Becoming good stewards
We are in anticipation of the Rapture
We must be faithful and wise stewards
a. Instead of waiting we should be working
b. We do not know when He is coming but He is coming
The Bible says
“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad” 2 Cor. 5:10.
The words me, my and I are spoken so rashly at times-
* my fortune, my land, my house- we should see these as belonging to the Lord
* We must learn to be good stewards of what the Lord has entrusted in our care
1. What is stewardship: STEWARDSHIP—the management of another person’s property, finances, or household affairs. The believer’s stewardship incorporates accountability for the way in which he or she manages life’s affairs as given as a personal oversight (Matt. 25:14-30).
* This Parable of the talents talks about a 1 talent and also a five talent servant
* The one talent servant is just as important as the five-talent servant
a. We will all have to stand and give account on how we handled what the Lord gave us
2. Whatever God has given us we are to use to His glory
a. These things include: being disciplined with regard to our time, material wealth, minds, and bodies.
b. Christ gives us opportunities that match our abilities, and the one-talent servant is just as important as the five-talent servant.
The key is faithfulness (1 Cor. 4:2), for God measures us against ourselves and not against the other servants. Are you afraid to step out by faith and take some risks for God?
1 Cor. 4:2 : 1Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.
4. The Bible shows us that time is short:
a. We do not have a long time on this earth
b. We should be better stewards of our time
Ps 90: 1-3 and 9-12: Lord, thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations. (2) Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God. (3) Thou turnest man to destruction; and sayest, Return, ye children of men. (9) For all our days are passed away in thy wrath: we spend our years as a tale that is told. (10) The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labor and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away. (11) Who knoweth the power of thine anger? Even according to thy fear, so is thy wrath.
1. The Bible in James says that we are like a vapor
5. We should also honour the Lord with all of our possessions
a. Prov 3:9-10 9Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase: 10So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.
1. The Lord wants to give us spiritual blessings as we prove that we are good stewards of our possessions
2. When we bring the Lord our first fruits we are acknowledging that it all belongs to Him
3 We should commit everything to the Lord even our pocket book
6. Some folk may say, “I have worked hard. I earned this
a.” The Lord gave you the health to work.
b. The Lord gave you the work to do
c. The Lord made it possible for you to make money
God did all that for you.
Acknowledge Him.
That is the evidence of total commitment.
d. As 1 Cor. 4:2 : says 1Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God 2 Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.
7. We will all give account of our stewardship
Romans 6:10-12: 10But why dost thou judge thy brother? Or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. 11For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. 12So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God
a. We have to worry about our own spiritual lives
b. be found faithful stewards
2Cor5:10: 10For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.
8. In Luke 16:1-10 we have the parable of the unjust steward Jesus speaks:
a. And he said also unto his disciples, there was a certain rich man, which had a steward; and the same was accused unto him that he had wasted his goods. 2And he called him, and said unto him, How is it that I hear this of thee? give an account of thy stewardship; for thou mayest be no longer steward. 3Then the steward said within himself, What shall I do? for my lord taketh away from me the stewardship: I cannot dig; to beg I am ashamed. 4I am resolved what to do, that, when I am put out of the stewardship, they may receive me into their houses. 5So he called every one of his lord’s debtors unto him, and said unto the first, How much owest thou unto my lord? 6And he said, An hundred measures of oil. And he said unto him, Take thy bill, and sit down quickly, and write fifty. 7Then said he to another, And how much owest thou? And he said, An hundred measures of wheat. And he said unto him, Take thy bill, and write fourscore. 8And the lord commended the unjust steward, because he had done wisely: for the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light. 9And I say unto you, Make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness; that, when ye fail, they may receive you into everlasting habitations. 10He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much. 11If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches? 12And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another man’s, who shall give you that which is your own? 13No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
a. This parable is about a steward who wasted his master’s goods
b. The steward was called to give an account of his stewardship
2And he called him, and said unto him, How is it that I hear this of thee? Give an account of thy stewardship; for thou mayest be no longer steward.
1. we must be accountable of the things that the Lord has entrusted us with.
