Embracing Stewardship: Managing God's Resources Responsibly
Summary
In today's message, we explored the profound concept of stewardship, emphasizing that everything we possess is not truly ours but belongs to God. This perspective challenges the common view of ownership and invites us to see ourselves as caretakers of God's resources. The story of house-sitting serves as a metaphor for our role in managing what God has entrusted to us. Just as we would care for someone else's home, we are called to steward God's creation responsibly and for His purposes.
We delved into the teachings of Jesus, particularly in Luke 12, where He contrasts the parable of the rich fool with that of the faithful servant. The faithful servant is rewarded for being prepared and responsible, illustrating the importance of being ready for the Master's return. This parable underscores the idea that God entrusts us with resources not for our own indulgence but to do good and further His kingdom.
The sermon also highlighted three key components of stewardship: recognizing that God owns it all, understanding that we are entrusted with resources to do good, and realizing that God blesses us to give more, not just to have more. This challenges us to rethink our relationship with money and possessions, moving away from a mindset of ownership to one of stewardship.
We are encouraged to ask God how much we should keep rather than how much we should give, recognizing that everything we have is ultimately His. This requires a heart posture of listening to God and being willing to act on His guidance. The message concludes with a call to embrace a life of generosity, motivated by our apprenticeship to Jesus, who exemplified ultimate generosity by becoming poor for our sake.
Key Takeaways:
1. Stewardship Over Ownership: We are called to view our possessions not as our own but as resources entrusted to us by God. This shift in perspective requires us to manage what we have responsibly and for God's purposes, recognizing that we are caretakers, not owners. [44:19]
2. Preparedness and Faithfulness: The parable of the faithful servant teaches us the importance of being ready and responsible with what God has given us. Our faithfulness in small things can lead to greater responsibilities and blessings. [47:44]
3. God's Generosity and Our Response: God blesses us not to increase our standard of living but to raise our standard of giving. Our generosity should be motivated by love and a desire to reflect God's character, not by greed or obligation. [01:02:43]
4. Listening to God's Guidance: True generosity involves seeking God's guidance on how to use our resources. This requires a heart open to His leading, willing to ask, "God, how much should I keep?" rather than focusing solely on what we can give. [01:03:28]
5. Joyful and Sacrificial Giving: Our giving should be regular, proportional, sacrificial, voluntary, joyful, and motivated by our relationship with Jesus. These principles help us align our financial decisions with God's will and experience the joy of generosity. [01:09:34]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [44:19] - House-Sitting Metaphor
- [46:02] - Introduction to Stewardship
- [47:11] - Parable of the Faithful Servant
- [47:44] - Being Ready and Responsible
- [48:16] - Upside Down Kingdom
- [49:19] - Misuse of Resources
- [49:54] - Stewardship Defined
- [51:14] - Ownership vs. Stewardship
- [52:06] - Biblical Examples of Stewardship
- [53:49] - Entrusted to Do Good
- [54:50] - Generosity and Responsibility
- [56:24] - Making Decisions with Resources
- [58:05] - Asset Manager Analogy
- [59:14] - Giving with Joy and Purpose
- [01:02:01] - Harvest of Generosity
- [01:03:28] - Asking God How Much to Keep
- [01:05:13] - Savers vs. Spenders
- [01:06:51] - Guidelines for Generosity
- [01:09:34] - Motivated by Jesus' Example
- [01:11:10] - Listening to God's Voice
- [01:12:36] - Trusting God as Provider
- [01:13:38] - Invitation to Rethink Resources
- [01:15:07] - Practical Steps for Stewardship
- [01:15:48] - Closing Prayer and Invitation
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
- Luke 12:35-48
- 2 Corinthians 9:7-11
- Psalm 50:10-12
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Observation Questions:
1. In the parable of the faithful servant in Luke 12, what actions are the servants instructed to take while waiting for their master's return? [47:44]
2. According to the sermon, what are the three key components of stewardship mentioned, and how do they relate to the biblical concept of stewardship? [49:54]
3. How does the sermon describe the difference between the rich fool and the faithful servant in Luke 12? What is the main contrast between their behaviors? [47:11]
4. What does 2 Corinthians 9:7 say about the attitude we should have when giving, and how does this relate to the sermon’s message on generosity? [59:14]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the concept of stewardship challenge the common view of ownership, and what implications does this have for how we manage our resources? [49:54]
2. In what ways does the parable of the faithful servant illustrate the importance of being prepared and responsible with what God has given us? [47:44]
3. How does the sermon suggest we should approach the question of how much to keep versus how much to give? What does this reveal about our relationship with God and our resources? [01:03:28]
4. How does the sermon interpret the phrase "God blesses us to give more, not just to have more," and what does this mean for our understanding of generosity? [01:02:43]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your current view of ownership versus stewardship. How might adopting a stewardship mindset change the way you handle your possessions and finances? [49:54]
2. Consider the parable of the faithful servant. Are there areas in your life where you feel unprepared or irresponsible with what God has entrusted to you? What steps can you take to improve in these areas? [47:44]
3. The sermon encourages asking God how much to keep rather than how much to give. How can you incorporate this practice into your financial decision-making process? [01:03:28]
4. Think about a recent decision involving money or resources. How did your motivations align with the idea that God blesses us to give more, not just to have more? What changes might you make in future decisions? [01:02:43]
5. The sermon mentions the importance of joyful and sacrificial giving. Can you identify a recent instance where you gave joyfully? How did it impact your relationship with God and others? [01:09:34]
6. How can you create regular opportunities to listen to God's guidance on your financial decisions? What practical steps can you take to ensure you are open to His leading? [01:11:10]
7. Reflect on the idea of being motivated by Jesus' example of generosity. How can you model this in your daily life, and what specific actions can you take to reflect His character? [01:09:34]
Devotional
Day 1: Stewardship as Divine Responsibility
We are called to view our possessions not as our own but as resources entrusted to us by God. This shift in perspective requires us to manage what we have responsibly and for God's purposes, recognizing that we are caretakers, not owners. The metaphor of house-sitting illustrates this concept well. Just as we would care for someone else's home with diligence and respect, we are to steward God's creation with the same level of responsibility and care. This mindset challenges the common view of ownership and invites us to see ourselves as caretakers of God's resources. [44:19]
"The earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein, for he has founded it upon the seas and established it upon the rivers." (Psalm 24:1-2, ESV)
Reflection: What is one possession or resource in your life that you have been viewing as your own? How can you begin to see it as something entrusted to you by God, and what changes might that bring to how you manage it?
