The Faithful Steward

Luke 12:42 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.

What is a steward?

ESV Word change to manager

steward manages someone elses household - joseph - adam - Jesus the faithful steward

we too are stewards - and as stewards we’ve been given a stewardship

stewardship - mission

take what I’ve given you… and grow it.

What exactly is our mission?

we have a responsibility - a calling - we have a portion and an amount of time… for the purpose of providing our master (Lord) with gains.

In other words - we are to be found faithful - “well done my good and faithful servant”

This mission - stewardship - started in the garden of eden.

Adam given wife/orchard - take dominion. expand. work and keep.

the owner returned to find Adam wasn’t faithful.

Adam was duped - he and Eve chose to be “like God”

in other words, they weren’t content being stewards. They wanted it all for themselves. They wanted to be the owner.

In the end - he found himself now a steward of Satan. A terrible job.

But God promised a faithful steward - one to come.

who? who perfectly handled all resources?

and based on his faithful stewarding - he now rules as steward over all heaven and earth

AND LIKE ADAM - who had a co-steward - Christ has one - his church. Rule and reign alongside - serving -

And ONE DAY the Master will return

at the day of our death our faithfulness will be tested - Luke 16:19 - Then we will enter paradise or torment (thief on the cross - parable of lazurus)

but then at the last day - based on our stewardship - we will be rewarded or punished accordingly. You paying attention yet? Makes me sit up a bit more...

So in other words - in this life we are given a portion of our future inheritance now as a test of faithfulness.

example - you had last week. Last week is over - you cannot get it back.

in other words - if we are truly HEAVENLY MINDED - then we are EARTHLY GOOD.

living every moment in anticipation of our appointment with the master… now that’ll help you focus up.

BUT THIS SOUNDS LIKE WORKS SALVATION

We’re not talking about salvation or justification here.

we’re talking about jesus teaching about a specific type of judgement that comes on the last day to reward or punish those that have been faithful or unfaithful with what he has given them.

some will use this statement as an excuse to live in sin or sloth - or take lightly the commands of Christ.

some will use the appeal to grace as that excuse.

we cannot escape from this teaching. And we must RUN to Jesus over it.

if we want to talk about GRACE then we need too talk about the GRACE we need in order to do this.

judgement comes at the end no matter what - and the gift of obedience - that’s the grace we need to be running after.

We are tempted to be the sloth - to drink up our inheritance - drunkenness - beating our servants to work every last dime out of them that we can for OUR own benefit.

we consume it all instead of invest.

this is an individualistic mindset - bred into us from our culture. We look towards the future for ourselves, with ourselves being the center of the universe. Decidedly NOT a Christian wordlview.

We are called to be concerned with our master’s will - with our Father’s will - and we are warned of the coming judgement.

what happens to a faithless steward?

Parable of the talents - Matt 25

their lot is taken from them and given to the faithful.

in other words - they were never a part of God’s family to begin with - They are cast into hell.

matt 25:30 - “and cast the worthless servant into outer darkness where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth”

The lie of carnal Christianity - the lie of antinomianism - the lie of easy-believism… watch out.

if your life does not reflect that of the faithful steward - of one advancing the cause of Christ - then watch out - and RUN TO CHRIST for the grace to obey

We must live with eternity in mind.

The purpose of this life isn’t to finagle more - to achieve maximum comfort - let the last day inform your today.your strategy. the final inheritance must inform our lives now.

Does it? If so, how?

Will you drink up all your inheritance now?

This also brings up one more important side note...

there is no equality in heaven or hell… or ever… for that matter.

based on what? v47 - our knowledge.

To whom much is given....

Let’s think through two examples - Judas knew the word - he knew the law - and he manipulated it to steal from Jesus and his disciples. He pretended to care for the poor to line his wallet

Those like Judas are alive and well today. Woe to them.

Pilate - he knew alot less. Both men were evil but one was ignorant. Who will recieve less of a judgment? The answer is clear.

What does that mean?

coming to church is dangerous yall.

First off - we’re entering into God’s presence. Mt Sinai. The Burning Bush.

if you were moses would you approach it casually? Coming in late, relaxed, meh.

We wouldn’t even approach our bosses like that. Or a potential customer. Or a valuable connection.

But God… meh.

Here is wehre you hear what the word is calling you to do. My job is just to tell you what it says.

and as you learn… and do not conform… your judgement increases.

If you refuse to repent… look… it almost would be better for you if you never came in the firrst place.

Every time we hear the word - it isn’t neutral - we are either blessed by it… or cursed.

OH! So then I’ll just stay dumb. Blissful ignorance and all that.

No. God’s children grow in the knowledge of God’s will SO THAT we can be all the more faithful with HIS resources.

BUT HOW PREACHER!! Now I just know that I can’t do it MORE and that I HAVENT” DONE IT for SO LONG

You need grace… and you need to GROW in KNOWLEDGE AND GRACE

2 Pet 3:18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.

See… knowledge without grace - no ability to comply.

you’ll know the masters will and be unable to do it. And that’s bad.

but if you grow in knowledge AND grace to do it… now we’re talking.

And where does that grace come from?? From the Lrod himself.

Obedience - repentance - is a gift from God. 2 Tim 2:25 - Acts 11:18. And that’s exactly what we need. Ezek 36

Run to him. Ask him. Beg him. Be dependent upon him.

It’s not too late. You have resources, you are a steward - let us change and be faithful with what we have for the kingdom and Glory of God wholly dependent on him for the grace to do it. God help us. Be merciful on us. Let us be your faithful people.