2 Corinthians 8:10-24 Being a Good Steward

Intro

This morning we are going to talk about something that will change every Christian’s life

There are three things a believer needs to thrive

First, they need faith

The ability to trust God in every situation

Second, there is following the leading of the Holy Spirit

Finally, there is stewardship

It means to manage one’s house

We are to be good stewards over our life and usually over those in the house we live

In the Bible, the steward, usually a slave, oversaw the house of their master

The most well-known steward in the Bible is Joseph

He rose to the role in Potiphar’s house, earned the trust of the jailer while in prison, and became the Prime Minister of Egypt all while exercising the role of a steward

He managed the house of Potiphar and the affairs of Egypt during the Famine

Jesus jumped on that theme when he taught on the parable of the talents

In Matt 25:14-30 Three stewards were given different amounts of talents

A talent was a monetary unit worth about twenty years’ wages for a laborer

One was given 5 talents or 100 years wages, another 2 talents or 40 years, and another 1 talent or 20 years.

They were to manage those talents while their master was gone

The one took 100 years of wages and came back with 100 more, the second took 40 years of wages and returned 40 more, while the one with 20 came back with the same 20

We are called to be good stewards of the resources God gives us

The two good stewards heard what every Christian wants to hear: “Well done, good and faithful servant

Paul shows us what a good steward is

Read 2 Corinthians 8:10-15

Transition

Stewards were servants in charge of managing the household affairs and keeping order in the family.

It is important because we are going to stand before God and give an account of how we used what God has given us

Just as in the parable of the talents we are expected to use what God has given us

Stewards need to ensure that there is enough to provide for the household

They are to earn the money, manage the finances, and save for the future, and give those who are less fortunate

In Corinth, they were blessed with riches

They were notorious for spending their money of self-pleasure

They had promised an offering for the suffering church in Jerusalem

It had been a year and they hadn’t followed through

Paul exhorts them to be good stewards so they could give and bless others

When Titus reunited with Paul he showed up with an offering that was more than expected

When we are good stewards with our lives it prepares us to give, brings balance, and is an expression of love

I. Stewardship Prepares You to Give vs. 10-12

Paul had asked the Corinthians to take an offering for the church in Jersualem

The church in Jerusalem was poor and under great persecution

Paul felt it would bond the Jews with the Gentiles

The Macedonians, who were just as poor as the Jews, gave willingly

A year after promising to give, the Corinthians still hadn’t fulfilled their promise, even though they were wealthy

Paul was writing to remind them of their promise

Some in the church had questioned Paul’s motives

They said he was taking the money for himself

He isn’t strong arming them, Instead he reminded them the offering was voluntary

vs. 10 It’s Voluntary

Any giving to the church is always voluntary

God wants a cheerful giver who gives out of the love flowing from their heart

We don’t compare your W-2 and your giving and demand that you make up the difference

A good steward understands that what they have is given to them from the Lord

They are to manage it properly while on Earth and part of that includes being generous

1 Tim 6:18-19 They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, 19 thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.

A good steward understands that part of managing their household is to give to the work of the Lord and to be ready to share in any need that arises

vs. 11 It’s Committed

A good steward is a person of their word

When they make a commitment they stick to it

Whether it be paying their bills or giving to the Lord, they follow through

The Corinthians hadn’t fulfilled their promise

To a good steward, finishing well is as important as starting strong

vs. 12 It’s Proportionate

A good steward is wise in how they give

They live within their means and they give proportionately

Mark 12:44 For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.”

II. Stewardship Brings Balance vs. 13-15

vs. 13-15 is Paul answering arguments from the Corinthians

Because they had money they made accusations they were being taken advantage

Paul reassures them that it all balances out in the end

The Corinthian church wouldn’t exist without the sacrifices of the church in Jerusalem

The first church was made up of mostly pilgrims from other areas of the world

They had come for Pentecost and got saved

Many of them stayed and lived in people’s homes

They didn’t have jobs and relied upon the provision of others

Those who were from Jersualem often lost their jobs and were disowned by their families

The need was great but everyone was taken care of

Acts 4:34-35 There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold 35 and laid it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need.

vs. 14 Supplies the Needs

Paul was asking the Corinthians to supply the needs of those in Jersualem

God has a way of balancing things out when you give

They may never be able to repay you, but God sees what you did

Matt 6:3-4 But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

III. Stewardship is an Expression of Love vs. 16-24

Finally, stewardship is an expression of love

Paul gets really direct here and tells the Corinthians that their lack of giving was evidence they weren’t saved

A person who has been changed by Jesus wants to give those who are needy

It is an outward expression of their love for Jesus

They do it out of obedience and love

The two are mutually compatible

vs. 16-17 Submission

When you are generous it shows that you are submitted to Jesus Christ

Every steward has a master they answer to

As Christians, we look at what we have as given by God

Therefore we are stewards of God’s resources and in the end will answer for how we used them

Titus came to Corinth and reminded them of their promise to give

The church submitted to his authority as a church leader

When you start to follow Jesus you become a part of the church

That local church has leaders that have been placed there by God

An expression of love is living peacefully under that leadership

If you are a person who has issues with authority or is always challenging it, this is something God needs to work out

Are there corrupt leaders in the church? Yes

Have churches done horrible things? yes

But for the rest of the 95% of pastors and churches they are doing their best

A good steward understands they are under this authority

Paul and Titus were in complete unity over this issue

The Corinthians saw this and got behind it

If you ar

1 Peter 2:12 Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.

vs. 24 Shows Proof

Paul’s final challenge to the Corinthians was to show proof