Lesson 1: Learned From Parables

A. Luke 19:12-26

Stewardship is our proper management of time, talent and treasure for the glory of God” –Definition from Developing a Giving Church

1. God owns everything. He is the nobleman who owns the money, the servants, the farm, and the increase from the work of the servants.

2. God trusts us with things He gives us. “A certain nobleman . . . called his ten servants and delivered them ten pounds” (19:12-13).

Three Wrong Assumptions

• Stewardship is fundraising

• Stewardship is getting money

• Stewardship is about 10%

3. Our gift represents our abilities. “Occupy till I come” (19:13). The word pragmateuomia means trade.

4. God gives everyone a responsibility to serve Him. “Called his ten servants and delivered them ten pounds” (19:13).

Three Wrong Assumptions

• What’s mine is mine, and I am going to keep it.

• What’s God’s could be mine, and I must take it.

• What’s God’s is God’s and I can’t have it.

5. God expects us to know how to correctly serve Him. “Thou knewest. . .” (19:22).

6. God expects faithfulness from all of us. “Well done thou good servant: because thou hast been faithful in a very little” (19:17).

7. God expects us to get some results in our service. “Thy pound hath gained five pounds” (19:18).

8. We all have the opportunity to serve God. “He called . . . his servants” (19:13).

9. The principle of opportunity is a chance to grow. “Occupy till I come” (19:13).

10. The principle of divine authority. More than an opportunity, we are commanded and expected to use what is given to us. “Occupy till I come” (19:13).

11. The master will return. “When he was returned, having received the kingdom” (19:15).

12. The last order is standing orders. We can’t change the master’s command while he is away. God doesn’t change rules in the middle of the game.

13. Every Christian will face a day of accountability. “He commanded these servants to be called unto him, to whom he had given the money” (19:15).

14. We will have to give an account to God. “That he might know how much every man had gained by trading” (19:15).

15. God wants to know if we have been productive. “He commanded these servants to be called . . . that he might know how much every man had gained by trading” (19:15).

Three Assumptions About Faithfulness

• Faithfulness alone was not enough

• Faithfulness is the path to duty

• Faithful duty produces fruitfulness

16. Judgment day is in the future, not at the end of the day/week. “When he was returned, having received the kingdom” (19:15).

17. God will reward us, no matter the amount of our results. “Thy pound hath gained five pounds” (19:18). “Thou hast been faithful in a very little” (19:17).

18. God gives us more responsibility when we are faithful with what we have.

• “Thou hast been faithful . . . authority over ten cities” (19:17).

• “Thou hast been faithful . . . authority over five cities” (19:19).

19. We lose our talent if we don’t use it faithfully. “Take from him the pound” (19:24).

20. God wants to reward his servants with blessing.

What Type of Rewards

• Proportionate rewards

• Honest rewards

21. The principle of out of sight, out of mind. When the owner is not around, many don’t work very hard.

22. The principle of excuses. When many are called to account, they justify themselves. “And another came, saying, Lord, behold, [here is] thy pound, which I have kept laid up in a napkin: For I feared thee, because thou art an austere man: thou takest up that thou layedst not down, and reapest that thou didst not sow” (Luke 19:20- 21, KJV).

23. Trying to butter up the boss will not work at judgment day. “For I feared thee, because thou art an austere man: thou takest up that thou layedst not down, and reapest that thou didst not sow” (Luke

19:21).

24. Some will be ashamed at the Bema Judgment. “If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire” (I Cor. 3:15).

25. The unsaved will suffer more than the lazy Christians. “But those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay [them] before me” (Luke 19:27).

If you have never really accepted Jesus as your personal Savior, would you do it right now? Do not delay or put it off. If you would like to receive Christ by faith, pray this simple prayer in your heart:

Dear Lord, I acknowledge that I am a sinner. I believe Jesus died for my sins on the cross, and rose again the third day. I repent of my sins. By faith I receive the Lord Jesus as my Savior. You promised to save me, and I believe You, because You are God and cannot lie. I believe right now that the Lord Jesus is my personal Savior, and that all my sins are forgiven through His precious blood. I thank You, dear Lord, for saving me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.