Biblical Stewardship Principle #4

Introduction

The video that just played is a powerful testimony of a faithful witness. It is also a wonderful testimony to how God can use something as insignificant as a tract in a person’s life. My prayer is that it challenged you about becoming a silent witness. All it takes is carrying tracts with you and handing them out as you go through your daily life.

Today is the last and final day of our Mission’s Month. Throughout the month, our focus was on World Evangelism. Specifically, we heard testimony from four different missionaries. The first Sunday was Ron Davis, missionary to Poland. The second Sunday was David Campbell, missionary to Wales, England. The third Sunday was Joe Hendricks, missionary to the incarcerated, and, then, this past Sunday was Logan Bankston, a second generation missionary to New Zealand. Our theme has been “Send the Light.” Thus, we encouraged you this whole month to consider having a part in Sending the Light to Poland, Wales, the prisons, and New Zealand. However, if you give to our Mission’s Ministry here at Calvary Baptist Church, you have a part in more than just these few countries. You will have part in other countries as well like...

Thailand

Canada

Guatemala

Papua New Guinea

Brazil

Navajo Indians

Ireland

Spain

Philippines

Dominican Republic

Russia

Japan

Haiti

Israel

Mexico

Taiwan

Ecuador

Your mission giving support 30 missionaries all across the world. As I said last week, I cannot think of a better program to support with my money than giving to missions. My prayer is that you will get involved by not just giving and through prayer, but also going yourself.

In fact, today’s focus is on Bedford - our town and our county. We have a responsibility to reach the people who live right here. That is where things like giving out tracts, inviting people to our church, and being involved in our GROW ministry is so vitally important. Yes, we are to Send the Light to all the world, but we Send the Light by starting with our own backyard.

I am reminded of Christ’s word as He preached the Great Sermon on the Mount. He said...

Matthew 5:14–16 KJV 1900

14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. 15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

Note a few things of importance here.

First, you, as a believer, are the light of the world. We are light in the sense we are to be reflecting the Light of the World which is Jesus. We are to Christ what the moon is to the sun. We are not the LIGHT, but we give off the LIGHT when we live our lives pleasing unto Him.

Second, as light, we are made to shine and not be hid. Christ gives two analogies here. The first is a city on a hill. Sometimes, at night, I will walk out on my deck and look across the way. My house sets up on a hill and I can see all around me. I can see the Blue Ridge Mountains to the west and I can see several miles to the east towards Lynchburg. At night, on a nice clear night, I can see the lights of Lynchburg lighting up the night sky. I can’t see the city itself, but I see sky illuminated by the bright lights of the city. A city lit up at night on hill cannot be hid. The second analogy is a candle on a candlestick. The reason is sets on a candlestick is to allow it to light up the house so all my see at night. It makes no sense to light a candle and stick it under a bushel. You light a candle so that you might see in the darkness. Thus, Christ says we are the light of world. We are to shine as bright as a city on a hill. We are not hide our light under bushel basket. No, we are to live according to the purpose God intended. That purpose is to be witness for Him.

Third, we shine not for ourselves, but to glorify God.

LIGHT ILLUSTRATION SLIDES HERE

One of the things that I often think about when I consider these verses is this. As you know, one candle gives off enough light to light up a certain area of circumference. In order to light up a large area, you need more than one candle. In fact, you need several. If you apply this to us being lights in this world of darkness, each of us have area we are to light up. We all have our own circle of family, friends, coworkers, and neighbors. Thus, you the light of their world. You can reach people that I do not know. God has placed them in your life as that you can be their light. However, if we do not take our responsibility serious and we hide our light, we are running the risk of those close to us never knowing Christ. They will die in their sins and spend an eternity separated from God in a very terrible place called Hell.

All this brings us to our final Stewardship Principle. Each principle that I have shared with you brings us to this last point for today.

Principle #1 - God Owns It All

Principle #2 - God Has Entrusted His Wealth to You as a Believer

Principle #3 - Use It for Him or Lose It

And, here is principle #4.

