Living as Faithful Stewards of God's Gifts
Summary
In a world that constantly urges us to accumulate, consume, and chase after more, there is a radically different way of living that Jesus invites us into—a life of stewardship. Rather than seeing ourselves as owners or consumers, we are called to recognize that everything we have—our time, talents, resources, relationships, and even our very breath—belongs to God. We are entrusted with these gifts not for our own self-indulgence, but to manage and multiply them for His kingdom and purposes.
This vision of stewardship is beautifully illustrated in Jesus’ parable from Matthew 25, where a master entrusts his property to his servants before going on a journey. Each servant receives a different amount, but all are given something. The faithful servants invest and multiply what they’ve been given, while the third, out of fear and a distorted view of the master, buries his talent and misses the opportunity to participate in something greater. The story is not just about money, but about every aspect of our lives—how we use our influence, our relationships, our skills, and our opportunities.
The root issue for the unfaithful servant is not simply laziness or fear, but a misunderstanding of the master’s character. Our view of God profoundly shapes how we live and steward what He’s given us. If we see God as stingy, absent, micromanaging, indifferent, or transactional, we will either hoard, hide, or misuse our gifts. But when we see God as generous, trustworthy, and abundantly good, we are freed to take risks, to give, to serve, and to invest in others without fear of running out.
Stewardship is not about how much we have, but how we hold and use what’s been entrusted to us. It’s about asking God, “How do you want me to use this for your kingdom?”—whether it’s our finances, our time, our relationships, or our unique abilities. This is a deeply practical and spiritual calling, one that requires us to continually examine our hearts, our motives, and our view of God. When we embrace this way of living, we find true joy, purpose, and the freedom to bless others as God has so richly blessed us.
Key Takeaways
- Stewardship Begins with Recognizing God’s Ownership
Everything we have—our possessions, talents, relationships, and even our time—ultimately belongs to God. We are not owners, but managers entrusted with His resources. This perspective shifts every decision from self-centered consumption to purposeful management for God’s glory. When we internalize this truth, every choice becomes a spiritual act of worship. [48:21]
- Our View of God Shapes Our Stewardship
If we see God as stingy, absent, micromanaging, indifferent, or transactional, we will either hoard, hide, or misuse what He’s given us. A distorted view of God leads to fear, paralysis, or self-serving behavior. But when we see God as generous, trustworthy, and abundantly good, we are freed to take risks, give generously, and steward our lives with open hands. [55:18]
- Faithful Stewardship Requires Risk and Obedience
The faithful servants in Jesus’ parable took what was entrusted to them and put it to work, risking loss for the sake of growth. Faithful stewardship is not passive; it’s active, creative, and sometimes risky. God calls us to step out in faith, trusting that He will provide and multiply as we obey Him with what we’ve been given. [52:59]
- Stewardship Extends Beyond Money to Every Area of Life
While financial stewardship is important, God also calls us to steward our time, relationships, influence, skills, and opportunities. Every aspect of our lives is a gift to be managed for His purposes. When we use our unique gifts and positions to serve others and advance God’s kingdom, we participate in His redemptive work in the world. [01:14:30]
- True Joy and Security Are Found in Trusting God, Not in Accumulating More
Consumerism promises fulfillment through accumulation, but it never truly satisfies. Contentment and joy come from trusting God’s provision and using what we have for His purposes. When we let go of the need to control, hoard, or manipulate, we experience the freedom and abundance that comes from living as faithful stewards in God’s kingdom. [01:04:45]
Youtube Chapters
[00:00] - Welcome
[02:30] - Opening Thoughts and Announcements
[12:05] - Series Introduction: Kingdom Versus Culture
[36:02] - The Parable of the Talents: Matthew 25
[36:54] - The Storage Wars of Our Culture
[39:28] - The Culture of Consumption
[40:59] - Consuming Our Gifts and Talents
[42:21] - Consumerism as a Competing Worldview
[43:44] - Three Principles of Kingdom Stewardship
[46:06] - God Owns It All: The Steward’s Perspective
[48:21] - Everything Is Entrusted to Us
[50:28] - The Shift from Ownership to Stewardship
[51:57] - The Faithful and Unfaithful Stewards
[54:01] - The Root of Unfaithfulness: Our View of God
[55:18] - Four Distorted Views of God
[01:01:34] - God’s Involvement and Guidance
[01:06:25] - Practical Stewardship: Money, Time, and Talents
[01:14:30] - Stewarding Influence and Relationships
[01:18:41] - The Stakes of Stewardship and Final Reflection
[01:20:57] - Worship and Closing Prayer
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide: Living as Stewards, Not Owners
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### Bible Reading
- Matthew 25:14-30 (The Parable of the Talents)
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### Observation Questions
1. In the parable Jesus tells in Matthew 25, what does the master entrust to each of his servants, and how do the servants respond differently?
