Matthew 25
14
"Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his property to them.
15
To one he gave five talents[1] of money, to another two talents, and to another one talent, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey.
16
The man who had received the five talents went at once and put his money to work and gained five more.
17
So also, the one with the two talents gained two more.
18
But the man who had received the one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master's money.
19
"After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them.
20
The man who had received the five talents brought the other five. `Master,' he said, `you entrusted me with five talents. See, I have gained five more.'
21
"His master replied, `Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!'
22
"The man with the two talents also came. `Master,' he said, `you entrusted me with two talents; see, I have gained two more.'
23
"His master replied, `Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!'
24
"Then the man who had received the one talent came. `Master,' he said, `I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed.
25
So I was afraid and went out and hid your talent in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.'
26
"His master replied, `You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed?
27
Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest.
28
"`Take the talent from him and give it to the one who has the ten talents.
29
For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him.
30
And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'
[15] A talent was worth more than a thousand dollars.
Stewardship is the use of God given resources for the accomplishment of God given goals.
Stewardship begins with the recognition that:
* All I have has been given to me by God
Matthew 25
14
"Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his property to them.
James 1
17
Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.
1 Corinthians 4
7
For who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?
This is totally opposite of the attitude we so often assume. We assume ownership of everything we have from intellectual ability, to our ability to work, to the things we buy. In reality God has given us everything. To realise this requires the same humility as is required to enter the kingdom of God. We must become like little children.
* God expects me to use what He has given me faithfully Matthew 25:14
1 Corinthians 4
2
Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful.
1 Peter 4
10
Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms.
God gives us all different blessings and gifts. For some its money for others its children for some its the freedom that only comes from remaining single.
* God will call me to account for my stewardship. Matthew 25:19
1 Corinthians 4
5
Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait till the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men's hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God.
2 Corinthians 5
10
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.
We are Stewards of:
* Our Time
Time is one of the few things in which everyone is equally blessed. We each get 86,400 seconds to use each day.
* Our Resources
The fact that you are reading this message on a computer meens you are rich in comparison to most of the world. There is no security in material wealth. Only in God alone will we find that.
* The Opportunities we have in life
* The gifts and abilities God has given us.
Personal Applications
* Have I recieved the greatest gift God has provided, the gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ?
John 1
12
Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God--
* Do I recognize all that God has entrusted to me?
* How is my stewardship
Is God getting a good return on His investment in our lives?
Trade in the attitude of ownership for that of stewardship and we will all be much happier.
14
"Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his property to them.
15
To one he gave five talents[1] of money, to another two talents, and to another one talent, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey.
16
The man who had received the five talents went at once and put his money to work and gained five more.
17
So also, the one with the two talents gained two more.
18
But the man who had received the one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master's money.
19
"After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them.
20
The man who had received the five talents brought the other five. `Master,' he said, `you entrusted me with five talents. See, I have gained five more.'
21
"His master replied, `Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!'
22
"The man with the two talents also came. `Master,' he said, `you entrusted me with two talents; see, I have gained two more.'
23
"His master replied, `Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!'
24
"Then the man who had received the one talent came. `Master,' he said, `I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed.
25
So I was afraid and went out and hid your talent in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.'
26
"His master replied, `You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed?
27
Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest.
28
"`Take the talent from him and give it to the one who has the ten talents.
29
For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him.
30
And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'
[15] A talent was worth more than a thousand dollars.
Stewardship is the use of God given resources for the accomplishment of God given goals.
Stewardship begins with the recognition that:
* All I have has been given to me by God
Matthew 25
14
"Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his property to them.
James 1
17
Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.
1 Corinthians 4
7
For who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?
This is totally opposite of the attitude we so often assume. We assume ownership of everything we have from intellectual ability, to our ability to work, to the things we buy. In reality God has given us everything. To realise this requires the same humility as is required to enter the kingdom of God. We must become like little children.
* God expects me to use what He has given me faithfully Matthew 25:14
1 Corinthians 4
2
Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful.
1 Peter 4
10
Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms.
God gives us all different blessings and gifts. For some its money for others its children for some its the freedom that only comes from remaining single.
* God will call me to account for my stewardship. Matthew 25:19
1 Corinthians 4
5
Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait till the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men's hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God.
2 Corinthians 5
10
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.
We are Stewards of:
* Our Time
Time is one of the few things in which everyone is equally blessed. We each get 86,400 seconds to use each day.
* Our Resources
The fact that you are reading this message on a computer meens you are rich in comparison to most of the world. There is no security in material wealth. Only in God alone will we find that.
* The Opportunities we have in life
* The gifts and abilities God has given us.
Personal Applications
* Have I recieved the greatest gift God has provided, the gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ?
John 1
12
Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God--
* Do I recognize all that God has entrusted to me?
* How is my stewardship
Is God getting a good return on His investment in our lives?
Trade in the attitude of ownership for that of stewardship and we will all be much happier.
