MANAGING GOD’S RESOURCES
Pastor Joel Bernardino – February 07, 2026
God did not save us just to prepare us for heaven—He saved us to entrust us with responsibility on earth.
Every believer has been given something to manage:
• Time we cannot recover
• Talents we must develop
• Abilities we must use, and
• Finances we must steward wisely
These are not random blessings; they are sacred trusts placed into our hands by God.
The question is not, “How much do we have?”
The real question is, “How faithful are we with what God has given?”
1 Corinthians 4:2, “Moreover, it is required in stewards that one be found faithful.”
God does not measure us by success, comparison, or visibility—He measures us by faithfulness. Not ownership, but stewardship. Not convenience, but obedience.
Today, we will learn what it truly means to manage time, talents, abilities, and finances God’s way—so that when we stand before Him, we can say, “Lord, I was faithful with what You entrusted to me.”
God does not ask for perfection.
He asks for faithfulness.
1. MANAGE YOUR TIME - GOD’S WAY
Ephesians 5:15–16, “Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.”
Why does Paul urge believers to live carefully and wisely?
• Time is one of God’s most precious gifts—yet it is also the most easily wasted.
• That’s why we must use it carefully.
• We need to recognize time as God-given, not self-owned.
Time lost is something we can never get back.
• Money can be recovered, and belongings can be rebuilt.
• Time is something God entrusted to us.
Time is not something we created.
Time is a gift from God’s grace.
• We did not earn time; we received it.
When we see time as self-owned, we use it carelessly.
When we see time as God-given, we handle it reverently.
Time should be used intentionally, not accidentally
Many people don’t plan to waste time—they just don’t plan at all.
• Accidental living allows:
Distractions to decide our priorities
Urgency to replace importance
Noise to drown out God’s voice
• Intentional living asks:
What matters most today?
What honors God right now?
What should I say no to so I can say yes to God?
• Jesus lived intentionally.
He knew when to teach, when to serve, when to rest, and when to withdraw to pray.
Intentional living does not mean a full schedule—it means a focused life.
We need to use time with an eternal purpose
• Eternal purpose means living today with eternity in view.
Not everything that fills our time has eternal value.
Some things are urgent, but not important.
Some things are good, but not God-given.
• Managing time God’s way asks:
“Will this matter in eternity?”
• Eternal purpose shapes how we:
Love people
Serve others
Invest in spiritual growth
Share Christ
• Every ordinary day becomes meaningful when it is lived for God’s glory.
God’s way of managing time is not about busyness—it is about wisdom.
Illus: THE BANK ACCOUNT OF TIME
Every morning, God deposits 24 hours into our account.
We cannot save it for tomorrow.
We cannot borrow from yesterday.
At the end of the day, whatever we did not use is gone.
Managing time God’s way means asking:
“Lord, how do You want me to spend today’s deposit?”
Being busy does not mean being faithful.
Illus: THE SHARPENED AXE
A man was chopping wood for hours but made little progress.
When asked why, he said,
“I don’t have time to sharpen my axe.”
Busyness without wisdom wastes energy.
Managing time God’s way includes:
- Rest
- Reflection
- Renewal
- Prayer
Even Jesus withdrew to pray.
Doing many things does not mean doing the right things.
2. MANAGE YOUR TALENTS - GOD’S WAY
Matthew 25:14–15, “To one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one—each according to his ability.”
Every believer has been given talents.
God never compares our talents with others—
He evaluates how we use what we were given.
How to Manage God-Given Talents?
Use your talents to serve others, not for self-glory.
Talents are not given to make us famous—they are given to make God known.
• God never blesses us with abilities just so people will admire us.
• He blesses us so others will be served, helped, and pointed to Him.
• When talents are used for self-glory, pride grows.
• When talents are used for service, love grows.
Jesus Himself is our greatest example. Though He had all power and authority, He used it not to be praised, but to wash feet, heal the sick, and give His life.
Illus: A microphone is useless if it is used only to admire its design. Its purpose is fulfilled only when it amplifies someone else’s voice.
In the same way, our talents are meant to amplify God’s love, not our own name.
Develop your talents, don’t bury them.
God expects growth, not excuses.
• Talents are seeds, not trophies.
• They are meant to be cultivated, practiced, sharpened, and improved.
• When we refuse to grow, we are not being humble—we are being unfaithful.
Note: In the Parable of the Talents, the servant who buried his talent was not rebuked for losing it, but for doing nothing with it. Fear and laziness kept him from growth.
Illus: A muscle that is never used becomes weak. But when exercised regularly, it becomes strong and useful.
Likewise, talents that are practiced grow stronger, but talents that are buried slowly die.
God delights in effort, not perfection.
Offer your talents to God; don’t withhold them out of fear.
Fear is one of the greatest enemies of faithful stewardship.
Many believers hold back because they say:
• “I’m not good enough.”
• “Someone else can do it better.”
• “What if I fail?”
God never asked us to be fearless—He asked us to be faithful.
