all God's other gifts must be considered.

Concerning the connection between God's gift of Christ and all other gifts, Ellen White wrote, "The Lord has imparted to us Heaven's richest treasure in giving us Jesus. With Him He has given us all things richly to enjoy. The productions of the earth, the bountiful harvests, the treasures of gold and silver are His gifts. Houses and lands, food and clothing, He has placed in the possession of men. he asks us to acknowledge Him as the Giver of all things; and for this reason He says, 'Of all your possessions I reserve a tenth for myself, besides gifts and offerings, which are to be brought into my storehouse" (Review and Herald, February 4, 1902).

Paul communicated the call to faithfulness made by the Holy Spirit of Prophecy: "It is required in stewards that one be found faithful" (1 Cor. 4:2). Such faithfulness is made possible when we submit to the lordship of Christ, and thus fulfill our call to discipleship. Then and only then will every area of life be reckoned as God's gift to us for which we delight in rendering faithful accountability. To each of us, therefore, the watchword is "faithfulness."

We continue, therefore, to thank God for the ever guiding light of the Spirit of Prophecy and for the direct way in which He has spoken to His church in these last days. In the spirit of sacrifice we must not spare any energy, any talent, and resource in taking the good news of redemption through Jesus Christ to a lost world. For us who have tested of the goodness and grace of God there should be no greater joy than embracing the Divine partnership in engaging our families, our friends, and our acquaintances, and indeed every human being with the message of salvation. Soon Jesus Himself will declare "To you who have been faithful over few things, come enter my joy and I will make you ruler over many things" (Matt. 25:21)

By: Ronnie Henry, West Indies Union