Called to Stewardship / Properly Handling God’s Things

One phrase description of yourself that would describe who you are at every moment of your life.

(ESV) 1 Corinthians 4 1 This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God.

Allowed to stay at a condo in Dillion Colorado

We were guests. Honored to be allowed to use this special place.

Every day could look out at the magnificent Rockies in full fall color.

We could launch into the area enjoying the many things to do

We could return to the condo to be at peace / renew / relax.

We didn’t repaint the place. Or remodel. Or try to make it different. It wasn’t ours. We merely were guests, enjoying someone else’s things.

And the place came with responsibilities.

We were instructed on how to care for the place.

We needed to clean the shower / vacuum the floor / put bedding and dirty towels in a certain place

We did not so become enthralled with our enjoyment, that we forgot to fulfill our responsibilities.

At the end of the stay, they stopped by and we rejoiced together. For their generosity and love for all the provided for us. For our faithful taking care of the their place.

Our relationship was enhanced by the partnership together – Their giving us their things to use / our enjoying and caring for the things they gave.

In some ways that is the Christian life. The Lord has given us all that we have. All belongs to Him. He give us all for us to use and invest and manage for Him. When we fulfill our responsibilities, we enjoy the things given, while investing and caring for them as not belong to us but to Him.

The result is and enhance relationship, partnering together.

I. Properly Handling God’s Things: Stewardship defined

A. A servant 1 Cor 4:1a

(ESV) 1 Corinthians 4 1 This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God.

1. In the midst of aligning with groups

2. A sense of pride at being the most elite

3. Greatest is a servant

4. Not doulos slave - Under rower – lowest level of rowers on a galley / subordinate / under authority

5. Entire life under the authority of Christ / serve Christ completely

a) Service directed by Him / things directed by Him / time directed by Him / money directed by Him / All that is life directed by Him

A. A steward 1 Cor 4:1b

(ESV) 1 Corinthians 4 1 This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God.

1. Manage the revealed things of God

2. First of all the sharing of the gospel / make known what has been previously not known – the gospel

3. Take care of other things of God as well

B. A House manager Luke 12:41-42

(ESV) 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?

1. Owns nothing of his own

2. Responsible for the master’s things

3. Ran his master’s household

4. Use wisdom

5. Is consistently faithful

6. Manages the things that God has given Him

a) His time / His talents / His money / The life that is given to Him

II. Properly Handling God’s Things: The requirements of a steward

A. Faithfulness 1 Cor 4:2

(ESV) 1 Corinthians 4 2 Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful.

1. An overall summary of what is expected

2. Not a flash in the pan / momentary burst / but consistent over time

3. Reliable

4. Trustworthy

B. Has a clear conscience in His dealings with the Master’s things 1 Cor 4:3-4a

(ESV) 1 Corinthians 4 3 But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by any human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself. 4 For I am not aware of anything against myself,

1. Judge – preliminary cross-examination

2. Not about convincing others – your assessment can be wrong – not serving others but Christ / or even oneself – puff up or get it wrong

3. But are we doing as the Master asks

4. Paul declares as best he can he is living and investing his life as God desires / but this is not his hope - unreliable

C. Stands ready to be evaluated by the Lord 1 Cor 4:4b-5

(ESV) 1 Corinthians 4 4 For I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not thereby acquitted. It is the Lord who judges me.

5 Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then each one will receive his commendation from God.

1. Judgement – different word – final judgment

2. The final accounting – Bema seat of Christ / evaluate the Christian’s life

3. Reveal the hidden things

4. Disclose the heart

5. This drives the reward – appropriate management of God’s things / our lives / our times / our talents / our money

6. Right motives will be affirmed by God

III. Properly Handling God’s Things: An example of a steward

A. Accountable Luke 16:1-2

(ESV) Luke 16 1 He also said to the disciples, “There was a rich man who had a manager, and charges were brought to him that this man was wasting his possessions. 2 And he called him and said to him, ‘What is this that I hearabout you? Turn in the account of your management, for you can no longer be manager.’

1. Charged with wasting his possession

2. Must give an account

B. Deals wisely with eternal purposes Luke 16:8-9

(ESV) Luke 16 8 The master commended the dishonest manager for his shrewdness. For the sons of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own generation than the sons of light. 9 And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by means of unrighteous wealth, so that when it fails they may receive you into the eternal dwellings.

1. Point of the parable – use the things you have been given by God to produce eternal value (specifically here money)

C. Shows faithfulness in the small things Luke 16:10

(ESV) Luke 16 10 “One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much.

1. Critical to faithful in the small things

2. Represent our character

3. Do the small things right the big things take care of themselves

D. Demonstrates faithfulness in monetary things Luke 16:11

(ESV) Luke 16 11 If then you have not been faithful in the unrighteous wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches?

1. Money represents our life

a) Time we spent earning it

b) What we depend upon for surviving

c) What we use to generate pleasure and enjoyment

d) The question is – how are we using it /investing it for God

2. Unfaithful in an unimportant thing like money – how can you be faithful in greater things of life

E. Unfaithfulness inhibits further responsibilities Luke 16:12

(ESV) Luke 16 12 And if you have not been faithful in that which is another’s, who will give you that which is your own?

1. Unfaithful in other’s things / how can you be trusted to be given more for yourself ---- waste it as well

F. An improper example Luke 16:14-15

(ESV) Luke 16 14 The Pharisees, who were lovers of money, heard all these things, and they ridiculed him. 15 And he said to them, “You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is exalted among men is an abomination in the sight of God.

1. Lovers of money Luke 16:14a

2. Justify themselves Luke 16:15a

a) Defensive

b) Justify themselves before men

3. A problem of the heart Luke 16:15b

4. Reject the truth Luke 16:14b, 15:b

G. An issue of who you serve Luke 16:13

(ESV) Luke 16 13 No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.”

1. Can’t have it both ways

2. Must make a choice who to serve / world or God / here money or God

H. An issue of the heart Luke 12:34

(ESV) Luke 12 34 For where your treasure is, there will your heart bealso.

1. The external reflects the heart

2. Wrong externals reflects a wrong heart

3. Can see your heart by what you do

a) Actions

b) Time

c) Money

d) Life