• When we offer our talents to God, He multiplies what we place in His hands.
• When we withhold them, we miss both the blessing and the purpose.
Illus: A young boy offered his small lunch—five loaves and two fish. In his hands, it was insufficient. In Jesus’ hands, it fed thousands.
The miracle did not begin with abundance, but with availability.
3. MANAGE YOUR ABILITIES - GOD’S WAY
1 Peter 4:10, “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others.”
Abilities include:
• Skills
• Knowledge
• Experience
• Influence
• Opportunities
God gave you abilities not just to earn a living,
but to make a difference.
How to Manage God-Given Abilities?
Recognize God as the Source of Your Strength.
God-given abilities are not self-made; they are God-supplied.
• Every skill we have—physical strength, mental sharpness, leadership ability, creativity, or endurance—comes from the Lord.
• When we forget the Source, we begin to rely on pride.
• When we remember the Source, we walk in gratitude and dependence.
Recognizing God as the source keeps our hearts aligned and our abilities surrendered.
Illus: Electric appliances may look powerful, but they are useless when unplugged. The power does not come from the appliance—it comes from the source.
In the same way, our abilities only remain effective when we stay connected to God.
Serve Others Through What You Can Do.
Abilities are not given for comfort; they are given for contribution.
• God never equips us just to make life easier for ourselves.
• He equips us so that others may be blessed.
• Our abilities become meaningful only when they are used in service.
Jesus healed, taught, and led—not to impress people, but to serve them.
When abilities serve people, God is glorified.
Illus: A bridge does not exist for itself—it exists so others can cross safely.
Likewise, our abilities are meant to carry others, not elevate ourselves.
When we use our abilities to help others, they become instruments of God’s love.
Remain Humble, Teachable, and Available.
Ability without humility can damage both the servant and the service.
• Humility keeps us usable.
• Teachability keeps us growing.
• Availability keeps us involved.
God often works not through the most talented but through the most willing.
Pride says, “I already know.”
Humility says, “Lord, teach me.”
Illus: A full cup cannot receive more water. Only an empty cup can be filled.
When our hearts are full of pride, God cannot pour in more. But when we stay humble and teachable, God continues to shape us.
Availability often matters more than ability. Many missed opportunities are not because we lacked skill, but because we were unavailable.
4. MANAGING FINANCES GOD’S WAY
Proverbs 3:9, “Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops.”
Money is one of the clearest tests of stewardship.
How to Manage God-Given Finances?
Recognize where Provision Truly Comes from.
Be grateful to God as the Provider.
• When we acknowledge God as the provider, our hearts shift from anxiety to gratitude and from ownership to stewardship.
• It is ultimately God who gives the ability to earn, the opportunity to work, and the strength to endure.
• While we work, plan, and budget.
Deuteronomy 8:18, “Remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you the ability to produce wealth.”
Illus: A farmer may plant the seed and water the soil, but he cannot command the rain or the sun. The harvest comes from God.
In the same way, we may labor for income, but provision still comes from the Lord.
When we see God as our provider, money no longer controls us—we trust God instead.
Give God the First, Not the Leftovers.
Giving God the first portion is a statement of trust, not a financial calculation.
• God does not ask for what is left after all expenses are paid.
• He asks to be honored first.
• Firstfruit giving declares, “Lord, I trust You to take care of the rest.”
• Giving leftovers often reflects convenience. Giving first reflects faith.
Illus: When someone truly values a guest, they offer the best seat and the best meal—not what remains after everyone else is served.
In the same way, honoring God with our first shows that He is not last on our priority list.
Putting God first in our finances aligns our hearts with His lordship.
Spend Wisely, Save Responsibly, and Give Generously.
Faithful stewardship is not careless spending nor fearful hoarding—it is balanced obedience.
• Spend wisely by distinguishing between needs and wants.
• Save responsibly by preparing for the future without trusting savings more than God.
• Give generously by recognizing that God blesses us so we can be a blessing.
God’s way is not wastefulness or stinginess, but wisdom and generosity.
Illus: A good dam does three things: it controls the flow, stores water for the future, and releases water to give life to others.
Likewise, God-honoring finances are controlled by wisdom, saved with purpose, and released through generosity.
When money flows through us instead of being trapped by us, it fulfills God’s purpose.
God does not bless greed—
He blesses faithful and generous hearts.
Money is a wonderful servant—but a terrible master.
Note: When we manage finances God’s way, we experience peace instead of pressure.
CLOSING
Why This Matters to God?
Luke 16:11, “If you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches?”
God looks at how we manage earthly things because it reveals our hearts.
Faithfulness in everyday stewardship prepares us for…
• Greater responsibility
• Deeper trust
• Eternal reward
One day, every steward will give an account—not of how much we had,
but of how faithfully we managed what God entrusted.
Stewardship is not about having more—it is about being faithful.
God has entrusted us with time, talents, abilities, and finances.
We are not owners.
We are managers.
When we manage God’s resources God’s way,
our lives become instruments of blessing.
