Not many people know Eliezer of Damascus. He is not one of the most prominent of Bible characters. However, this man played a major role in the life of Abraham. In Genesis 15:2, Eliezer is identified as the steward of Abraham.
A steward is a person that is responsible for managing the property and affairs of others. In the case of Eliezer, he had a lot to manage for Abraham because Abraham was rich. Genesis 13:2, “Now Abram was very rich in livestock, in silver and in gold.” Eliezer, himself, mentioned how great a responsibility he had as he spoke of the way in which his master, Abraham, had been blessed by God - Genesis 24:34-35, “’I am Abraham’s servant. And the Lord has greatly blessed my master, so that he has become rich; and He has given him flocks and herds, and silver and gold, and servants and maids, and camels and donkeys.’”
So, Eliezer was responsible to oversee Abraham’s flocks and herds, money, all the other servants plus the camels and donkeys. Eliezer’s job was to make sure that Abraham’s household and business ran smoothly and profitably. As steward, Eliezer always had the task of making sure that he was promting Abraham’s best interests.
Through the years, Abraham found Eliezer to be faithful and dependable….so much so that Abraham chose him to carry-out a most important errand. Abraham, in Genesis 24, sent Eliezer hundreds of miles to find a wife that was spiritually suitable for Isaac. Eliezer had to find a woman who believed in the one true God. Of course, Eliezer succeeded in this task, with God’s help, by finding Rebekah for Isaac.
No matter what Abraham placed into Eliezer’s hands, Eliezer was found to be faithful and dependable in promoting his master’s best interests.
I bring Eliezer to our attention, today, because he is an ideal example for us to imitate.
In 1 Peter 4:10, we are told that we are to be “good stewards of the manifold grace of God.” Now, everything belongs to God. As we read in Deuteronomy 10:14, “Behold, to the Lord your God belong heaven and the highest heavens, the earth and all that is in it.” Even though God owns all things, He entrusts us with a portion of His possessions. In His “manifold grace” He grants to us all that we have and enjoy in this life. We are stewards of what God gives to us. Peter tells us in 1 Peter 4:10, that we are to be “good stewards” of what God gives us. On what basis are we to be judged as ‘good’ or ‘bad’ stewards? Verse 11 tells us that we are good stewards when we use all that we are given to promote God’s best interests - “so that in all things God may be glorified.”
Today, I want to touch upon three areas where we need to be “good stewards” for God. I want to consider three things that God has given to each of us that we need to faithfully and dependably use to glorify our Master.
1. Spiritual Gifts
The first area where we need to demonstrate good stewardship is the use of our spiritual gifts. The truth be told, the primary focus of 1 Peter 4:10-11 is the use of our spiritual gifts. Again, verse 10, “As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.”
Please note with me certains truths that are taught in this verse. First, Peter declares that each of us has been given a “special gift.” There is not a single member of the Church who has not received from God a gift.
Secondly, we note that these gifts enable us to ‘serve one another’ in the Church. These gifts grant us the ability to meet the needs of our brothers and sisters. Each gift represents a ministry that God calls us to perform within the congregation.
Thirdly, only as we actively “employ” our “special gift” are we “good stewards of the manifold grace of God.”
The Apostle Paul admonishes us to be faithful in the use of our gifts, in Romans 12:6-8, “And since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let each exercise them accordingly: if prophecy, according to the proportion of his faith; if service, in his serving; or he who teaches, in his teaching; or he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.”
We each have different gifts given by God. Each gift is important. None are more important than any other. Only when each member actively uses their gift can a congregation grow as God intends. Ephesians 4:15-16, “we are to grow up in all aspects into Him, who is the head, even Christ, from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by that which every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.”
Are we using our gift(s)? Are we performing the ministry that God has called us to? We will be judged by how faithful we used our gift(s) as much as how diligently we lived a life of righteousness and worshipped God properly, says Jesus in Matthew 25:14-30, "For it [the kingdom of God] is just like a man about to go on a journey, who called his own slaves, and entrusted his possessions to them. And to one he gave five talents, to another, two, and to another, one, each according to his own ability; and he went on his journey. Immediately the one who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and gained five more talents. In the same manner the one who had received the two talents gained two more. But he who received the one talent went away and dug in the ground, and hid his master’s money. Now after a long time the master of those slaves came and settled accounts with them. And the one who had received the five talents came up and brought five more talents, saying, ’Master, you entrusted five talents to me; see, I have gained five more talents.’ His master said to him, ’Well done, good and faithful slave; you were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things, enter into the joy of your master.’ The one also who had received the two talents came up and said, ’Master, you entrusted to me two talents; see, I have gained two more talents.’ His master said to him, ’Well done, good and faithful slave; you were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’ And the one also who had received the one talent came up and said, ’Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed. And I was afraid, and went away and hid your talent in the ground; see, you have what is yours.’ But his master answered and said to him, ’You wicked, lazy slave, you knew that I reap where I did not sow, and gather where I scattered no seed. Then you ought to have put my money in the bank, and on my arrival I would have received my money back with interest. Therefore take away the talent from him, and give it to the one who has the ten talents. For to everyone who has shall more be given, and he shall have an abundance; but from the one who does not have, even what he does have shall be taken away. And cast out the worthless slave into the outer darkness; in that place there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’”
2. Time.
The second area where we need to be good stewards is in the use of the time God grants us. Even though the duration of our life seems so long when we are young, the truth is that life is short. We need to frequently ask ourselves: Am I being a good steward of the precious time that God continues to give to me?
