Stewardship: laying the foundation
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What is Stewardship?
What is Stewardship?
definitions:
The careful use, control and management of the possessions of another person that have been entrusted to you.
Stewardship means to hold something in trust for someone else. For the Christian it means that all that we possess we hold in trust for God to whom we shall one day have to give an account of our stewardship.
stewardship is from the word steward:
word Study:
The root word: oikonomos
has 3 major translations in the bible:it carries the meaning of
a manager,
an administrator and
a treasurer
For instance:
in , it carries the meaning of a household manager.
someone who manages the affairs of the house on behalf of the head of the family to maintain order.
In It could also mean Public treasurer or just a treasurer
Someone who is entrusted with the care of the money that belong to the city
An Administrator
Examples of lives who clearly represent what it means to be a steward:
Some examples of people in the scripture that we can use to further explain the meaning of stewardship:
Adam in the garden of Eden:
15 The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it.
Gen2:15 – God created him, and placed him in the garden as the first steward... Joseph in the house of Potiphar – God used circumstances to guide him into is stewardship office. He began his trainning in his father house; then he moved into the house of portipher; he moved again to the dungeon, and then he became the stewards of the king in charge of the whole nation. Daniel as administrator in Babylon – Another example of God using circumstances to guide a man into his stewardship office, he and his team came to babylon as slaves, but yet God Chose them. The seven Deacons in the book of acts – They were appointed by the church to become stewards, in the midst of crisis, so as to help the apostles. Wherever we are as children of God we need to always remember that we are stewards -
– God created him, and placed him in the garden as the first steward...
Joseph in the house of Potiphar
4 So Joseph found favor in his sight and attended him, and he made him overseer of his house and put him in charge of all that he had. 5 From the time that he made him overseer in his house and over all that he had, the Lord blessed the Egyptian’s house for Joseph’s sake; the blessing of the Lord was on all that he had, in house and field. 6 So he left all that he had in Joseph’s charge, and because of him he had no concern about anything but the food he ate. Now Joseph was handsome in form and appearance.
– God used circumstances to guide him into is stewardship office. He began his trainning in his father house; then he moved into the house of portipher; he moved again to the dungeon, and then he became the stewards of the king in charge of the whole nation. Daniel as administrator in Babylon – Another example of God using circumstances to guide a man into his stewardship office, he and his team came to babylon as slaves, but yet God Chose them. The seven Deacons in the book of acts – They were appointed by the church to become stewards, in the midst of crisis, so as to help the apostles. Wherever we are as children of God we need to always remember that we are stewards -
– God used circumstances to guide him into is stewardship office. He began his trainning in his father house; then he moved into the house of portipher; he moved again to the dungeon, and then he became the stewards of the king in charge of the whole nation.
Daniel as administrator in Babylon
1 It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom 120 satraps, to be throughout the whole kingdom; 2 and over them three high officials, of whom Daniel was one, to whom these satraps should give account, so that the king might suffer no loss. 3 Then this Daniel became distinguished above all the other high officials and satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him. And the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom.
– Another example of God using circumstances to guide a man into his stewardship office, he and his team came to babylon as slaves, but yet God Chose them.
The seven Deacons in the book of acts
1 Now in these days when the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint by the Hellenists arose against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution. 2 And the twelve summoned the full number of the disciples and said, “It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables. 3 Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty. 4 But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” 5 And what they said pleased the whole gathering, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch. 6 These they set before the apostles, and they prayed and laid their hands on them.
– They were appointed by the church to become stewards, in the midst of crisis, so as to help the apostles.
Wherever we are as children of God we need to always remember that we are stewards of some sort
There are different areas of stewardship:
Stewardship of Time
– devotional life in terms of (quatity, quality and depth)
25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.
Stewardship of Talent and gifts - (aholiab, jeduthun, etc)
1 “Bezalel and Oholiab and every craftsman in whom the Lord has put skill and intelligence to know how to do any work in the construction of the sanctuary shall work in accordance with all that the Lord has commanded.” 2 And Moses called Bezalel and Oholiab and every craftsman in whose mind the Lord had put skill, everyone whose heart stirred him up to come to do the work. 3 And they received from Moses all the contribution that the people of Israel had brought for doing the work on the sanctuary. They still kept bringing him freewill offerings every morning,
Stewardship as Mnistry
- (aholiab, jeduthun, etc) , Steardship as Mnistry - (serving in the church, deacon, bishop etc) Stewardship of Money – (first fruit, offerings, tithe, special seeds) Stewardship of the gospel ;
10 As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: 11 whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
14 Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you by prophecy when the council of elders laid their hands on you. 15 Practice these things, immerse yourself in them, so that all may see your progress.
