Entrusted with His Property

Good morning again everyone…It is so good to be here. Whether you are here live in the room or joining us online, I want to thank you for being a part of the LRBC Spiritual family. It is so good to get to worship week in and week out together and grow in community and Biblical wisdom with everyone here!

Right now we can let our kiddos go out and join their teachers back in the back for a time of learning so that they will continue to grow in their knowledge and relationship with God. Our kids classes strive to come alongside our you as a family and assist you in teaching and discipling your kids about Scripture. You have entrusted your kids to us and so we want to steward that time well. Parents, I want to encourage you to take advantage of that and talk to your kids over lunch about what they learned so that they will continue learning and growing through your leadership.

Now, for everyone else we are starting a brand new series this week called, “Entrusted”. We are going to be looking at the Parable of the Talents over the next 3 weeks and see what it is that God has entrusted to us as believers. Now, over the course of this series we are going to be looking at three things that God has entrusted to us, to you, and then prayerfully make sure that we are all individually using God’s resources the way God has called us to use his resources.

Now, I want to real quick share with everyone about this conference Beth and I went on earlier this week. We are so grateful that we were chosen to join this group of pastors to walk through a series of conferences over the next year, or so. This week we went and we were stretched in learning about how God has used our past experiences to shape our leadership, and what areas we may need to tweak in order to lead in a more healthy and Biblical manner. That is just a small snippet of the conversations we had over the course of this week. That leads into our conversation this morning because God has entrusted these experiences to me, and God has entrusted this congregation to me, and I need to be sure that I leading the way that God would have me lead.

Now, let’s talk about our culture for just a minute. There was a new 50 year mortgage that was just floated out this past week. I initially think that a horrible idea because it’s just going to cost far more money for the same house due to interest. However, the counter argument is that it will allow more people to step into home ownership and build equity through inflation and payments. I get that, and honestly housing is a great way to build wealth over time. There has also been talk over banks offering car loans up to 15 years…Again, I guess it will allow people to jump into better cars, but it just feels like an awful decision if I’m honest.

The thing is, we live in an ownership culture—our homes, our cars, our accounts, our schedules. Everything says ‘mine.’ But Jesus tells a story that flips that word upside down. In the parable of the talents, the word that defines the servants is not owners but entrusted. The question Jesus puts before us is simple: What are you doing with what isn’t yours?

So open your Bible to Matthew 25. Jesus is only days away from the cross, and He wants His disciples to understand what life should look like between His departure and His return. It’s the story of a Master who entrusts His possessions to His servants—it’s our story.

Matthew 25:14–30 ESV

“For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property. To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. So also he who had the two talents made two talents more. But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master’s money. Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. 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.’ 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.’ 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.’ 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.’ 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, so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here, you have what is yours.’ 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? 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. So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents. 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. And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

We’ll look closely this morning at verses 14–18, but I wanted us to hear the whole story so we can sense the Master’s expectation from beginning to end.

So today, the Master has gone on a journey. He’s handed you His keys, His resources, His gospel. The question isn’t what do you own? but what have you been entrusted with? That’s what I want you to consider this week as we move through our key passage.

Now, let’s reread the portion we will be focused on this morning.

Matthew 25:14–18 ESV

“For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property. To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. So also he who had the two talents made two talents more. But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master’s money.

So here’s what Jesus is doing in this parable—He’s reshaping the way His followers see everything they have. When He says the master “entrusted his possessions,” He’s telling us something about ownership. We don’t own a thing—not our homes, not our paychecks, not even the breath in our lungs. Everything in our hands is on loan from the Master.

And that’s where faithful stewardship begins—not with guilt or pressure, but with perspective. Before we talk about what God has entrusted to us, we need to understand who it all belongs to.

So before we think about what God gives, we need to think about who the Giver is.

The Master and His Ownership (v. 14)

Matthew 25:14 ESV

“For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property.

So the first thing we really need to understand is some vocabulary. So, I’m going to break this down a little bit for us, ok.

First we have the man. Later in the passage the man is reffered to as The Master.

The Master = Christ

Then we have the servants.

The Servants = Believers (Christians).

Lastly we have possessions

The Possessions - What God Entrusted (abilities, opportunities, material resources).