Day 2: Faithfulness in the Small Things
The parable of the faithful servant teaches us the importance of being ready and responsible with what God has given us. Our faithfulness in small things can lead to greater responsibilities and blessings. This parable contrasts the rich fool, who hoards resources for personal gain, with the faithful servant, who is prepared and responsible. It underscores the idea that God entrusts us with resources not for our own indulgence but to do good and further His kingdom. Being prepared for the Master's return means living a life of readiness and faithfulness in all that we do. [47:44]
"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." (Luke 16:10, ESV)
Reflection: Identify a small responsibility or task in your life where you can demonstrate greater faithfulness. How can you approach it with the mindset of being ready and responsible for God's purposes?
Day 3: Generosity as a Reflection of God's Character
God blesses us not to increase our standard of living but to raise our standard of giving. Our generosity should be motivated by love and a desire to reflect God's character, not by greed or obligation. This perspective challenges us to rethink our relationship with money and possessions, moving away from a mindset of ownership to one of stewardship. By embracing a life of generosity, we align ourselves with God's heart and His kingdom purposes. Generosity becomes a joyful response to God's blessings, rather than a burdensome duty. [01:02:43]
"Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver." (2 Corinthians 9:7, ESV)
Reflection: Consider your current approach to giving. Is it motivated by love and a desire to reflect God's character? What changes can you make to ensure your generosity is a joyful response to God's blessings?
Day 4: Seeking God's Guidance in Stewardship
True generosity involves seeking God's guidance on how to use our resources. This requires a heart open to His leading, willing to ask, "God, how much should I keep?" rather than focusing solely on what we can give. By listening to God's voice, we can align our financial decisions with His will and experience the joy of generosity. This approach encourages us to be intentional and prayerful in our stewardship, recognizing that everything we have is ultimately His. [01:03:28]
"If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him." (James 1:5, ESV)
Reflection: Spend time in prayer asking God for guidance on how to use your resources. What is one specific area where you feel led to seek His wisdom and direction today?
Day 5: Joyful and Sacrificial Giving
Our giving should be regular, proportional, sacrificial, voluntary, joyful, and motivated by our relationship with Jesus. These principles help us align our financial decisions with God's will and experience the joy of generosity. Jesus exemplified ultimate generosity by becoming poor for our sake, and we are called to follow His example. By embracing a lifestyle of joyful and sacrificial giving, we participate in God's kingdom work and reflect His love to the world. [01:09:34]
"In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'" (Acts 20:35, ESV)
Reflection: Reflect on your current giving habits. Are they joyful and sacrificial? What steps can you take to ensure your giving aligns with the principles of regularity, proportionality, and joyfulness?
Quotes
"Because the problem a lot of us have when we look at our possessions and things on earth is that we look at them as our things. We look at it as our money. But that's actually not the view that we need to have, and that's what we're going to try to break away from this morning. We believe it's ours, but really, we're supposed to be caretakers." [00:44:35] (20 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
"So the radical idea that Jesus is laying out here in Luke chapter 12 is this thing called stewardship. You might have heard that word before. And in their book, God and Money, How We Discover True Riches at Harvard Business School, Gregory Balmer and John Cortines define stewardship as the active and responsible management of God's creation for God's purposes." [00:50:05] (26 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
"And there are three basic components of stewardship that the Bible teaches us. And that we can see from Luke 42. The first is this. God owns it all. God does. He owns it all. And in Jesus' time, there were two different perspectives on wealth." [00:50:42] (19 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
"So the idea all the way through scripture is that God owns it all. Yes, we get to buy and sell and farm and build and invest. But we are just caretakers. We are not. We are not the owners. God owns it." [00:53:35] (15 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
"God isn't a stingy investor. He's a generous father who wants to bless you, to give you things, to give you things for your enjoyment. But it's not all for you to spend. Some of our money is to give away to the poor." [00:56:07] (17 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
"God blesses us to give more, not just to have more. You see this idea in all of Jesus' parables. They all talk about stewardship. And those who steward the master's resources well are given more resources to steward." [00:58:52] (16 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
"God desires for us to give without being coerced into giving a minimum percentage. He desires for us to prayerfully listen to him. And he is stirring stuff in our hearts. And he wants us to give joyfully." [00:59:50] (14 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
"Maybe the question is not about how much we should make or how much we should keep. It's actually, or not about how much we could give. The question is, God, how much should I actually keep of what I have for all Christians to ask?" [01:03:43] (13 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
"Unfortunately, the New Testament doesn't lay it out and give us this exact answer. Instead, it calls us to discernment, to listen deeply to God, with a singular desire to know and to do His will." [01:06:51] (14 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
"Remember, God is not a stingy investor out to maximize his profits. He's a loving father who wants to bless you and form you into a son or a daughter who is like himself, generous and joyful." [01:12:14] (15 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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