Embracing Stewardship: From Resolutions to Reconstitutions

 

Summary

In today's message, we explored the concept of stewardship and how it contrasts with the common practice of making New Year's resolutions. While resolutions often focus on self-direction and self-ownership, true biblical stewardship recognizes that everything we have, including our very lives, belongs to God. As stewards, we are entrusted with the responsibility to manage God's gifts wisely, understanding that we are accountable to Him for how we use them. This accountability is not just about fulfilling tasks but also about aligning our hearts and minds with God's will, reflecting His character in all we do.

The sermon emphasized that stewardship is not merely about managing resources but also about defending and protecting what God has entrusted to us. This includes our families, relationships, and even our spiritual lives. The story of Adam in Genesis illustrates the importance of defending what God has given us, as Adam failed to protect the garden from the serpent's deception. As stewards, we are called to be vigilant and proactive in safeguarding the gifts and responsibilities God has placed in our care.

Furthermore, the message highlighted the transition from being mere stewards to becoming steward sons and daughters of God. This transition involves recognizing our identity as children of God and living in a way that honors Him. It is about moving beyond mere duty to a heartfelt connection with God, motivated by love and a desire to bring Him glory.

In conclusion, the call is to move from resolutions, which are often self-centered, to reconstitutions, which realign us with God's purposes. This involves acknowledging God's ownership, embracing our responsibilities, and living with the awareness that we will be held accountable for our stewardship. As we do so, we can experience the joy and fulfillment that comes from living as faithful stewards of God's grace.

Key Takeaways:

1. Stewardship vs. Resolutions: True biblical stewardship acknowledges that everything we have belongs to God, contrasting with the self-centered nature of New Year's resolutions. As stewards, we are called to manage God's gifts wisely, understanding that we are accountable to Him for how we use them. [55:06]

2. Defending God's Gifts: Stewardship involves not only managing resources but also defending and protecting what God has entrusted to us. Like Adam, we must be vigilant in safeguarding our families, relationships, and spiritual lives from deception and harm. [01:11:22]

3. Transition to Steward Sons and Daughters: Moving from being mere stewards to steward sons and daughters involves recognizing our identity as God's children and living in a way that honors Him. This transition is marked by a heartfelt connection with God, motivated by love and a desire to bring Him glory. [01:10:17]

4. Accountability and Reward: As stewards, we are accountable to God for how we manage His gifts. This accountability is not just about fulfilling tasks but also about aligning our hearts and minds with God's will. Faithful stewardship leads to rewards, while neglecting our responsibilities results in missed opportunities for blessing. [01:08:23]

5. Reconstitution Over Resolution: The call is to move from resolutions, which focus on self-direction, to reconstitutions, which realign us with God's purposes. This involves acknowledging God's ownership, embracing our responsibilities, and living with the awareness that we will be held accountable for our stewardship. [01:35:10]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [50:02] - Opening Prayer
- [52:02] - Introduction to New Year's Resolutions
- [54:13] - Personal Reflection on Resolutions
- [55:06] - The Self-Centered Nature of Resolutions
- [56:31] - Cultural Illustrations of Self-Ownership
- [57:23] - The Biblical Perspective on Ownership
- [58:52] - The Role of Stewards in Christian Theology
- [01:01:18] - The Principle of Ownership
- [01:02:48] - The Principle of Responsibility
- [01:03:49] - The Balance of Dependence and Independence
- [01:05:13] - Accountability and Reward
- [01:09:11] - Transition to Steward Sons and Daughters
- [01:11:22] - The Importance of Defending God's Gifts
- [01:35:10] - Reconstitution Over Resolution
- [01:37:19] - Closing Prayer

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:

1. Genesis 2:15 - "The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it."
2. Psalm 24:1 - "The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it."
3. 1 Corinthians 4:1-2 - "This, then, is how you ought to regard us: as servants of Christ and as those entrusted with the mysteries God has revealed. Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful."

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Observation Questions:

1. What does Genesis 2:15 suggest about the role and responsibility given to Adam in the Garden of Eden? How does this relate to the concept of stewardship? [01:10:17]

2. According to Psalm 24:1, what is the scope of God's ownership over creation? How does this understanding challenge the idea of self-ownership? [01:01:18]

3. In 1 Corinthians 4:1-2, what is the requirement for those who have been entrusted with God's mysteries? How does this relate to the sermon’s emphasis on accountability? [01:08:23]

4. How does the sermon describe the difference between New Year's resolutions and biblical stewardship? [55:06]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How does the story of Adam in Genesis illustrate the importance of defending what God has entrusted to us? What lessons can be drawn from Adam's failure to protect the garden? [01:11:22]