One Day, Very Soon, We will Stand Accountable Before Him!

Let’s go one more time back to Matthew chapters 24 and 25. Much of what Christ taught in these chapters was about end times. Chapter 26 is the beginning of Christ’s arrest, trial, and eventual death. Thus, in chapters 24 and 25, Christ is preparing His disciples for what is about to happen as well as future things yet to take place. Note what He says in Matthew 24 starting with verse 4.

Matthew 24:4–14 KJV 1900

4 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. 5 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. 6 And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. 7 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. 8 All these are the beginning of sorrows. 9 Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake. 10 And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. 11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. 12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. 13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.

You may recall us reading these verses a Sunday or two ago. And, just like then, I point you to verse 14 which says...

Matthew 24:14 KJV 1900

14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.

Christ’s focus was the preaching of the “gospel of the kingdom.” Now, jump over to verse 36 of this same chapter.

Matthew 24:36–41 KJV 1900

36 But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. 37 But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. 38 For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, 39 And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. 40 Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. 41 Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left.

The next big event on God’s calendar is the Rapture. When will happen? No one knows but God the Father. However, if you are student of God’s Word and you are student of things happening in the world today, you probably know that we are closer than we have ever been to the trumpet sounding.

Christ concludes chapter 24 with these words.

Matthew 24:42–46 KJV 1900

42 Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. 43 But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. 44 Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh. 45 Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season? 46 Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.

SIDE NOTE: Our job is not to sit around trying to figure out when Christ is going to come. Instead, our focus is to be on faithfully serving Him and preparing for when He does come.

Now, continue to follow the progression of Christ’s teaching here. As we come to chapter 25, we have two parables.

The first is about the 10 virgins. Five virgins had oil and five did not. We already covered this and know that the oil represents the Holy Spirit. The conclusion being that when Christ returns those who have the Holy Spirit (aka oil in their lamps) will go to be with Him as the bridegroom. However, those who do not have oil in their lamps are going to be left outside the door.

The second parable we have spend two Sundays considering. In this parable, we have the lord who gives his wealth to his three stewards. He gives five talents to one, two talents to another, and one talent to the last. As we already noted, the one with five made five more, the one with two made two more, and then the one with one talent hid it and did nothing. Now note with me Matthew 25:19

Matthew 25:19 KJV 1900

19 After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them.

I want to draw your attention to the word “reckoneth” with them. The word “reckoneth” in the Greek means to settle accounts with the objective of clearing all financial obligations on anything owed or due. Now, remember, the lord has given each of his servants talents according to their several ability. In other words, he had given them exactly what the needed and could handle as he was on his journey. Now, the lord has returned and it was time to settle his accounts with those to whom he entrusted his wealth. It was the Day of Accountability!

Believers, may I remind us this morning that there is coming a day when Christ, who is our Lord and Master, will return. When He does, He will first want to settle all His accounts. He will ask each of us what we have done with all that He entrusted to us.

HERE IS THE QUESTION BEFORE US THIS MORNING - ARE YOU PREPARED FOR THAT DAY?

Here is something that one of my college professors burned into our young minds -

PROPER PRIOR PLANNING PREVENTS POOR PERFORMANCE!

May humble submit to you this morning three things we need to do in order to PROPERLY PLAN for when the trumpet sounds!

PLAN FOR CHRIST’S IMMINENT RETURN!

Christ promised that He would return.

John 14:1–3 KJV 1900

1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. 2 In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

Only the Father knows when He will return.

Matthew 24:6 KJV 1900

6 And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.

When He does, it will happen quickly.

1 Corinthians 15:52 KJV 1900

52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

Our duty is to watch for His return and be prepared.

Matthew 24:42 KJV 1900

42 Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.

Matthew 24:44 KJV 1900

44 Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.

Matthew 25:13 KJV 1900

13 Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.