Paul writes, in Ephesians 5:15-16, “Be careful how you walk, not as unwise men, but as wise, making the most of your time.”
Are we, as good stewards, investing time in activities that promote God’s interests and glory? Are we investing time now in activities that will pay dividends in eternity? Or, are we wasting valuable time God has bestowed us with engaging in activities that have absolutely no spiritual significance?
How much time do we devote to drawing closer to God? How much time do we give ourselves to prayer and studying and meditating on the Word of God? Is there really anything more vital than deepening and strengthening our relationship with God?
How much time do we devote to self-improvement? We all have weaknesses in our lives. We all have faults. The question is how much time and effort do we dedicate to changing our practices and habits? How much time do we actually think upon what changes we need to make and how we can make those changes? How much time do we use to make ourselves better people so that our light might shine brighter for God?
How much time do we devote to performing good works? Galations 6:10, “While we have opportunity, let us do good to all men, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith.” Opportunities to do good works for others are numerous. They come to each of us on a daily basis. As “good stewards” who want to promote the interest and glory of our Master, we want to devote time that is given to us to do good works. Matthew 5:16, "Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.”
3. Money.
The third and last area that we will consider today is our stewardship of money. Its so easy for us to forget that what we think of as our money is actually God’s money. (Ezekiel 16:17; Haggai 2:8). The income which we have is given to us by our Master to meet our basic needs but, above all, to promote His interests and glory.
In order to be good stewards of the money God has entrusted us with, we need to ask ourselves three questions -
First, do we use God’s money righteously?
Realizing that the money which we have belongs to God, we don’t want to use our money to purchase anything or invest in anything that we know is unrighteous. We don’t want to spend God’s money on anything that God would not approve of. Does the use of our money promote righteousness or unrighteousness? As good stewards, we must use God’s money righteously.
Second, do we use God’s money prudently?
The Day will come when God will hold us accountable for how prudently we used the resources that He entrusted us with. He will certainly hold us accountable as to whether or not our spending matched kingdom priorities and values. Did we waste money on things unnecessary and that promoted worldliness? Did we hoard our money and enrich ourselves rather than put the money to work to benefit others who were in need?
Jesus often talked about how that how we use money today will directly determine the quality and quantity of treasure we will enjoy in eternity. Does our budget reflect an eye on eternity or simply one in keeping with the way of the world? As stewards, do we use God’s money prudently?
Thirdly, do we contribute an appropriate amount to God’s kingdom?
Every Lord’s Day, God’s people are encouraged Scripturally to make a monetary contribution or offering. The question we need to ask ourselves is whether or not, as stewards of God’s money, do we contribute or offer an appropriate amount?
Let’s consider that question more deeply.
The text we primarily use to guide our giving is 1 Corinthians 16:1-2, “Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I directed the churches of Galatia, so do you also. On the first day of every week let each one of you put aside and save, as he may prosper, that no collections be made when I come.”
When we go about determing how much we are to give, we frequently focus on the phrase “as he may prosper.”
Often we interpret the phrase “as he may prosper” as referring to net profit; that is, in accordance to what money we have left over after we have dealt with our expenses and other worldly activities. We give God a cut of what ever is left over.
However, this is not what Paul is talking about. The phrase “as he may prosper” is referring to what God has prospered us with before we begin to divide it up. It is based upon our gross earnings before expenses. In other words, God expects His cut first. He wants the first fruits of our labor.
There is the story about a little boy who had two quarters, one for ice cream and one for the church offering. Unfortunately, he accidentally dropped one of the quarters into the storm sewer. “Well, Lord,” the boy said, “there goes Your quarter!”
We are tempted to be just like that little boy. We get our check and divvy it up for this and that and if we find we have little or nothing left-over for God, we say, ’Sorry, God, maybe we can give more next check.’
God calls that robbery!
Malachi 3:8-12, “Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, ‘Wherein have we robbed thee?’ In tithes and offerings. Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation. Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the Lord of hosts. And all nations shall call you blessed: for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the Lord of hosts.”
In this passage, God is saying that the Israelites were robbing Him because they were not bringing in their tithes and other offerings. Why were the Israelites not bringing to God what He considered rightfully His? Because, in their eyes, they couldn’t really afford it. They didn’t think that they had sufficient income.
God replied that their income was diminished. It was diminished because they were under a curse. They were not giving God first dibs and God reduced their prosperity. But, look what God promised. He said that if - by faith - they brought in the commanded tithes and offerings, He would bless them to the extent that they wouldn’t have “room enough to receive it.” If they gave God His portion first, He would greatly increase their prosperity.
You may be thinking that this passage doesn’t really apply because it is Old Testament. That would be incorrect. Paul repeats the same message in 2 Corinthians 9:6-8, “Now this I say, he who sows sparingly shall also reap sparingly; and he who sows bountifully shall also reap bountifully. Let each one do just as he has purposed in his heart; not grudgingly or under compulsion; for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an bundance for every good deed.”
As good stewards, we put God’s interest and glory first…even in the offering on Sunday morning. God expects His cut of our income - the income which He gives us - to come first. He promises that if we - in faith - put Him first, He will make sure that we will have “all sufficiency in everything.”
What a privilege it is to be chosen by God to be His stewards. May we take our role seriously and glorify our Master.
