Faithful Management

1 Corinthians 4:1–5 NLT

1 So look at Apollos and me as mere servants of Christ who have been put in charge of explaining God’s mysteries. 2 Now, a person who is put in charge as a manager must be faithful. 3 As for me, it matters very little how I might be evaluated by you or by any human authority. I don’t even trust my own judgment on this point. 4 My conscience is clear, but that doesn’t prove I’m right. It is the Lord himself who will examine me and decide. 5 So don’t make judgments about anyone ahead of time—before the Lord returns. For he will bring our darkest secrets to light and will reveal our private motives. Then God will give to each one whatever praise is due.

I remember a time when I had a new supervisor (new platoon commander) give me a performance review. I was quite confident in my performance and conduct and expected a good review. I had a history of high marks in conduct and proficiency. Unfortunately, I was shocked by the scores he gave me. Scores which I was very concerned would impact my promotion. I challenged his assessment and although he couldn’t explain to me why he gave me what he did, he didn’t change anything. I could only respond by going and trying to show him wrong by the next review.

Have you ever had a performance review go different than you expected? Or, have you ever done a job or a school project and thought that it was good work only to have someone in authority like a boss or a teacher evaluate or grade it differently?

I want to talk to you today about being a faithful manager, or steward, of the responsibilities that God has put into your care.

The Lord created you and appointed you to good works (Ephesians 2.10). After He returns, He is going to judge our works (2 Corinthians 5:10). He is expecting us to be found faithfully doing what He entrusted into our care.

If we will apply ourselves to being wise and effective leaders—stewards or managers—then we will receive blessing and promotion and praise from the Lord.

You Have an Assignment

1 Corinthians 7:17 ESV

Only let each person lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him, and to which God has called him. This is my rule in all the churches.

God has given to each of us an assignment. We all have a sphere of authority that He has placed into our hand (2 Corinthians 10:13-16). This sphere includes many areas of our lives: family, faith, field, etc.

Unfortunately it seems that many people have been confused by the message of salvation apart from works. We know that we are saved by grace through faith and not because of our works (Ephesians 2.8). But that doesn’t mean that we are not expected to do good works. We are expected to do the works of faith, the works of Jesus (John 14.12). We are expected to let our light shine and do good works so that men will see and give glory to God (Matthew 5.16).

Grace has been used by some as an excuse to do the bare minimum or to excuse poor quality and effort. Some people know they should serve or give or minister and say, “God will forgive me” for not doing it now.

The Scripture repeatedly warns us that we will be held accountable to God for our calling—for how we live our lives and for the works of service we do that God has placed into our care (cf. Acts 26.19, Revelation 20.12).

This should inspire and motive us to work and lead like we know that we will be evaluated and judged.

We need to prioritize faithfulness in our service unto God and man.

We have been entrusted with authority and purpose by God. He has an assignment for you. He would not have assigned you to that place and that role if He didn’t expect you were able to do it with the help of the Spirit.

He has called you and equipped you and gifted you so that you can carry out the assignments He has placed on your life.

On Assignment

Jesus taught the disciples about this when speaking on living ready and in anticipation for His return.

Be Focused

Luke 12:35–40 NKJV

35 “Let your waist be girded and your lamps burning; 36 and you yourselves be like men who wait for their master, when he will return from the wedding, that when he comes and knocks they may open to him immediately. 37 Blessed are those servants whom the master, when he comes, will find watching. Assuredly, I say to you that he will gird himself and have them sit down to eat, and will come and serve them. 38 And if he should come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants. 39 But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. 40 Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”

In this parable, Jesus was teaching His disciples to be focused. They were to live with an awareness—awake, ready and waiting (NLT), on watch (MSG).

They needed to be focused and aware of their responsibility and understand that at any moment the boss could show up and hold them accountable.

We need to stay focused—aware and on mission— on the things that are in our authority.

Faith - how are you managing your spiritual life and growth? God has given you responsibility for the practice of your faith and to exercise what you have been taught. Are you remaining vigilant in carrying out your responsibilities as a follower of Jesus?

Family - we have all been placed into families. How are you managing your family responsibilities as son, daughter, mother, father? Whether you are single or married you are responsible for your household and how you serve God within it.

Field - how are you managing your business affairs? Are you a good worker and good manager of the assignments you have on the job? How do you treat your team or do your work? If your boss walked in on you at any given moment would they find you awake and ready or would they catch you slacking? If your team walked in on you, would they see you leading and practicing what you preach or would they catch you slacking?