2. What does it mean to transition from being a steward to a steward son or daughter of God? How does this change one's approach to stewardship? [01:10:17]

3. How does the sermon suggest that accountability to God for our stewardship can lead to rewards or missed opportunities for blessing? [01:08:23]

4. What are the implications of recognizing God's ownership over everything in our lives, including our personal goals and ambitions? [01:01:18]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on your current approach to New Year's resolutions. How can you shift from a self-centered focus to one that aligns with God's purposes and stewardship? [55:06]

2. Identify an area in your life where you feel you have been a steward. How can you better defend and protect what God has entrusted to you, whether it be relationships, resources, or spiritual responsibilities? [01:11:22]

3. Consider your identity as a child of God. How does this identity influence your daily decisions and actions as a steward? What changes might you need to make to honor this identity more fully? [01:10:17]

4. Think about a recent decision you made. Did it reflect an understanding of God's ownership and your accountability to Him? How might you approach similar decisions differently in the future? [01:01:18]

5. How can you cultivate a heartfelt connection with God that motivates your stewardship out of love and a desire to bring Him glory? What practical steps can you take to deepen this connection? [01:10:17]

6. Reflect on a time when you felt accountable for your actions. How did this accountability affect your behavior? How can you apply this sense of accountability to your role as a steward of God's gifts? [01:08:23]

7. What specific steps can you take this week to realign your life with God's purposes, moving from resolutions to reconstitutions? [01:35:10]

Devotional

Day 1: Stewardship as Divine Trust
In the journey of faith, stewardship is not merely about managing resources but recognizing that everything we possess is a gift from God. Unlike New Year's resolutions, which often focus on personal goals and self-improvement, biblical stewardship calls us to acknowledge God's ownership over all aspects of our lives. As stewards, we are entrusted with the responsibility to manage these gifts wisely, understanding that we are accountable to God for how we use them. This accountability extends beyond mere task completion; it involves aligning our hearts and minds with God's will, reflecting His character in all we do. By embracing this divine trust, we shift our focus from self-centered ambitions to a life that honors God and serves others. [55:06]

"For who sees anything different in you? What do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it?" (1 Corinthians 4:7, ESV)

Reflection: Consider an area of your life where you have been acting as the owner rather than a steward. How can you begin to acknowledge God's ownership and align your actions with His will today?


Day 2: Vigilance in Protecting God's Gifts
Stewardship involves not only managing resources but also defending and protecting what God has entrusted to us. This includes our families, relationships, and spiritual lives. The story of Adam in Genesis serves as a cautionary tale, illustrating the importance of vigilance in safeguarding what God has given us. Adam's failure to protect the garden from the serpent's deception highlights the need for proactive stewardship. As stewards, we are called to be vigilant, recognizing the potential threats to our spiritual and relational well-being and taking steps to defend against them. This vigilance is an act of love and responsibility, ensuring that the gifts and responsibilities God has placed in our care are preserved and nurtured. [01:11:22]

"Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love." (1 Corinthians 16:13-14, ESV)

Reflection: Identify a specific area in your life where you need to be more vigilant in protecting what God has entrusted to you. What practical steps can you take today to safeguard this area?


Day 3: Embracing Our Identity as God's Children
The transition from being mere stewards to steward sons and daughters involves recognizing our identity as children of God and living in a way that honors Him. This transition is marked by a heartfelt connection with God, motivated by love and a desire to bring Him glory. As we embrace our identity as God's children, we move beyond mere duty to a relationship that is characterized by intimacy and trust. This identity shapes our actions and decisions, guiding us to live in a manner that reflects God's love and grace to the world. By understanding our role as steward sons and daughters, we find purpose and fulfillment in aligning our lives with God's will. [01:10:17]

"But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light." (1 Peter 2:9, ESV)

Reflection: Reflect on your identity as a child of God. How does this identity influence your daily decisions and interactions with others? What changes can you make to live more fully as a steward son or daughter?


Day 4: Accountability and the Promise of Reward
As stewards, we are accountable to God for how we manage His gifts. This accountability is not just about fulfilling tasks but also about aligning our hearts and minds with God's will. Faithful stewardship leads to rewards, while neglecting our responsibilities results in missed opportunities for blessing. Understanding this principle of accountability encourages us to live with intentionality and purpose, knowing that our actions have eternal significance. By embracing our role as stewards, we open ourselves to the joy and fulfillment that comes from living in alignment with God's purposes and experiencing the rewards of faithful service. [01:08:23]

"Each one's work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done." (1 Corinthians 3:13, ESV)

Reflection: Think about a responsibility or gift that you have been neglecting. How can you begin to manage it more faithfully, knowing that you are accountable to God for its stewardship?