The fact remains that He is coming and He is coming soon. When He comes, will He find you watching, waiting, and prepared for His return. Proper Preparation means you are busy using what He has entrusted to you for His glory and His honor. When He comes, will He find a ten talent or 4 talent servant who has properly prepared for the Master’s return? Or, will He, instead, find a one talent servant hiding his talent/his light having done nothing to prepare for the Master’s return?

If we are to follow Christ’s example, then we must have the same mindset of Christ who said...

John 9:4 KJV 1900

4 I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.

Here is the second thing I would suggest as you PROPERLY PREPARE for Christ’s return.

PLAN FOR THE SETTLING OF ACCOUNTS

Matthew 25:19 KJV 1900

19 After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them.

Remember the word “reckoneth” means to settle accounts. Right now we have time to use what God has entrusted to us for Him. However, time is short. We know not when He may return. What we do know is that He will return. When He does, we will stand before Him and to settle our accounts with Him.

1 Corinthians 3:11–15 KJV 1900

11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; 13 Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. 14 If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. 15 If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.

Matthew 12:36 KJV 1900

36 But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.

Romans 14:10–12 KJV 1900

10 But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. 11 For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. 12 So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.

Colossians 3:23–25 KJV 1900

23 And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; 24 Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ. 25 But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons.

Each of these passages are promises that we will stand before the Lord and be accountable for all that He as entrusted to us. There are three thing that will be revealed on that day.

Faithfulness - Have you faithfully served the Lord Jesus by using what God has entrusted to you be the light of the world and glorify the Father? 1 Corinthians 4:2 “2 Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.”

Motivation - Have you used what God entrusted you for yourself or for Him? Will your works for Him be gold, silver, and precious stones (things that pleased God)? Or, will your works go up in smoke revealing how you lived for yourself instead of living for the Lord?

That which is HIDDEN - There are many things you can hide from men. There is nothing you can hide from God. In the end, when we stand before Him He will reveal all things. Matthew 10:26 “26 Fear them not therefore: for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known.”

Here is the last thing we should to PROPERLY PREPARE for the Lord’s return.

PLAN TO HEAR HIS PRAISE!

To the first and second servants who took the talent given to them and produce more, the lord said...

Matthew 25:21 KJV 1900

21 His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.

I am not sure about you, but my desire to hear the God of the Universe say to me one day as I stand before Him...

“WELL DONE, thou good and faithful servant!”

However, I know and you know that in order to hear those words we must utilize what He has entrusted to us for His glory and honor. One of the most haunting hymns ever written asks “Have I Done My Best for Jesus?”

I wonder have I done my best for Jesus, WHO DIED upon the cruel tree.

To think of His great sacrifice at Calvary! I know my Lord expects the best from me.

The hours that I have wasted are so many, the hour I’ve spent for Christ so few;

Because of all my lack of love for Jesus, I wonder if His heart is breaking too.

I wonder, have I care enough for others, or have I let them die alone? (there is the question before us right now)

I might have helped a wand’rer to the Savior, the seed of precious Life I might have sown.

How many are the lost that I have lifted?

How many are the chained I’ve helped to free?

I wonder, have I done my best for Jesus, when He has done so much for me?

(NOW NOTE THE RESOLVE OF THE AUTHOR HERE)

NO LONGER will I stay within the valley - I’ll climb to mountain heights above. (FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROCLAIMING THE GOOD NEWS, THE GOSPEL)

The world is dying now for want of someone to tell them of the Savior’s matchless love.

Conclusion

Believer, we have spent entire month considering the challenge Christ gave us. Now is the time to ask of ourselves the same questions. How many are the lost that you and I have lifted? How many are the chained that we have helped to free? I wonder, have we really done our best for Jesus, especially, when He had done so much for me?

If we are honest with ourselves, we know that we can do more and do better. Let’s have the same resolve this morning to climb out of the valley of self love and climb to the mountain height so we can proclaim the Saviors matchless love!