Being aware allows us to be in position to do what we are responsible to do. This could mean that we are in position to pray or serve or give in church. It could mean that we are in position to encourage our spouse or teach our child or serve a family member. It can mean that we are ready for a new project or opportunity at work to help a co-worker or bring profit to the company.

Illustration: In 1998 Mark Zuckerberg was studying computer science at Harvard. He worked on a project called “Thefacebook” which was a type of social media site for students. One day he was approached by an investor named Peter Thiel. He was impressed by Zuckerberg’s work and offered $1 million as an investment into it. This allowed Zuckerberg to quit school and focus on his business. Today, Facebook is one of the most popular websites in the world and has something like 2 billion users. There are a lot of factors that go into the success of Zuckerberg and Facebook but being in the right place and at the right time certainly put him in position to succeed.

Are you focused? Are you on mission and exercising the authority God has given you for the sphere of responsibility you have?

You are on assignment and your work will be evaluated. But if you are focused you will be in position to receive promotion and blessing.

Be Faithful

Luke 12:41–48 ESV

41 Peter said, “Lord, are you telling this parable for us or for all?” 42 And the Lord said, “Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom his master will set over his household, to give them their portion of food at the proper time? 43 Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. 44 Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions. 45 But if that servant says to himself, ‘My master is delayed in coming,’ and begins to beat the male and female servants, and to eat and drink and get drunk, 46 the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know, and will cut him in pieces and put him with the unfaithful. 47 And that servant who knew his master’s will but did not get ready or act according to his will, will receive a severe beating. 48 But the one who did not know, and did what deserved a beating, will receive a light beating. Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand the more.

After the first parable, Peter asked if that was for disciples only or everyone. So then Jesus elaborated. He emphasized the need for faithfulness in carrying out our duties and responsibilities.

Notice that those who were faithful received the reward of the master. They went from exercising authority and influence over the household to over everything that the master had. Their faithfulness led to promotion.

But notice the other group. Those who were unfaithful in their responsibilities, who were slacking on the job, were punished. Those with more responsibility were more severely punished but all who were unfaithful were punished.

The lesson and application is simple: whatever God has put in to our hands to do, we need to do it faithfully as unto the Lord, with all our might (Ecclesiastes 9.10, Colossians 3.17).

No matter what the situation looks like or what pressure you are under being faithful is required of those who God has given assignment (cf. 1 Corinthians 4.2).

Illustration: Queen Mary a.k.a. “Bloody Mary” sought to re-establish the Catholic church in England. In 1555 she arranged for one of the protestant church leaders, John Philpot, to be burned at the stake. When he heard the sentence he said, “I am ready. God grant me strength and a joyful resurrection.” Instead of being dragged kicking and screaming to the stake, he walked there and even knelt and kissed it when he arrived. He knew that he was faithful to the Lord and to his assignment and therefore wasn’t fearful of judgment.

We will all face judgment. The question is will we be found faithful? If we are there will be great reward.

Be Fruitful

Luke 12:37–38 NKJV

37 Blessed are those servants whom the master, when he comes, will find watching. Assuredly, I say to you that he will gird himself and have them sit down to eat, and will come and serve them. 38 And if he should come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants.

Luke 12:43–44 NKJV

43 Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. 44 Truly, I say to you that he will make him ruler over all that he has.

If we are focused and faithful we will be fruitful. Our work should result in fruitfulness and if we are fruitful we will glorify God and receive a reward (cf. John 15.8).

Notice that the reward for the work was a greater measure of that work. Serving faithfully and well in the household led to being rewarded with authority over all that the master had.

Illustration: Serving others and operating in your gifts and assignment not only prospers them but it is a way of honoring God (i.e. whatever you did for the least of these…Matthew 25.40). Ultimately, this leads to our blessing and kingdom inheritance (Matthew 25.34).

When you function out of your gifting and anointing it will open doors and make room for you (cf. Proverbs 18.16). It will bring you into blessing and promotion. So do good works to bless others and bring glory to God.

Conclusion

All authority comes from God (Romans 13.1). You have been given authority over your spiritual life, in your family, and on your job. Whether you are serving under people or exercising authority over them, you will give an account for how you carried out your assignment.

Be focused.

Be faithful.

Be fruitful.

This is how we bring good into the world and glory to God. When we live with this in mind we will find blessing and promotion and praise in this life and in the next and ultimately will be welcomed into the presence of the Lord with the words, “Well done, good and faithful servant” (Matthew 25.23)!