Stewardship: Faithfully Managing What God Entrusts to You

Introduction:

Welcome Church family, welcome to those with us via social media, and a special welcome to those visiting us for the first time today.

Thank you to these amazing youth and young adults stepping in and leading today’s worship.

So, man, it's been an interesting few weeks! I think I mentioned during my testimony that I wasn’t the most organized, eloquent, and multi-tasking person but that those are a part of my professional development areas of improvement!

The topic of today came to my heart shortly after the last time I spoke here and I thought, Thank You Lord, because I had a topic on my heart. Then the weeks went by. As some of you know, we took a trip to Fort Moore, Georgia two weeks ago to celebrate our Son Damien’s “Turning Green” ceremony. Praise the Lord Damien is doing great and Thank you all so very much for your continued prayers and support, we and He appreciates it! So, I studied the topic, I searched for key verses to share today, and I kept feeling that awesome feeling of sharing something that God was speaking to us all about but then I’d hesitate…Something similar to what I’ve heard writers block be about and I kept thinking, what is it. Maybe just stepping away…so I’d step away and come back, and still nothing. After praying and asking God to tell me what he wanted me to share. It was while at work, I had been pondering the sermon notes and thinking about today and I realized that as my partner was speaking to me about a certain issue. I wasn’t really paying attention! It was at that moment that I realized exactly what GOd wanted to show me!

He said, “You are not being a good steward of your profession right now! The topic God placed on my heart is Stewardship.

Theme: Stewardship

Think about what comes to mind when we hear this word “Stewardship?” To some it might be Time, Finances, Resources, Relationships.

It is defined as the responsible management or oversight of something entrusted to one’s care.

Think about that for a moment . . . my profession, as an educator, is not mine! God has entrusted that to me and it is my responsibility to manage that wisely and faithfully!

What has God entrusted you with?

Time, talents, relationships and resources?

Those aren’t “Ours” they come from and belong to God and he has entrusted us to manage them wisely and faithfully!

(PRAYER) Bow your heads and pray with me

One of the most profound realizations of stewardship in my life was during my time as a Drill Sergeant.

‌I was responsible for the reception, integration, training, and transforming of up to 60 Trainees for 10 weeks at a time! I would often think about what if my child was entrusted to the oversight and responsibility of others…How would I expect and pray they would be good stewards of what has been entrusted to them!

When I went to Basic Training as a 17 year old, my parents had to sign a waiver for me because I was not yet an adult. Even though I turned 18 years old while I was already in training, my parents entrusted responsible oversight and care for my life to those Drill Sergeants, under whose care I would be for 10 weeks!

II. Biblical Understanding of Stewardship

We must first understand and acknowledge that Everything Belongs to God but he gives us responsibility, so we are the managers

Genesis 2:15 tells us, “The Lord God took the man and placed him in the garden of Eden to work it and watch over it.” (CSB).

Stewardship involves productivity (work) or to cultivate

And it also involves Protection that is to “Watch over it” or to “keep” it.

Psalm 24:1 just to clarify who the Owner is, tells us this, “The earth and everything in it, the world and its inhabitants belong to the LORD.” (CSB).

Therefore, we MUST be productive in what God has entrusted to us!

Please turn to 25:14 and follow along with me as I read and I read from the Christian Standard Bible, “

For it is just like a man about to go on a journey. He called his own servants and entrusted his possessions to them. To one he gave five talents, to another two talents, and to another one talent, depending on each one’s ability. Then he went on a journey. Immediately the man who had received five talents went, put them to work, and earned five more. In the same way the man with two earned two more. But the man who had received one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground, and hid his master’s money.

“After a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. The man who had received five talents approached, presented five more talents, and said, ‘Master, you gave me five talents. See, I’ve earned five more talents.’

“His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You were faithful over a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Share your master’s joy.’

“The man with two talents also approached. He said, ‘Master, you gave me two talents. See, I’ve earned two more talents.’

“His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You were faithful over a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Share your master’s joy.’

“The man who had received one talent also approached and said, ‘Master, I know you. You’re a harsh man, reaping where you haven’t sown and gathering where you haven’t scattered seed. So I was afraid and went off and hid your talent in the ground. See, you have what is yours.’

“His master replied to him, ‘You evil, lazy servant! If you knew that I reap where I haven’t sown and gather where I haven’t scattered, then you should have deposited my money with the bankers, and I would have received my money back with interest when I returned.

“ ‘So take the talent from him and give it to the one who has ten talents. For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have more than enough. But from the one who does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him. And throw this good-for-nothing servant into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

Now, the biggest thing that comes to my heart when I hear this parable is that I yearn with all my heart, when my time comes, to hear those words, “Well done, good and faithful Servant, share your masters Joy, or in another translation, enter into the joy of thy Lord…

Therefore, our reward is not for HOW Much we have been given but on how faithfully we manage it.