Now what happens here is that the master retains the ownership of everything. What the servants receive is not theirs to use for themselves, but theirs to use for the master. The servants are simply stewards of what the master has entrusted.

Here’s the truth—Stewardship begins with perspective: God owns; we manage.

However, in order to live like this is true, we need to build something called a “Theology of Ownership”. In other words, who owns the things in your possession—who owns the things that in this place.

In order to answer that question, we need to consult some other passages. First of all let’s look at

Psalm 24:1–2 ESV

The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein, for he has founded it upon the seas and established it upon the rivers.

God’s sovereignty and ownership extends over every possession and every person. In other words, you and everything you have, belongs to God.

What about

1 Chronicles 29:11–12 ESV

Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours. Yours is the kingdom, O Lord, and you are exalted as head above all. Both riches and honor come from you, and you rule over all. In your hand are power and might, and in your hand it is to make great and to give strength to all.

Here David is modeling for us a proper theology of ownership. David worships through the acknowledgment of God’s divine ownership.

So, you need to have recognize a Biblical theology of ownership in your life. Here is it. Theology of Ownership = Everything belongs to God

Now, if we belong to Christ, then nothing we have is “ours.” Every resource—our finances, our facilities, our families—are all God’s, and He has graciously entrusted them to us for His glory.

Let’s look at

The Entrustment and Its Purpose (v. 15–17)

Matthew 25:15–17 ESV

To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. So also he who had the two talents made two talents more.

Let’s talk about what these amounts are here. The talent that is given is equal to about 20 years worth of wages. Put that into perspective. In today’s money 5 talents would be enough to make someone a multi-millionaire. So, the master here is entrusting very large amounts to his servants. The master is showing a great deal of trust to each of his servants here.

Now there is something else that’s really important. You see, there are differing amounts of talents that are given to different servants. However, it’s important to note that this has nothing to do with favoritism from the master. This choice reveals divine wisdom. You see, each is equipped differently, and so the master is giving to each differently.

What is the purpose of all of this though? What’s the purpose of this story in the midst of the Gospel here? Jesus is teaching his disciples. This story is in the midst of a very long section where Jesus is describing what will happen in time. Jesus has shared about the temporary state of the Temple, the coming of the Son of Man, and how they are to be watching for the end.

Then, Jesus shares this story—this isn’t a real event, this is a parable, an illustration that Jesus is using to teach a point to his followers. This story is being used to symbolize Jesus going away and the lengthy delay prior to his coming back. There is something else that is really important though.

God’s entrustments are intentional. No resource or opportunity is random. However, it is their responsibility as faithful stewards to be about the work of the Master while he is gone. Jesus is telling the disciples they should be about the work of the master while the master is gone.

1 Corinthians 4:2 ESV

Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful.

This isn’t an option that we steward God’s ownership appropriately because he has given to you intentionally. That’s not all though…

God’s entrustments are purposeful. They exist to multiply His kingdom reach. Let that sink in for just a moment folks. Everything you have…whether materiel or immaterial, has been given to you for the work of the Lord. That means, everything you have is for Kingdom Advancement.

As a church we have been entrusted with specific talents, or resources. With one of those resources the Elders believe we are to create an outdoor space to be able to connect with the community around us in a different way. The pavilion, which I’ve called The Front Porch, is a physical tool for hospitality and outreach. To that end we have begun the project of the pavilion. I don’t know the specific numbers, but I believe we have less than $10K that is left to be raised.

There is something else God has entrusted to this church — your kids. The children, youth, and families in this church have been entrusted to LRBC to be able to disciple them well. That is why the Elders have pushed forward the need for a family pastor. This man will be a relational tool for discipleship and spiritual formation of the coming generations.

Both the pavilion and the family pastor are two sides of the same mission. The mission to reach the community around us with the Gospel. These are divine entrustments. The question is not, “can we afford these things”, because let’s be honest…no we can’t. For the position of family pastor we need to increase our giving by close to $1,000 per week. That’s a pretty big ask…However, we know that God has entrusted great things to the people of this church and we firmly believe that as God leads us, he will supply us. So here’s the real question we should all be asking

Can we be faithful with what He has given?

Here’s the deal…The Master’s trust reveals His expectation—He gives with purpose, not passivity. That brings us to the next truth.

