GOOD STEWARDS OF GOD'S RESOURSES
Faithfulness in Stewardship • Sermon • Submitted
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· 23 viewsFaithfulness in giving to the work of God, a test of godliness. Witholding akin to robbing God.
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Introduction
Introduction
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A steward was a household servant who managed the affairs of the household for a father, or a king. He was responsible for providing food and taking care of other needs of the household. Stewardship therefore involves delegation, discipline, dedication and accountability.
Believers are stewards of Christ; pastors and leaders are even more so (). Faithfulness is an indispensable requirement of stewards. We are going to look at Christ’s teaching on Stewardship of believers today. Believers are expected to be good stewards of God’s resources.
THE DEMAND FOR FAITHFULNESS IN STEWARDS OF CHRIST
THE DEMAND FOR FAITHFULNESS IN STEWARDS OF CHRIST
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In the parable of the talents, the Lord taught us how to make use of all the resources He has given to us to make profit for the Kingdom of God. The world will not fund the Church. It is believers who will fund the Church. You and I will fund the Church. How? We will fund the Church using the resources and the money God has given us the ability to earn. Unfortunately this is too strong a test for many people (; ). This young ruler considered his wealth more important than the kingdom of heaven. The rich young ruler lacked the one thing that could catapult him into the Kingdom of Heaven, the ability to freely part with his wealth. He simply thought that his money belonged to himself. He rather preferred to keep his money to himself than to invest it into the Kingdom of heaven.
As one pastor rightly said, the person who owns the sheep also owns the wool. So if we are the sheep of Christ, He owns us and everything we own. What do we own? We could own houses. We could own cars, We could own money. We could own a list of many other resources. When you add up all those resources together, they belong to Christ (). Is it possible that everything about us, including our physical body, could belong to Christ, except our money? The answer to that is no!
The Master requires accountability. He expects us to make profit for the Kingdom of God with what resources He has given to us. What could this profit possibly be? The work of the ministry! Taking care of the Church! Helping those who are in need! When you give your money to support the Church, when you give to those who are in need, you are making profit for the Kingdom of God, you are storing your treasure in heaven ().
Many believers in our Church, including pastors and other leaders, fail to use their resources in this way. They even fail to give their basic tithe and offering. Malachi calls it robbing God ()!
THE DANGER OF FOCUSING ON NON-ESSENTIALS IN CHRIST’S SERVICE
THE DANGER OF FOCUSING ON NON-ESSENTIALS IN CHRIST’S SERVICE
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In this parable the Lord talks about a number of things that appear to be contradictions in our daily living.
(i) Some things that people focus on are insignificant;
(i) Some things that people focus on are insignificant;
; ; ; What is that which is least? in this parable it is money. In the eye of man money is so significant. But in the eyes of God eternity is far more signification. Money pales to insignificance when placed side by side with eternity and heaven. When a rich man dies, he will live all his wealth behind.
(ii) Some things that people own do not belong to them;
(ii) Some things that people own do not belong to them;
; What is it that is another man’s which you are holding? Money and earthly treasure. These belong to God
(iii) Somethings that people fail to focus on are very significant.
(iii) Somethings that people fail to focus on are very significant.
; ; God is our only Lord, on whom alone we must trust. Riches do not deliver in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death. Righteousness is more significant than riches and wealth. Righteousness will deliver a man in the day of judgement, but riches and wealth have no power to do that (Pro.10:2-3)
Listen to the Master’s instruction (). Give the household of God their portion of meat in due season ((). Do this and you shall live.
THE DIVINE BLESSINGS FOR ACCOUNTABLE STEWARDS
THE DIVINE BLESSINGS FOR ACCOUNTABLE STEWARDS
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(i) Earthly Abundance - bread (food) supplies ()
(ii) Spiritual enrichments
(iii) Abundance of grace
(iv) Encouragement to the Church - when you give, you encourage the Church and other brethren.
(v) Your giving will bring glory and thanks giving to the Church.
(vi) Your giving will prosper the Church.
(vii) Your financial giving will produce spiritual fruit to your heavenly account (()
(viii) Your hearty giving unto the Lord will bring rich rewards from God (),
Brethren we are stewards of Christ. We are His ambassadors on earth. We are looking after and administering His Kingdom affairs. Have we been faithful in doing it? Have we ordered and reordered our priorities so that the Kingdom of God comes first when it comes to our resources? Are we faithful in that which is little? Are will building our treasures in heaven with the mammon of unrighteousness? If yes, praise God, let us continues more and more. If not, let us repent like Zacchaeus (). And the blessing of salvation will be ours.