Faithful Stewardship: Embracing God's Entrustment in Our Lives

In Matthew 25, Jesus tells the parable of the talents, a story that reveals the heart of God and the way He interacts with us. Everything we have—our resources, gifts, opportunities, and even our very lives—are not our own, but have been entrusted to us by God. This entrusting is not random or careless; God gives to each of us “according to our ability.” He knows us intimately, better than we know ourselves, and He gives us exactly what we are ready to carry, what we are prepared to steward for His glory.

God’s knowledge of us is deeply personal. Throughout Scripture, we see that God knows each person by name, their desires, struggles, and potential. He is never arbitrary in what He gives. The question is not whether God knows us, but whether we know Him and are preparing ourselves to be faithful stewards of what He’s given. Our discipleship, our habits of prayer, study, and service, all shape our readiness to receive and multiply what God entrusts to us.

The parable challenges us to examine our spiritual fervor—our zeal and hunger for God. Just as a relationship cannot thrive without communication and intimacy, our relationship with God cannot flourish if we neglect time in His presence, prayer, and His Word. Spiritual fervor is our responsibility to maintain, and it is the fuel that drives us to use our gifts for God’s purposes.

What we do with what we’ve been given reveals who we trust. Fear causes us to bury our gifts, to shrink back and let others step forward. But faith and trust in God move us to act, to risk, and to invest what we have for His kingdom. No gift is too small or insignificant; God values faithfulness over quantity. Our faithfulness is measured not by how much we have, but by what we do with it—right now, with what’s in our hands.

Every day brings new opportunities to use what God has entrusted to us—whether it’s a conversation with a friend, a chance to meet a need, or simply the gift of another day. We are called to respond today, not to wait for a more convenient time or greater resources. God’s entrusting is purposeful and deliberate, and He invites us to glorify Him with all that we are and all that we have.

---

Key Takeaways

• 1. God’s Entrusting Is Personal and Purposeful God gives to each of us according to our unique abilities, never randomly or carelessly. He knows our strengths, weaknesses, and potential, and entrusts us with gifts and opportunities that fit who we are. This personal knowledge should inspire confidence and gratitude, knowing that what we have is exactly what God intends for us to steward for His glory. [10:12]
• 2. Preparation and Discipleship Shape Our Readiness Our ability to carry what God gives is shaped by our discipleship—our habits of prayer, study, and service. We are responsible to grow, to seek deeper understanding, and to prepare ourselves for greater responsibility. Spiritual maturity is not automatic; it requires intentional pursuit and a willingness to move beyond spiritual infancy into active participation in God’s work. [15:02]
• 3. Spiritual Fervor Is Our Responsibility Maintaining zeal and hunger for God is not something that happens by accident. Just as relationships require communication and intimacy, our relationship with God demands time in His presence, worship, and the Word. Spiritual fervor is the fuel that keeps us engaged and ready to use our gifts, and it is our responsibility to keep that fire burning. [19:43]
• 4. Faith, Not Fear, Unlocks the Potential of Our Gifts Fear causes us to bury our talents, to shrink back and let opportunities pass by. But faith and trust in God’s character and intentions move us to step out, risk, and invest what we have for His kingdom. God did not give us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind; trusting Him allows us to see our gifts multiplied for His glory. [25:29]
• 5. Faithfulness Is Measured by Action, Not Amount God does not measure our faithfulness by how much we have, but by what we do with what we’ve been given. Waiting for more resources or a better time is not the way of the kingdom; faithfulness is about using what’s in our hands today, for God’s purposes. Every opportunity, no matter how small, is a chance to glorify God and make an eternal impact. [28:21]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [01:12] - Introduction to the Parable of the Talents
• [03:45] - Everything We Have Is Entrusted by God
• [06:10] - The Meaning of “Each According to His Ability”
• [08:30] - God’s Personal Knowledge of Us
• [10:12] - God’s Intentional Entrusting
• [13:46] - God Gives What We’re Ready to Carry
• [15:02] - Preparing Ourselves for Greater Responsibility
• [16:58] - The Call to Spiritual Maturity
• [17:49] - Using Our Gifts in Proportion to Our Faith
• [19:43] - Keeping Spiritual Fervor Alive
• [21:40] - The Importance of Intimacy with God
• [22:36] - What We Do Reveals Who We Trust
• [25:29] - Faith Over Fear in Stewardship
• [28:21] - Faithfulness Is Measured by Action
• [29:12] - Everyday Opportunities to Glorify God
• [31:03] - Responding to God’s Entrusting Today
• [31:58] - Seeing God’s Entrusting Beyond Material Gifts
• [32:51] - Final Challenge and Prayer

Bible Reading

Matthew 25:14-30 (ESV) — > “For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property. To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. So also he who had the two talents made two talents more. But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master’s money.
> Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me five talents; here, I have made five talents more.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’
> And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me two talents; here, I have made two talents more.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’
> He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here, you have what is yours.’
> But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents.
> For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’”

Observation Questions

1. In the parable, what does it mean that the master gave to each servant “according to his ability”? How does this detail shape the rest of the story? [06:10]
2. What are some specific things the master expected the servants to do with what they were given? [08:30]
3. According to the sermon, what are some examples of things God entrusts to us besides money or talents? [31:58]
4. What was the main reason the servant with one talent gave for not using what he was given? [24:12]

Interpretation Questions

1. The sermon says God’s entrusting is never random or careless, but personal and purposeful. How does this understanding affect the way someone might view their own gifts, resources, or opportunities? [10:12]
2. The pastor mentioned that our readiness to receive more from God is shaped by our discipleship and spiritual habits. What does it look like for someone to “prepare” themselves for greater responsibility in God’s kingdom? [15:02]
3. The sermon talks about spiritual fervor as our responsibility. Why is it important to keep our spiritual “fire” burning, and what are some signs that someone’s spiritual fervor might be fading? [19:43]
4. The parable shows that fear can cause us to “bury” our gifts. What are some ways fear might show up in a believer’s life and keep them from using what God has given them? [25:29]

Application Questions

1. The sermon says God knows us better than we know ourselves and gives us exactly what we are ready to carry. Is there something in your life right now that you have been overlooking or undervaluing, not realizing it’s been entrusted to you by God? How might your perspective change if you saw it as a personal trust from Him? [10:12]
2. The pastor challenged us to examine our spiritual habits—prayer, study, and service. Which of these habits do you find most difficult to maintain, and what is one small step you could take this week to grow in that area? [15:02]
3. Spiritual fervor is described as the “fuel” that keeps us engaged with God’s purposes. When was the last time you felt truly passionate about your relationship with God? What helped you get there, and what might be holding you back now? [19:43]
4. The sermon warns that fear can cause us to bury our gifts. Can you think of a time when fear or insecurity kept you from stepping out in faith? What would it look like to trust God more in that area? [25:29]
5. Faithfulness is measured by what we do with what we have, not by how much we have. Is there a “small” opportunity in your life right now to serve or encourage someone that you’ve been tempted to ignore? How could you act on it this week? [28:21]
6. The pastor said every day brings new opportunities to use what God has entrusted to us. What is one practical way you can look for and respond to these opportunities in your daily routine? [29:12]
7. The sermon mentioned that sometimes what God entrusts to us is a relationship with someone who doesn’t know Him. Is there a person in your life who might be your “entrusted opportunity” right now? What is one step you could take to invest in that relationship for God’s glory? [31:58]