,
stewardship as service:
- (serving in the church, deacon, bishop etc)
Stewardship of Money – (first fruit, offerings, tithe, special seeds)
10 Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need.
1 “When you come into the land that the Lord your God is giving you for an inheritance and have taken possession of it and live in it, 2 you shall take some of the first of all the fruit of the ground, which you harvest from your land that the Lord your God is giving you, and you shall put it in a basket, and you shall go to the place that the Lord your God will choose, to make his name to dwell there. 3 And you shall go to the priest who is in office at that time and say to him, ‘I declare today to the Lord your God that I have come into the land that the Lord swore to our fathers to give us.’ 4 Then the priest shall take the basket from your hand and set it down before the altar of the Lord your God.
Stewardship of the gospel
1 This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God.
19 that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. 20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
;
The Teaching of Christ on stewardship
The parable of the Talents:
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.’
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.
mat 25: 14-30; luke 12:48 ( take note of what the parable emphasises)
luke 12:48
it emphasized: 1) the various degreee of stewardship that represent varied degree of expectation; the need to do business with what you have - that is, there is no excuse for idleness; the time of reckoning is coming when we shall all give account; in luke, if you fail to discover the purpose of god for your life and you are caught up in the wrong business, the bible says, you will still be beaten.
( take note of what the parable emphasises)
What is the reason for our stewardship: understanding purposeful stewardship:
Daniel: that the king may suffer no loss
2 and over them three high officials, of whom Daniel was one, to whom these satraps should give account, so that the king might suffer no loss.
Joseph: to preserve a generation
7 And God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant on earth, and to keep alive for you many survivors.
gen
Adam: to keep from decadence
to prevent decadence in the garden of the Lord
Asaph and Jeduthune: to ensure continuous worship of the Lord
1 David and the chiefs of the service also set apart for the service the sons of Asaph, and of Heman, and of Jeduthun, who prophesied with lyres, with harps, and with cymbals. The list of those who did the work and of their duties was:
Stewardship of money: To make sure there is meat in the house of the Lord
10 Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need.
–Pastoral and ministry sustenance and continuity The deacons: Church administration and smooth running
The qualities necessary in stewardship:
Faithfulness
Integrity
Accountability
Knowlegiable about what is required of thee
>>You will give account of yourself at the appearing of your king
about what is required of thee You will give account of yourself at the appearing of your king
Salient Qualities that we found in the lives of Joseph and Daniel:
they were both slaves
both bounded to their master
both were appointed and placed in charge by their masters
they were appointed to oversee
both exhibited certain uncommon qualities:
the fear of the Lord
the wisdom of God
they were me who work hard
they were men with ability.
the spirit of the holy God was upon them
they both had a political seat in their nations
recall, that moses was advice to choose stewards based on these uncommon characters
21 Moreover, look for able men from all the people, men who fear God, who are trustworthy and hate a bribe, and place such men over the people as chiefs of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens.
The most important key indicator of stewardship is
Sharing. Jesus taught on sharing The church shared their possessions The Israrelites were to share their possession The apostles taught of cheerful given
The certainty of rewards in stewardship:
1. The Garden became the possesion of Adam
2. Joseph, The slave boy, became a great leader in egypt
3. Another slave, daniel, became a great political Leader in babylon
4. Tithing attracts blessings from God - God said, put me to test with this, and see if i will not pour out for you a blessing...
Jesus said:
esus said: if you are faithful in the little you will be given much A man that is faithful in keeping the things of another man, will be given his own to keep Failure to do what is expected will lead to beating and disgrace at the end of time
- if you are faithful in the little you will be given much
if you are faithful in the little you will be given much
- A man that is faithful in keeping the things of another man, will be given his own to keep
- Failure to do what is expected will lead to beating and disgrace at the end of time
The key concept in stewardship is FAITHFULNESS
1 This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. 2 Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful.
faithfulness is required, and not bargained.