Faithful Stewardship: Managing God's Resources Wisely
Summary
### Summary
Good morning, Collective Church! Today, we continued our series titled "My Money, His Problems," focusing on the theme "I Have a Job to Do." We began by acknowledging our guests and expressing our gratitude for their presence. We then delved into the topic of stewardship, emphasizing that everything we have belongs to God and that we are merely managers of His resources.
I shared personal anecdotes about my first jobs and the lessons I learned about responsibility and hard work. These stories served as a backdrop to illustrate the importance of managing what God has entrusted to us. We explored the biblical foundation of stewardship, starting from Genesis, where God created man to manage and steward His creation.
We discussed the various areas of our lives that require good stewardship, including our bodies, relationships, finances, and workplaces. I emphasized that our lack of resources often stems from poor management rather than scarcity. We are called to be faithful with the little we have, trusting that God will multiply our efforts.
We also touched on the uncomfortable topic of money in the church, clarifying that the church's focus on finances is not about accumulating wealth but about blessing the kingdom and ourselves through obedience. We examined the parable of the talents from Matthew 25, which underscores the importance of using what God has given us to produce more.
Finally, we were reminded that we will be held accountable for how we manage God's resources. God rewards good management, and our faithfulness in small things can lead to greater blessings. As we move forward in this series, let's commit to being good stewards of all that God has entrusted to us.
### Key Takeaways
1. Everything Belongs to God: Understanding that everything we possess is ultimately God's is foundational. This perspective shifts our approach to stewardship, making us more mindful of how we manage our resources. Recognizing that our possessions, relationships, and even our lives are not our own but God's can lead to a more responsible and grateful attitude. [12:15]
2. Stewardship is a Biblical Mandate: From the beginning, God created us to manage and steward His creation. This responsibility extends to all areas of our lives, including our bodies, relationships, and finances. Good stewardship is not just about money; it's about managing all that God has entrusted to us with care and diligence. [18:14]
3. Faithfulness in Small Things Leads to Greater Blessings: Often, we desire more without being faithful with what we already have. God tests our faithfulness in small things before entrusting us with more. This principle applies to all areas of life, including our jobs, relationships, and finances. Being faithful in little things can lead to greater opportunities and blessings. [32:56]
4. Accountability Before God: One day, we will stand before God and be held accountable for how we managed His resources. This includes our time, talents, and treasures. Understanding this accountability should motivate us to live responsibly and faithfully, knowing that our actions have eternal significance. [27:15]
5. Trusting God with Our Resources: Trusting God with our finances and other resources can be challenging, especially when circumstances seem dire. However, God promises to provide and bless us when we are faithful and obedient. Trusting Him in this area can lead to breakthroughs and blessings that we might not have imagined. [38:49]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[00:56] - Introduction and Guest Welcome
