Home/Bible Studies/Stewardship
in

Wednesday Evening Service, 1/7/09

Songs

Study: Stewardship

Bruce Avants Stewardship (3622 NT) administration (of a household or estate); specially, a (religious) "economy"

A "steward" is someone who is taking care of someone else's belongings.

Psalms 24:1
  1. The earth is the LORD's, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.

You and everything you think you own belongs to God. While we're here on earth, we're just taking care of it, and then we'll have to give account to God for what we did with what he gave us. Even the things that I think of as mine, like my car and my motorcycle, are just on loan.

Matthew 6:33
  1. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

Look at the example of Abraham. Because Abraham offered even his son, he was blessed with great wealth. He had so many servants that he was able to destroy five kings in battle. He received all this wealth because he was doing what he was supposed to with what God gave him.

John 13:12-17
  1. So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you?
  2. Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am.
  3. If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet.
  4. For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.
  5. Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him.
  6. If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.

God has given us an example. He didn't tell us to do something he hadn't done himself. He even washed Judas' feet, knowing where Judas' heart was, and what he was about to do. So we need to be a servant to those around us, even the ones who aren't doing what they should. Jesus said,

Matthew 23:11
  1. But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant.

We've got to watch that our pride doesn't get in the way, so that we're not doing things for the wrong reasons. It's all about where your heart is. You can fool everyone else, but you can't fool God.

Luke 16:10-15
  1. He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.
  2. If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?
  3. And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another man's, who shall give you that which is your own?
  4. No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
  5. And the Pharisees also, who were covetous, heard all these things: and they derided him.
  6. And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.

The things we think are so great and awesome are abominations to God. We've got to seek God to get our hearts and minds right, so we can be faithful to God. "I'm not going to mop that floor; I'm a Bible-study teacher!" If that's your attitude, you won't hold the position for long. Watch your pastors and leaders. They take care of the church for you.

Matthew 8:19-22
  1. And a certain scribe came, and said unto him, Master, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest.
  2. And Jesus saith unto him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.
  3. And another of his disciples said unto him, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father.
  4. But Jesus said unto him, Follow me; and let the dead bury their dead.

Consider what kind of attitude do you think you'd have if your Dad died and Pastor Paine said, "Let the dead bury their dead." Yet that's exactly what Jesus told this young man, because he needed to get off the fence and decide where his priorities lay.

In the "three chairs" sermon, we learned that chair-one people, the strict Christians, produce chair-one kids. But chair-two people, the easy-going Christians, produce chair-three kids, who don't live for God at all.

Mark 10:42-45
  1. But Jesus called them to him, and saith unto them, Ye know that they which are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and their great ones exercise authority upon them.
  2. But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister:
  3. And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all.
  4. For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

You've got to put yourself aside in order to be effective in the kingdom of God. You've got to allow God to establish his authority over you.

Romans 11:29
  1. For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.

If you have a talent or ability, you can't repent of it. You can't say, "I wish I didn't have this talent." Rather, you should say, "How can I apply this talent for God?" There's a reason I can play a horn. So I set my mind to enjoy the blessings of God. If I were to grumble and complain about it, God would give that talent to someone else, and I'd be left wondering why I can't do anything for God.

John 21:18
  1. Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdedst thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not.

That's what Jesus told Peters: "When you were young, you did whatever you wanted, to, but not it's time to get down to business." Peter was crucified for his faith. Would you be willing to make that same commitment? I'm sure that Peter didn't enjoy the experience, but he knew that his reward was in heaven. Where is yours?

Luke 17:7-10
  1. But which of you, having a servant plowing or feeding cattle, will say unto him by and by, when he is come from the field, Go and sit down to meat?
  2. And will not rather say unto him, Make ready wherewith I may sup, and gird thyself, and serve me, till I have eaten and drunken; and afterward thou shalt eat and drink?
  3. Doth he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I trow not.
  4. So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.

We have duties and responsibilities in God. We have things that we have to get done for him. God's going to reward us, but not until we have blessed him. He says, "I have a job for you, and the end of the job I'll pay you." Like most employers, God doesn't pay in advance. And like most employers, he expects us to do our best. Your best might not be the same as someone else's best, but God still expects you to do the best you can.

Ecclesiastes 9:10
  1. Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.

You only get one shot at each minute of your life. What are you doing with them? Nobody can lift their hands and say, "I always do my best." But you only get one chance; there's no reincarnation in this life.

1 Peter 4:7-10
  1. But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.
  2. And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.
  3. Use hospitality one to another without grudging.
  4. As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.

Be glad when you get the opportunity to help someone; there's a blessing in it for you.