2. According to the sermon, what are some specific things in our lives that actually belong to God, even though we often think of them as “ours”? [[48:21]]
3. What reason does the third servant give for burying his talent instead of investing it? [[54:01]]
4. What are some of the distorted views of God that the sermon describes, and how do these views affect the way people use what God has given them? [[55:18]]
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### Interpretation Questions
1. Why does Jesus make a point to say that each servant received a different amount, but all were given something? What does this suggest about how God entrusts resources, opportunities, or abilities to us? [[43:44]]
2. The sermon says that the root issue for the unfaithful servant is a misunderstanding of the master’s character. How does our view of God shape the way we use our time, money, and abilities? [[54:01]]
3. The faithful servants took risks with what they were given. Why do you think risk and obedience are important parts of stewardship in God’s kingdom? [[52:59]]
4. The sermon mentions that stewardship is not just about money, but every area of life. What are some non-financial areas where stewardship is just as important? [[51:57]]
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### Application Questions
1. The sermon challenges us to see everything—our time, talents, relationships, and resources—as belonging to God. Is there an area of your life where you still act like the owner instead of a steward? What would it look like to surrender that area to God? [[48:21]]
2. Think about your current view of God. Do you relate to any of the distorted views described in the sermon (scarcity, micromanaging, indifferent, transactional)? How has this view affected your willingness to give, serve, or take risks for God’s kingdom? [[55:18]]
3. The faithful servants in the parable invested what they were given, even though there was a risk of loss. Is there something God has given you (a skill, relationship, opportunity) that you’ve been “burying” out of fear, insecurity, or comparison? What is one step you could take to put it to use for God? [[54:01]]
4. The sermon says that stewardship is about asking, “God, how do you want me to use this for your kingdom?” Choose one area—your finances, your time, or a relationship—and ask God that question. What do you sense He might be inviting you to do differently? [[50:28]]
5. Consumerism promises fulfillment through getting more, but the sermon says true joy and security are found in trusting God and using what we have for His purposes. Where have you been tempted to find security in “more,” and how could you practice contentment and generosity this week? [[01:04:45]]
6. The sermon gives examples of people using their influence, skills, or relationships to bless others and advance God’s kingdom. Who is one person in your life you could intentionally invest in or serve this month? What would that look like? [[01:15:53]]
7. The parable ends with the master holding each servant accountable for what they did with what was entrusted to them. If Jesus were to “settle accounts” with you today, what would you hope to hear Him say? What is one change you want to make so you can be a faithful steward? [[01:18:41]]
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Close in prayer, asking God to give you a clear view of His character and the courage to steward all He’s given you for His kingdom.
Devotional
Day 1: God Owns It All—We Are Stewards, Not Owners
Everything we have—our time, talents, resources, and relationships—ultimately belongs to God, not to us. We are entrusted with these gifts to manage and cultivate for His purposes, not simply to consume or accumulate for ourselves. This truth reframes every decision we make, inviting us to ask how we can use what’s in our hands to honor God and advance His kingdom. When we recognize that our lives are on loan from God, we move from self-centeredness to a posture of responsibility and gratitude, seeking to steward well what He has given us. [48:21]
Matthew 25:14-15 (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.”
Reflection: In what area of your life have you been acting as the owner rather than a steward, and how might you begin to surrender that area to God’s direction today?
Day 2: Faithful Stewardship Means Using What We’ve Been Given
God calls us to put to use the gifts, resources, and opportunities He’s placed in our hands, rather than hiding them away out of fear, comparison, or self-preservation. Faithful stewardship is not about how much we have, but about how we use what we’ve been given—no matter the amount. When we step out in faith and invest our time, talents, and resources for God’s purposes, He multiplies our impact and invites us into deeper joy and responsibility in His kingdom. [52:59]
Matthew 25:19-23 (ESV)
“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.’”