Day 5: Reconstitution Over Resolution
The call is to move from resolutions, which focus on self-direction, to reconstitutions, which realign us with God's purposes. This involves acknowledging God's ownership, embracing our responsibilities, and living with the awareness that we will be held accountable for our stewardship. Reconstitution is about realigning our lives with God's will, allowing His purposes to shape our goals and actions. By shifting our focus from self-centered resolutions to God-centered reconstitutions, we find true fulfillment and joy in living as faithful stewards of God's grace. This transformation requires a willingness to surrender our plans and desires to God's greater vision for our lives. [01:35:10]

"Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect." (Romans 12:2, ESV)

Reflection: Reflect on a personal goal or resolution you have set for yourself. How can you reconstitute this goal to align more closely with God's purposes for your life? What steps can you take today to begin this transformation?

Quotes


Heavenly Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, Lord, I thank you and I praise you, God, that you're worthy of it all, Lord. We thank you, Lord, that you're a worthy God. There's no one like you, Lord. You are the true master, Lord. You are the owner of everything in this world, Lord. And we submit ourselves to you, Lord. Right now, God, we choose to redirect our focus, our affections, Lord, and our interest towards you. And we open up ourselves, Lord, to be impacted, to be changed, to be transformed by your word, Lord, and by your spirit, God. [00:50:09] (29 seconds)


When I think about New Year's resolutions, I guess it's a great selling gimmick. But it's also something that I think, and it's something that I think in Western culture, we've actually aligned ourselves in the wrong way. Because, I mean, I think the premise of New Year's resolutions, in essence, are about self-direction, self-ownership, and demonstration of one's will to bring about lasting transformation. [00:55:06] (30 seconds)


Stewards in Christian theology. In Christian theology, stewardship is the responsibility to use and maintain the gifts. God has given wisely. God has given wisely. God has given wisely. It involves foresight. principles. Ownership, responsibility, accountability, and reward. I'll say it one more time, all right? In Christian theology, stewardship is the responsibility to use and maintain the gifts God has given wisely, and it involves four principles. Ownership, responsibility, accountability, and reward. [00:58:57] (30 seconds)


The first principle that every steward has to abide by is that he owns nothing. It's all owned by his master. Psalm 21 says, the Lord, the earth is the Lord's and everything in it. The world and all who live in it. Deuteronomy 10 .14 says, to the Lord your God belong the heavens, even the highest heavens, the earth, and everything in it. Deuteronomy 8 .17 through 18 says, you may say to yourself, my power and the strength of my hands have produced the wealth for me, but remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gave you the ability to produce wealth. [01:01:24] (41 seconds)


A steward connects to the heart and to the mind of their master. In other words, if a steward is dependent on the authority that they're given, if a steward is in a situation, they think to themselves, what would my master think? And not just that. It's not just what would my master think. It's what would be the heart of my master in this situation? That's what leads a steward. [01:04:50] (23 seconds)


Jesus talks about the steward. He gives a parable of a steward. And in that passage, the steward was given, the steward was told to give an account to the master for how he used the resources that were entrusted. The steward has to have a heart of singular focus. Their sole desire is to bring glory and honor to their master by what they say and by what they do. [01:05:50] (26 seconds)


Each one of us that are called to be steward sons, son stewards, or daughter stewards, there's an element of what we're tasked, that we're called to do, which deals with defending, protecting. Being a father, being a husband. That includes my family. My steward. As a steward of what God's provided me, my aim is to protect, provide, and to train up my kids. It's to protect, and to provide for my wife. [01:12:39] (31 seconds)


Ownership. Some believers, yeah, Jesus, you died for me. I accepted your gift of salvation. But when it comes down to making decisions in life, whether it's studies or whether it's job prospects or whether it's relationships, God, I got this. I don't need you. I'm good. You died for me. Good. I got salvation. But they don't say it. But they accepted the gift of salvation, they're not aware of their, or they choose not, to think about the responsibilities that God's given them. [01:21:37] (43 seconds)


It clearly states that God rewards those that are obedient and that serve him. Those that do will be given greater rewards than others. It doesn't mean that he loves you less. In some ways, I think he'll be kind of disappointed. Son, you had so many chances. I wanted to give you so much. But you chose to settle for this. It doesn't mean that he loves you any less. But the fascinating thing is, you're still alive now. [01:25:59] (33 seconds)


Resolution, it's all about you and your own strength. It's all about what you want to accomplish in your own strength because you own yourself. Reconstitution, recognizing yourself to be a steward of are when we align our hearts and our minds with that of our Father. He's not just a sterile master. He's not just someone that is at a distance. He's someone that we can connect with in an emotional way, in an intellectual way, in every way possible. [01:36:52] (41 seconds)


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Transcript
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