So,

God is the owner

2. Faithfulness is key

Stewardship includes all that God gives!

Our Bodies

(in health and purity) 1 Corinthians 6:19-29 says, “Don’t you know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought at a price. So glorify God with your body. (CSB).

Our Time

Our Talents

Our Relationships

Our Resources

I want to share 4 practical areas of Stewardship for the youth and for us old folks as well!

The first one is to be good Stewards of our Time

Reflect a bit on how much time we spend on social media, video games, and just entertainment overall…

**Share observations about kids in school…Adults in restaurants…Myself and my own habits

Ephesians 5:15-16 says, “Pay careful attention, then, to how you walk—not as unwise people but as wise—making the most of the time, because the days are evil.” (CSB).

I encourage you to spend your time wisely, prioritizing your Walk with God and balancing friendships, studies, and hobbies.

Let us ask ourselves, “How much time are we giving to God in prayer, Bible study, or in serving others?”

Second is to be good Stewards of our Talents:

Every one of us has God-given talents whether that's music, sports, leadership, creativity, service, etc.

1 Peter 4:10, “Just as each one has received a gift, use it to serve others, as good stewards of the varied grace of God. If anyone speaks, let it be as one who speaks God’s words; if anyone serves, let it be from the strength God provides, so that God may be glorified through Jesus Christ in everything. To him be the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen.

****Talk about my observations here in ESBC…the strength in service to others and using their God given gifts!

Lets ask ourselves, “What talent can I use to glorify God this week?!”

Next is, Stewardship of our Relationships

We must treat our friends, family and peers with respect and kindness, in fact, Christ Commands us to Love our neighbor as yourself (Matt 22:37-39)

We should avoid gossip or neglecting friendships and we MUST learn to forgive!

***A student of mine asked, Sergeant, can I go over to the other class and chat with my friend because oooh i got some tea….!!! I said, No, absolutely not,

Romans 12:18 says this, “If possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.

**This doesn’t mean that as long as your patience is not worn out! As far is it depends on YOU means that YOUR Side of the situation…Live at peace with everyone! They do them as they see fit from their side…

And lastly, is Stewardship of Resources

We can be generous with what God gives us even when we think it isn't much.

Proverbs 3:9-10 tells us, “Honor the LORD with your possessions and with the first produce of your entire harvest; then your barns will be completely filled, and your vats will overflow with new wine.

Application: Living as Faithful Stewards

So, now that you’ve heard a bit about stewardship, about faithfully and wisely managing that which belongs to God, How can we apply this to daily life?

First, we should all try and identify what areas of stewardship is hardest for us. Is it Time, Talents, Relationships, resources, or another area that you feel is more challenging?

Once we’ve reflected on the area or areas of stewardship that seem harder for us, We can consider ways in which to begin improving But Like ALL things in this life that we would like to follow God’s Will in, we cannot do it alone, In prayer and supplication we should pray so that the Lord can guide us in making those changes.

Here are a few suggestions I’ll offer that maybe you can do as a start:

If it’s time: Spend 10 minutes daily reading scripture or praying

If Talents: take that step to volunteer in your community, your school, and if God places it on your heart, we can most definitely use the help right here at Encanto Southern Baptist Church!

If its in the area of Relationships: Reach out to that person that comes to mind, reach out to that person that you been hesitant to reach out to and offer encouragement!

And if it’s resources: Give that portion that God places on your heart to give!

To wrap up here, God is the Owner! We are here but for a moment to be stewards, to be faithful servants of what God has given us! Don’t fear, and allow Satan to cause you to rush and hide that talent Because just as the Lord has provided you with the talent, he also will give you the resources necessary to carry out that which HE has called you to do and God willing when that time is here, we can hear those sweet words: Well done good and faithful servant, Enter into the joy of thy LORD!

INVITATION:

PRAYER: Please bow your heads and pray as we conclude:

Father we come to you with our hearts open ready to serve Lord…We know that you are the creator, the one who was, who is, and is to come and all that belongs to YOU and only You! We are grateful for what you give to us Lord and today we acknowledge that we are to work and cultivate what you have given us. Lead us today to be good stewards, of our finances, of our positions in leadership, in our families, of our time resources and relationships Lord. We know that all that your Word speaks to us is to guide us to live out what YOU know is best for us Lord and its all about Glorifying you Heavenly Father because that is WHAT You created us for! We Love you Lord and we give you all Honor and Praise. Thank you Lord and help us to live lives of action and be doers and not just hearers of Your Word! In Jesus’ Name we pray. Amen.