Reflection: What is one specific gift, resource, or opportunity God has given you that you have not yet put to use for His kingdom, and what is one step you can take this week to invest it faithfully?
Day 3: Your View of God Shapes Your Stewardship
How we see God—whether as generous and trustworthy, or as scarce, absent, micromanaging, indifferent, or transactional—directly impacts our willingness to steward what He’s given us. A distorted view of God leads to fear, hoarding, or self-serving use of our gifts, while a true understanding of His abundant, loving, and involved nature frees us to give, risk, and serve with open hands. When we know God’s heart, we are empowered to steward faithfully, trusting that He will provide, guide, and multiply what we surrender to Him. [01:04:45]
Proverbs 3:5-6 (ESV)
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.”
Reflection: Which false view of God are you most tempted to believe, and how might embracing God’s true character change the way you steward your time, talents, or resources today?
Day 4: Contentment and Generosity Over Consumerism
The craving for more—whether money, experiences, or possessions—can quietly draw our hearts away from God and true fulfillment. Scripture teaches that it is not money itself, but the love of money and the relentless pursuit of more, that leads us astray. Instead, godliness with contentment is great gain, and we are called to be rich in good works, generous, and ready to share. When we practice gratitude and generosity, we break the grip of consumerism and experience the true life God intends for us. [01:08:23]
1 Timothy 6:6-10, 17-19 (ESV)
“But godliness with contentment is great gain, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs. … As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.”
Reflection: What is one area where you feel the pull of “more,” and how can you practice contentment and generosity in that area today?
Day 5: Steward Every Area—Time, Talents, Relationships, and Influence
God calls us to steward not just our finances, but every aspect of our lives—our time, talents, relationships, influence, and even our seasons of life. Each of these is an opportunity to invest in God’s kingdom and bless others, whether through mentoring, serving, encouraging, or simply being present. When we intentionally use our gifts and opportunities for God’s purposes, we can have a profound impact on the lives of those around us and experience the joy of partnering with God in His work. [01:15:53]
Colossians 3:23-24 (ESV)
“Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.”
Reflection: Who is one person in your life you can intentionally invest in or encourage this week, using your unique gifts or influence to point them toward Christ?
Quotes
As Americans, I think it reveals the underbelly of our culture that we are a people who love to accumulate and to consume. Listen, we crave more. More stuff. More experiences. More trips. More gadgets. More subscriptions. More clothes for the kids. More shoes for the closet. We get more, more, more, more, more, more, more. And we just continue to compile. It's like we've been discipled by Amazon. [00:39:34] (27 seconds)
It's all consumption disguised as success. And whether it's possessions or experiences, we're always asking the question, how can I get more for me? See, we are born and bred consumers. [00:41:28] (19 seconds)
This desire to consume, it drives our life. We start to make the next purchase or look for the next success or look for the next upgrade. And we think that that will be the thing that finally delivers what our soul is aching for. More will make me happier. More will give me fulfillment. More will make me whole. [00:41:51] (20 seconds)
Consumerism is the dominant worldview of North America. And then listen to what he says here. And as such, that worldview is competing with the kingdom of heaven for the hearts and the imaginations of God's people. [00:42:44] (15 seconds)
In Matthew 25, Jesus begins to paint this beautiful picture of a different kingdom. He begins to paint this beautiful picture of a new way of life that's so different and opposite to what we see in our culture. It runs in the opposite direction of everything our culture teaches and lives for. [00:43:12] (16 seconds)
So your job, it's God's. Your home, it's God's. Your gifts and your talents, they're God's. Your bank account, it's God's. Your kids, they're God's. Your time, it's God's. Your present day, it's God's. Your future, it's God's. In other words, what you have is not your own. It's on a loan. [00:48:21] (24 seconds)
Our God has never been a God that gives us what we deserve. He's always been a God that's given us so much more. Romans 8, Paul tells us, he says, if God gave his son, even when we were an enemy to God because of our sins, if he would give his son in that way, Paul says, how will he not also graciously give us all things? [01:04:17] (23 seconds)
Godliness with contentment is great gain. What you've been given from God, be content with that. Be grateful for that. Be praising him for that. And then trust him with that. [01:08:51] (18 seconds)
See, we read in the scriptures here that God will actually hold us to account what he gave into your hand. He'll actually call you to responsibility. And there's a very vivid picture here of blessing and of punishment. The stakes are high with what he has given you. [01:19:03] (20 seconds)
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