The Expectation and Our Response (vv. 18)

Matthew 25:18 ESV

But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master’s money.

This is the servant that was entrusted with the smallest amount. Not because the master didn’t like him, but because that was the choice of the master. The fact that the master gave differing talents to different people shows us that God does not call us to equal results, but to faithful stewardship.

Stewardship is not about possessions but accountability—God will call each to account for the resources he entrusted to you.

Romans 14:12 ESV

So then each of us will give an account of himself to God.

This final servant failed in the task of faithful stewardship because his own fear and misunderstanding of the masters character. You see, your stewardship of something is directly tied to your view of the owner of that item. In this case, the servant feared the master and felt the master would punish him for failing. However, what we will see next week is that the master will punish him because of his lack of action and laziness.

Listen, this is important and I want everyone to hear this ok…Many times we “play it safe” in regards to what we feel God is calling us to do. We sit back and watch, or we act conservatively when God calls us to boldness. In essence we are lazy with what God has entrusted to us. Laziness in stewardship is not neutral; it is disobedience. You think it’s no big deal if you sit out of outreach opportunities, or “God will understand” why you can’t share your faith with others. After all, work, shopping, neighborhoods, these aren’t the place to tell people they are going to hell. It’s better if we bury that so that we will have it when Jesus comes back.

As a church, God has blessed us—financially, relationally, and spiritually. We don’t need to be guilted into generosity; we need to be guided into gratitude. Faithful stewardship means using what He’s already entrusted to us:

The pavilion as a tool for hospitality and witness. That means we better be about using this resources the way God is calling us to use it.

The family pastor as a means of shepherding the coming generations. That means we better be about funding this position and working with this man to encourage him in ministry and in his own faith.

Faithful stewardship leads to joyful accountability. The servants who invested heard, “Well done.” Those words are not about return on investment—they’re about relationship and obedience.

Let’s reflect on

The Call to Faithful Stewardship

First of all let’s all remember that everything we have actually belongs to God. If you didn’t hear anything else this morning…hear that. Everything you have, belongs to God.

At LRBC we teach and believe in percentage based giving. What that means is that if you have a great deal of money, you give the first percentage of that back to the Lord. If you make a small amount of money, you give the first percentage of that back to the Lord. If you truly believe that everything belongs to God anyway, then this is a true and faithful response.

I teach the tithe as the helpful biblical guide. That means that your percentage is 10%. We see that in Scripture. However, I know that can be a hard check to write for the first time. I get it…So let me encourage you to start with 1%…even 1/2%..but the first percentage is what is important. It’s not the percentage that pleases God—it’s the posture of trust and worship behind it.

That is a truth that is taught as far back as Cain and Able. Cain brought an offering of fruits and vegetables, but Able brought an offering of the firstborn of his flock. Cain’s offering was not regarded while Able’s was. You are called to give the first fruits of what God has entrusted to you. So start with that today if you haven’t already started doing that.

For those of you that are going to commit to first fruit giving today, don’t stop at 1/2%. As you see God’s faithfulness to supply your needs, continue increasing your percentage to give what Scripture guides us to—doing all cheerfully and in worship, not out of compulsion. Honoring God, the Master, by investing in his kingdom moving forward. Because everything we have belongs to God; we are merely stewards of His possessions. Remember as you give of your time, talent, or treasure…you are giving to the Lord. Let’s read…

Colossians 3:23–24 ESV

Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.

The pavilion isn’t a building project—it’s a stewardship project. The Family Pastor isn’t a hire—it’s a trust. These are the Master’s resources for His mission…are you stewarding them properly.

Faithful stewardship is not about what we give away, but what we give back—to the One who gave it first.

If you are a Christian, someone that has been following Jesus for a day or for a lifetime…

The question Jesus puts before you is simple: What are you doing with what isn’t yours? That’s the question I asked you to start considering as we move through this series, and that’s the question I want you to answer as we pray to close.

If you have heard this and you are questioning what it means to follow a God who owns everything, please don’t wait to reach out…Come talk to me, text me, email me, something. Let’s get together and talk about what it is that God has for you, and what it means to trust God with your entire life. If this is you, right now I want you to admit you are a sinner in need of a savior as we pray.

Let’s pray: