Principles Of Stewardship Series

Text: The parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14-30)

Title: Principles of Stewardship

Introduction

This month’s sermon series is on stewardship.Today we are going to look at 3 foundational principals on stewardship that are found in the parable of the Talents Matthew 25:14-30

Principal #1 God is the owner and we are the manager

“Again it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his property to them. To one he gave five talents of money, to another two talents, and to another one talent, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey.” (v14-16)

“After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them.” (v19)

What does it mean that God is the owner and we are the manger?

1. God is the owner of everything

“Again it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his property to them.

A. “The earth is the Lord’s and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it.”

Psalm 24:1

B. “The silver is mine and the gold is mine,’ declares the Lord Almighty”

Haggai 2:8

C. “All things were made through Him…”

John 1:3

D.” Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father.”

James 1:17

E. “All things were created by him and for him.” Colossians 1:16

Since God is the owner of everything…this means

2. Everything we have - has been entrusted to us by God

“Again it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his property to them.

The words “His property” and “entrusted”

1.The words his property

The Greek word used for “property” here in Matthew 25:14 is the same Greek word used to describe “Christ” in Philippians 2:6.

The word refers to an existence both prior to the circumstances mentioned and continuing afterwards.

In Philippians 2:6 it refers to the deity of Christ. Christ was God prior to his incarnation and continued to be God at and after his birth. Christ the same yesterday, today and forever!

In Matthew 25:14 it means it was God’s property before he entrusted it to us and it is still God’s property after he entrusted it to us.

Then notice the scripture does not say the property was given to the servants.

The scripture says the property was entrusted to the servants.

There is a huge difference between being “given something” and being “entrusted with” something

When something is given to us then it is becomes ours; we can now do what we want with it

But when something is entrusted to us- it is not ours. We have to do what the real owner wants done with it

This means ….

3. One day we will all stand before God and give an account for what we did with what he entrusted to us.

“After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them.” (v19)

“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.” (2 Corinthians 5:10)

Were you faithful with what I gave you?

Were you worthy of my confidence in you? Were you trustworthy with what I gave you?

Secondly

And here is the more difficult part of this passage of scripture.

Were you fruitful with what I gave you?

Did my kingdom grow because of what I gave you?

Can we identify specific goals that were achieved because of what I gave you?

How well did you do with what I gave you?

4. God has given all of us the ability to be good stewards of everything he has entrusted to us

“To one he gave five talents of money, to another two talents, and to another one talent, each according to his ability.”

God has given us the power to do something with what he has given me.

I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength

Challenge:

It’s not an issue of can I be a good steward of what God has given me

It’s an issue of will I be a good steward of what God has given me!

It’s not an issue of God’s faithfulness. It’s an issue of our faithfulness!

Not ability but obedience!

Principle #2 Stewardship begins with our present resources.

“The man who had received the five talents went at once and put his money to work….So also the man with the two talents…

Notice the man who was given the 5 talents and the man who was given the 2 talents went at once and put God’s money to work.

They didn’t wait till the first of the year…