The Blessings of a Faithful Steward

INTRO

Recap from last week

Stewardship is a vital part of our worship.

What we do with what God has entrusted us shows the true intentions of our hearts.

Jesus said in Matthew 6:21, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

There was a man who went to an estate auction of a very wealthy and influential member of a community who had recently passed away. As he was exploring the property and was looking through the items, he overheard the facilitator of the auction say to the auctioneer, “We’ve had a last minute change. The first item up for bid is to be the deceased’s Bible. It has been discovered in the owner’s will that whoever is willing to pay for the Bible will then also take the entire estate.” Upon overhearing such a statement the man’s palms began to get sweaty and excitement began to rush over him. When the time finally came for the auction to begin, the Bible was brought out first. In excited anticipation, at the call for the first bid, the man shouted $25,000. A stunned crowd turn to the man and many began to giggle. A gentleman beside the man said, “Friend, that’s awfully generous for an old worn out Bible,” to which the man responded, “When you know what I know, you can afford to be generous.”

When you and I truly understand the principle of Biblical stewardship and what is ahead of us as faithful servants of King Jesus, you will being to understand that you can afford to be generous!

Matthew 25:14–30 ESV

14 “For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property. 15 To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. 16 He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. 17 So also he who had the two talents made two talents more. 18 But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master’s money. 19 Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. 20 And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me five talents; here, I have made five talents more.’ 21 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ 22 And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me two talents; here, I have made two talents more.’ 23 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ 24 He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, 25 so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here, you have what is yours.’ 26 But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? 27 Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. 28 So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents. 29 For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. 30 And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

Walk Through the Text

The “man going on a journey” is Jesus

“his servants” are those who recognize He is Lord

“Talents” is 6,000 Denarii. A Denarii is one day’s wages for a day laborer.

Put that in today’s terms. If a person makes $15 / hr and works 8 hours a day = $120. That would equal one Denarii.

A talent (6,000 Denarii) would equal $720,000 by today’s standards.

When one servant receives 5 Talents = $3.6 Million; 2 Talents = $1.44 Million; 1 Talent $720,000

According to US Labor and Statistics, the average American will make around $1.75 Million in their lifetime. (Average meaning some more, some less) ($58,000/year over 30 years)

“The ‘talents’ symbolizes more than money, but not less than money… Money matters matter to Jesus, and it is the Master’s money (quite plainly) we are dealing with here. While we ‘need not limit the application of this parable to money matters,’ let’s not be so quick to expand ‘talents’ to mean everything except our use of money.” - Doulgas S. O’Donnell, From Vigilance to Diligence.

This parable is a call to be found a faithful steward with God’s resources when He returns or calls us to give an account for His provision for our lives.

Two servants were found to be true servants and faithful managers of the Master’s resources.

This is not just about money, but about attitude, motivation, work, and grasping the spiritual realities of God’s economy!

The other servant was self-centered and filled with excuses.

In the end, the faithful servants were rewarded and the servant who was found to not truly be a servant was banished from the Master’s presence and provision.

3 Blessings from Stewardship and a Warning From our Master

1) Declaration of Affirmation

“Well done”

Approval of a life will lived.

“Good and Faithful Servant”

Recognition of righteousness in God’s sight

Declaration of a true servant of Almighty God and the Most-High King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

2) Designation of Trust

“You have been faithful over a little, I will set you over much”

This shows the vast and limitless extent of the Master’s influence.

As the Master sees trustworthiness, He rewards trust and extends His influence to the His faithful servants.

Responsibility is not a burden, but a blessing and an opportunity to grow our relationship with our King.

3) Invitation into the Master’s Joy

“Enter into the joy of your master”

Signifies unfettered access to the presence of the Master.

Signifies intense relationship that is a blessing to the servant and a continued blessing to the Master.

Signifies getting to not only enter into the King’s Palace, but also sit at the King’s table.

4) Warning — Neglect and Disregard for the Master Shows a Lack of Allegiance and Therefore a Lack of Reward.

There are no excuses that are sufficient for a heart that fails to embrace a stewardship view of their lives.

Jesus clear teaches that He is Lord over all and over all of us, not just part of us. The throne of our hearts is not a loveseat for us to sit beside Jesus. It is reserved for one and if Jesus is not firmly established on the throne then you have major heart issues and major stewardship issues.

The text says in v. 19 “Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them.”

We are still in the time where the Master has not yet come, nor has He yet called. This means there is still time to get your heart in alignment with His!

Reflection and Response

If the Master returned today, would He find you a good and faithful servant with what He has entrusted to you?

In your point of view, is there anything that you reserve as “yours” and is distinct from “His”? If so, how would the Master see that distinction?

In what ways does the Master want you to grow in your stewardship and faithfulness to Him?

What heart or attitude changes is God asking of you right now? What steps do you need to take in order to be faithful to the Master’s leading?