[02:05] - Series Introduction: My Money, His Problems
[02:42] - Prayer
[03:57] - Stewardship and Personal Anecdotes
[05:21] - First Job Experiences
[08:04] - Acting Promoted Before Being Promoted
[09:16] - Setting the Stage for Financial Conversations
[11:02] - Definition of Stewardship
[12:15] - Everything Belongs to God
[13:55] - God Calls Us to Manage What is His
[15:53] - Renter vs. Owner Mentality
[17:29] - Biblical Foundation of Stewardship
[19:05] - Responsibilities as Managers
[21:20] - Stewarding Our Workplaces
[23:05] - Managing Our Gifts
[24:44] - Investing for Growth and Multiplication
[27:15] - Accountability Before God
[30:41] - God Rewards Good Management
[32:56] - Faithfulness in Small Things
[35:22] - Parable of the Talents
[38:49] - Trusting God with Our Resources
[39:57] - Closing Prayer and Worship
Study Guide
### Bible Reading
1. Psalm 24:1 - "The earth is the Lord's, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it."
2. Genesis 1:26 - "Then God said, 'Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.'"
3. Matthew 25:14-30 - The Parable of the Talents
### Observation Questions
1. According to Psalm 24:1, who does everything in the world belong to?
2. In Genesis 1:26, what responsibility did God give to mankind?
3. What did the servant with one talent do with his talent in the Parable of the Talents? [35:53]
4. How did the master respond to the servant who buried his talent? [37:21]
### Interpretation Questions
1. How does understanding that "everything belongs to God" (Psalm 24:1) change our perspective on stewardship? [12:15]
2. What does it mean to be created in God's image with the responsibility to manage His creation (Genesis 1:26)? [17:29]
3. Why do you think the servant with one talent chose to bury it instead of investing it? What might this teach us about fear and trust in God? [37:21]
4. How does the Parable of the Talents illustrate the principle that faithfulness in small things leads to greater blessings? [32:56]
### Application Questions
1. Reflecting on Psalm 24:1, how can you remind yourself daily that everything you have belongs to God? What practical steps can you take to manage your resources with this mindset? [12:15]
2. In what areas of your life (e.g., finances, relationships, work) do you feel you need to improve your stewardship? What specific actions can you take this week to be a better steward? [19:05]
3. Think about a time when you were faithful with a small responsibility and it led to a greater opportunity. How can this experience encourage you to be faithful in your current responsibilities? [32:56]
4. The sermon mentioned that we will be held accountable for how we manage God's resources. How does this accountability influence your daily decisions and actions? [27:15]
5. Trusting God with our resources can be challenging. Identify one area where you struggle to trust God with your resources. What steps can you take to deepen your trust in Him this week? [38:49]
6. How can you shift from a "renter mentality" to an "owner mentality" in your approach to church and community involvement? What specific changes can you make to take more ownership? [15:53]
7. The sermon emphasized the importance of investing in what God has given us. What is one talent or resource you have that you can invest more intentionally for God's kingdom? [24:44]
Devotional
Day 1: Everything Belongs to God
Description: Understanding that everything we possess is ultimately God's is foundational. This perspective shifts our approach to stewardship, making us more mindful of how we manage our resources. Recognizing that our possessions, relationships, and even our lives are not our own but God's can lead to a more responsible and grateful attitude. This understanding helps us to see our role as managers rather than owners, which can transform how we handle everything from our finances to our personal relationships. By acknowledging God's ownership, we can cultivate a heart of gratitude and a mindset of stewardship. [12:15]
Psalm 24:1-2 (ESV): "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."
Reflection: Think about one area of your life where you struggle to acknowledge God's ownership. How can you start to see this area as something entrusted to you by God, and what changes might that bring about in your attitude and actions?
Day 2: Stewardship is a Biblical Mandate
Description: From the beginning, God created us to manage and steward His creation. This responsibility extends to all areas of our lives, including our bodies, relationships, and finances. Good stewardship is not just about money; it's about managing all that God has entrusted to us with care and diligence. By understanding stewardship as a biblical mandate, we can approach our daily responsibilities with a sense of purpose and divine calling. This holistic view of stewardship encourages us to be diligent and faithful in every aspect of our lives, knowing that we are fulfilling God's original design for humanity. [18:14]
Genesis 2:15 (ESV): "The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it."
Reflection: Identify one specific area in your life where you can improve your stewardship. What practical steps can you take this week to manage this area more faithfully and diligently?
Day 3: Faithfulness in Small Things Leads to Greater Blessings
Description: Often, we desire more without being faithful with what we already have. God tests our faithfulness in small things before entrusting us with more. This principle applies to all areas of life, including our jobs, relationships, and finances. Being faithful in little things can lead to greater opportunities and blessings. By focusing on being diligent and responsible with what we currently have, we can prepare ourselves for greater responsibilities and blessings in the future. This principle encourages us to value and manage well the small tasks and resources we have today. [32:56]
Luke 16:10 (ESV): "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."
Reflection: Reflect on a small responsibility or resource in your life that you may have overlooked. How can you be more faithful in managing this small thing, and what steps will you take to do so this week?
Day 4: Accountability Before God
Description: One day, we will stand before God and be held accountable for how we managed His resources. This includes our time, talents, and treasures. Understanding this accountability should motivate us to live responsibly and faithfully, knowing that our actions have eternal significance. This perspective helps us to prioritize our lives according to God's standards and to make decisions that honor Him. By keeping in mind that we will give an account to God, we can live with a sense of purpose and intentionality, striving to be good stewards of all that He has given us. [27:15]
Romans 14:12 (ESV): "So then each of us will give an account of himself to God."
