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…
They didn’t wait till their bills were paid off…
They didn’t wait till they got a pay increase…
They didn’t wait till they saw what they had left at the end of the month….
They practiced stewardship at once!
Challenge
I’m going to wait to see what talents God has given me and then I’ll practice stewardship
You don’t know what talents God has given you until after you practice stewardship
You discover your talents by trying different things.
Some things you are going to be no good at.
It’s a journey
“But the man who had received the one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.”
Why did this man not follow the example of the others?
I was afraid and went out and hid your talent in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.” (v26)
I was afraid! Fear!
FEAR False expectations appearing real!
Tithing = Fear
If I tithe how am I going to pay my bills?
Principle #3 We can never out give God
“His master replied, “Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness.” (21.23)
Malachi 3:10
“Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this, says the Lord Almighty, and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.
Luke 6:38
“Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”
Galatians 9:6
“Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.”
Challenge
Try to out give God
Are you a faithful and fruitful steward of the time, the talents and the treasure God has given you?
The best time to plant a tree was 100 years ago. The next best time to plant a tree is today!
