A steward is one who manages something for another. The picture here is a steward who worked for a rich man. This steward had a great deal of responsibility. He was to manage the man’s lands. He was to do the collecting from others who owed. There are three great areas of stewardship that are mentioned in the bible. It has to do with a lot more than just material things.
First of all, there is set forth the matter of stewardship as it deals with preachers. They are looked upon as stewards of the word of God. they manage the Lord’s affairs through His word. 1 Corinthians 4:1. That is the responsibility of a preacher. Every once in a while, we hear of people who are displeased with us. God bless them. We love them. There is one thing I do not believe that even the worst enemy of this church could ever truthfully say, “they don’t preach the word at Grace.”
Second, God speaks of stewardship as it relates to leaders in the church. People who have places of responsibility. Titus 1:7. I don’t care if you are a deacon, trustee, bus worker, SS teacher, choir member, musician. God has placed you as a steward in responsibility to discharge a certain duty.
Third, stewardship is used in reference to all believers in general. 1 Peter 4:10. We are stewards of time. The Lord gives us certain gifts to serve Him with. People are stewards of talent. We are stewards of treasure. We own nothing. That is what Paul is talking about. 1 Corinthians 6:19. Everything we have belongs to God. we are stewards of another’s goods. Now, notice some sobering facts about stewardship in the bible.
I. What You Manage is Not Your Own
1. The rich man said to him, “Give an account of thy stewardship. The report is that you’re not managing my affairs as they ought to be. It’s not yours its mine.”
2. This is a truth that runs throughout the word of God.
a. Psalm 24:1
b. Psalm 50:10-12
3. We start thinking, “Look what I have, look what I’ve done.” No! we’re just managing it for God. it all belongs to Him.
4. Every time I see a farm, tall building, I say, “My father owns that.” He is the possessor of Heaven and Earth.
II. You Must Give an Account of that Stewardship
1. His master called him to give account.
2. You remember every Christian is going got give an account to God for what God has placed in our hand.
3. Matthew 25:14-28
4. Romans 14:12
5. You are a steward. You manage something that is not your own.
6. You are going to give an account one day of how you managed.
7. 2 Corinthians 5:10
III. There is a Possibility of Losing Your Stewardship
1. This is what bothered this man. He said, “My, if I’m put out of stewardship, I won’t have anything.” That was disturbing to him. It should be to us.
2. You men who sit in this auditorium, God made you a steward of your household. God made you the head of your home. I trust it is a Christian home.
3. Your is an honor and privilege beyond any other on earth. Be careful. You can lose it. You can lose your home, your wife, your family.
4. You can lose anything that is worthwhile unless you discharge it as unto God.
a. You can lose your children to the world.
b. God can take your family in death.
5. I have known people who had a blessing and a gift to serve God and they lost it. They have been put on the shelf and been disproved of God.
6. I have known people who once had hearth, but they did not appreciate it or take care of it, and they lost it
7. You can lose your position, your pace of service.
8. We better wake up. We are privileged to be a child of God and to be a member of his family. God warns us that we can lose our stewardship.
IV. Your Stewardship Affects your Whole Philosophy of Life
1. I do not believe that you can be a happy Christian without being honest with God and your stewardship. Luke 16:11
2. you may say, “I don't tithe or give, and it doesn't bother me.” If it does not bother you, I would be questioning my chances of heaven if I were you.
3. The same Bible that teach us how to be saved, teaches what a Christian ought to do and be.
4. If you are a Christian, then you will do as a Christian. It affects your whole philosophy of life.
5. I don't know how interested you are in true riches, but the Bible speaks of true riches. Luke 16:11
a. I think of my family, that's true riches.
b. I think about my church.
c. I think about my salvation.
6. He changed me. I was defeated and had no hope but now I'm different.
7. If a person is not faithful in his stewardship, he probably won't be faithful in anything else.
V. Your Stewardship Affects Your Eternity
1. When you die, that is when eternity sets in for you. When you die, where will your riches be? Matthew 6:19-20
2. I’m not just talking about material things. I’m talking about getting people saved, living for God, earning rewards, discharging your stewardship.
a. Talking about teaching.
b. Men working on this building because they have their heart here. Their treasure.
VI. Stewardship Involves Others
1. The story of the rich man in hell, Verses 27-28. they were last period he never gave a nickel or a thought to the management of his life. His stewardship never included getting his brothers saved.
2. They are still last today all because a man was a sorry steward. It involves others.
3. I think about the last of our city. It's hard to get people to tell others.
4. I think about foreign missions. How Christians dilly dally around and do not take it seriously. They won't pray, send, or give.
5. You are responsible for your stewardship because it involves the lives of other people.