Reflection: Consider how you are currently using your time, talents, and treasures. What changes can you make to ensure that you are managing these resources in a way that honors God and prepares you for the day you will give an account to Him?
Day 5: Trusting God with Our Resources
Description: Trusting God with our finances and other resources can be challenging, especially when circumstances seem dire. However, God promises to provide and bless us when we are faithful and obedient. Trusting Him in this area can lead to breakthroughs and blessings that we might not have imagined. By placing our trust in God's provision, we can experience peace and confidence, even in uncertain times. This trust allows us to be generous and open-handed with our resources, knowing that God is our ultimate provider and that He will take care of our needs. [38:49]
Proverbs 3:9-10 (ESV): "Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce; then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine."
Reflection: Think about a financial or resource-related challenge you are currently facing. How can you demonstrate trust in God in this situation, and what steps can you take to honor Him with your resources this week?
Quotes
1. "Some of you need to stop waiting until you get promoted to act like you're promoted. You get promoted because you walk in the position before you get the position. When you have that mentality says they don't pay me to do that, then they're never going to pay you to do that if you're not doing it when you're not getting paid for it. That's what separates you from everyone else." [08:04] (17 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "Nothing that you have belongs to you. Nothing is yours. Your spouse is not yours, your children are not yours, your job is not yours, your car is not yours, and some of you are lying because I'm going to leave right now, I'm going to put my keys in my car, and I'm going to drive home in my car to my house. Yes, but the only reason you have that is because God allowed you to have it. Because everything is his." [13:09] (20 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "You may not like where you're at right now, but maybe God is testing you to see if you'll be faithful in the place that you don't want to be. So you can get a job. So that he can take you to the place that he's called you to be. And so I'm called to steward, right? Because everything I do, I need to do as I'm doing it unto the Lord." [21:20] (13 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "Nothing in your life will ever grow unless you invest. If you want to see something grow and multiply in your life, there has to be an investment. Because it's the investment that you make that will lead to the multiplication and lead to the growth. Am I investing? If I want a healthy self, am I investing into my diet? Am I investing into my workout plan?" [25:24] (20 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "God does not ask us for much. But what he does ask us for is a little bit. And when we trust God with that little bit, in any aspect, any arena, any avenue of your life, God's promise is to make you fruitful and multiply." [25:58] (14 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
6. "God will hold us accountable for what he has given us to manage. This is the ouch moment. There will be a day. For those of us who know, all of us will be before the Lord. But we're going to be held accountable. Listen to this. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ. Why? So that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body. Whether good or bad." [27:15] (22 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
7. "If you don't think from that perspective your life will never change. In any aspect. I'm not talking about just finances. It's not enough. It's not enough. Let me just tell you. To come to church. If that's all you want. That's fine. But there's more to that than life. There's more to that than Christianity. There's more to that than being a follower of Jesus." [29:16] (19 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
8. "Good stewardship. Being faithful with the little. Despite not having a lot. I think most times God just wants to see if you're going to move into action with the little that he's given you. Before he blesses you with a little bit more. Here's the beauty. God already knows what's on the other side. But he tests us often. Hey, would you be faithful in this area? Would you be faithful with just a little?" [34:31] (23 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
9. "My encouragement to you would be to learn to trust God on a whole other level so that you can see breakthrough on a whole other level. Because that's a good place to give God praise. Why don't you stand to your feet. Often times we want breakthrough with no sacrifice. Nothing in this life is worth it unless it came with sacrifice. That's what being a follower of Jesus is. It's following the one who sacrificed it all on the cross." [38:49] (37 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
10. "Maybe today you struggle to trust God with your resources. You've struggled to trust God with your finances. You've struggled to trust God that he's really going to come through. Maybe you're in a place right now of scarcity and you're looking at the bank and you're looking at everything and you're like struggling to trust God because everything around you is screaming the opposite of what you know to be true. And maybe today you need to deepen your trust." [39:57] (27 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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