2. We are all as Christians accountable to the Lord
9. God is Creator and Owner of all things
a .Deut. 10:14; 14Behold, the heaven and the heaven of heavens is the LORD’S thy God, the earth also, with all that therein is
Ps. 24:1, 2 1 The earth is the LORD’S, and the fullness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein. 2For he hath founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the floods.
b. .All that is possessed comes as a gift from His hand
Acts 17:25: 25Neither is worshipped with men’s hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things;
c. Jesus Christ will require an accounting of each person’s stewardship for believers it will be at the judgement seat 2 Cor. 5:10: 10For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.
10. Whether the resource is time, talent, or money,
a. The steward should endeavor to avoid waste,
b. Ensure that we are pleasing to God in what we do
11. Financial Planning
a. Good financial planning is a part of wise stewardship.
b. To be a truly effective steward,
c. We must look at the money we make as God’s money
d. Having this perspective gives a person the freedom to use finances as a tool to accomplish God’s purposes
(Eccl. 5:15). 15As he came forth of his mother’s womb, naked shall he return to go as he came, and shall take nothing of his labour, which he may carry away in his hand
1. There are no U-Hauls attached to caskets
2. We did not bring anything in and we can take nothing out-Amen
Jesus said in :Luke 16:11: 11If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches? 12And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another man’s, who shall give you that which is your own? 13No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
a. Money is something that God may use to test our ability to handle properly the other gifts He desires to give us
b. If we are faithful with little God will give us the big
c. (Luke 19:11–26 shows us that one day Jesus will ask for an accounting of how you managed the resources He has given us
d. A wife who manages resources wisely is a blessing to her husband and family
(Prov. 31:28). 28Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her
11. You are wise to remember:
a.The earth and all its fullness is the Lord’s (Ps. 24:1 1 The earth is the LORD’S, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein
b. Every resource, even money, is His, and you are simply stewards of His resources.
c. Avoid an overly consumptive lifestyle.
d. The Bible teaches moderation in all things (1 Cor. 9:25 . 25And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible
e. Avoid debt (Prov. 22:7; 7The rich ruleth over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.
Rom. 13:8 8Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law
f. Maintain a savings program. (Prov. 12:11 11He that tilleth his land shall be satisfied with bread: but he that followeth vain persons is void of understanding.
g. Set long-term goals (Prov. 13:22 . 22A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children’s children: and the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just.
Time management
Time management is not just keeping busy but includes finding God’s focus for you—choosing a direction and moving ahead to accomplish your goals. Managing time is one of the most difficult yet helpful skills a woman can develop. It takes maximum effort and realistic planning.
First, you must acknowledge that you have time—the same amount God has given to everyone. You, with God’s help must determine how to use your time (Prov. 3:5, 6). You err in letting others decide your priorities and make your schedule (Rom. 12:2). Remember that by using small bits of time faithfully, you can accomplish great things (Eccl. 9:10).
The foremost challenge a woman faces is not to orchestrate her life or to plan her year but to order each day, allowing for sufficient rest, proper nourishment and exercise, and a quiet time spent exclusively with the Lord. To focus on what is really important, meaningful time must be assigned for vital relationships, especially with a spouse and children in the home.
The “woman of strength” arose early to plan for the day’s activities (Prov. 31:15). Just as she had “maidservants,” women today have appliances, vehicles, as well as utility and telephone services. These blessings of God are ready to help and serve women in daily, mundane tasks, giving them a maximum amount of time to spend with the Lord and to serve others!
To the Hebrews, a day began in the evening—with rest, family fellowship, as well as study and meditation in God’s Word (Ps. 55:17). Jesus said, “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness” (Matt. 6:33). One way to do that is to devote the evening hours to quiet rest, reflection, and “inner preparing”—in other words, to prepare yourself in the evening for the coming day as well as to plan your day’s schedule upon rising in the morning.
The Bible tells us to Consider our ways:::::
Consider our ways
1. The Lord wants to increase our estates!!!
2. But faithfulness is demanded of the STEWARD
We must look at what the Lord is doing in our lives and why
Haggai 1:5-7: 5Now therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts; Consider your ways. 6Ye have sown much, and bring in little; ye eat, but ye have not enough; ye drink, but ye are not filled with drink; ye clothe you, but there is none warm; and he that earneth wages earneth wages to put it into a bag with holes. 7Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Consider your ways.
The writer of the Book of Proverbs says, “There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death” (Prov. 14:12). In Isaiah 53:6 we read, “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way …
The problem with mankind today is that we will want to go our own way. Again the writer of Psalm 1 says, “For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish” (Ps. 1:6).
