Stewardship and Anticipation in God's Kingdom

Devotional

Day 1: Everything We Have Is a Gift from God

Every good thing in our lives—our abilities, resources, and even the breath in our lungs—is a pure gift from God, given not because of our merit or worthiness, but simply out of His fatherly goodness and love. When we recognize that all we possess is entrusted to us by our Creator, it humbles us and shifts our perspective from ownership to gratitude. This truth invites us to see our lives and possessions not as things we have earned, but as blessings to be received with thankfulness and used for His purposes. [07:24]

Luke 19:12-13 (CSB)
“He said, ‘A nobleman traveled to a far country to receive for himself authority to be king and then to return. He called ten of his servants, gave them ten minas, and told them, ‘Engage in business until I come back.’”

Reflection: What is one thing in your life that you have always considered “yours” that you can intentionally thank God for today, recognizing it as His gift to you?

Day 2: Use God’s Gifts to Serve Others

God entrusts us with resources, talents, and opportunities, giving us freedom to use them wisely—not to build our own little kingdoms, but to serve others and bless His kingdom. Money and possessions are tools, not treasures, and when we love people and use what we have for their good, we reflect God’s heart. The challenge is to resist the temptation to idolize what we have or use people for our own gain, and instead to steward God’s gifts in a way that honors Him and serves those around us. [10:20]

1 Peter 4:10 (CSB)
“Just as each one has received a gift, use it to serve others, as good stewards of the varied grace of God.”

Reflection: Who is one person you can intentionally serve or bless today with something God has entrusted to you—your time, a skill, or a resource?

Day 3: We Are Accountable for What We’ve Been Given

There will come a day when Jesus returns and asks us to give an account for how we have managed what He has entrusted to us—our time, resources, and even our very lives. This accountability is not meant to fill us with fear, but to remind us that our lives are on loan from God, and that what we do with them matters for eternity. We cannot take anything with us, but we can invest in what lasts forever by using what we have for God’s purposes. [12:52]

2 Corinthians 5:10 (CSB)
“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each may be repaid for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.”

Reflection: If Jesus were to ask you today how you have used what He’s given you, what is one area you would want to change or grow in starting this week?

Day 4: Jesus Perfectly Used God’s Gifts for Us

Though we often fall short in how we use God’s gifts, Jesus never failed—He perfectly stewarded every gift from the Father, even giving His own life for us. Through His sacrifice, He paid our debt in full and gave us the richest gift of all: forgiveness, eternal life, and a place in His kingdom. Our identity is now rooted in what Christ has done, not in our own performance, and we are invited to live as beloved sons and daughters of the King, secure in His grace. [15:18]

Philippians 2:6-8 (CSB)
“[Jesus], existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God as something to be exploited. Instead he emptied himself by assuming the form of a servant, taking on the likeness of humanity. And when he had come as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death—even to death on a cross.”

Reflection: In what specific way can you rest today in the truth that your worth and future are secure because of what Jesus has done for you, not what you do for Him?

Day 5: Invest in God’s Eternal Kingdom

God’s kingdom is not just a future hope but a present reality, and He invites us to pray for His kingdom to come in our lives and to use what He has given us to influence eternity. By the power of the Holy Spirit, we are made part of His kingdom now, and we can send our treasures ahead by investing in what lasts—God’s purposes and people. As we wait for the final consummation of His kingdom, we are called to live godly lives, trusting that our temporary management of His gifts can have an eternal impact. [19:28]

Matthew 6:19-21 (CSB)
“Don’t store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves don’t break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

Reflection: What is one practical way you can “send it ahead” today by investing your time, resources, or energy in something that will matter for God’s kingdom forever?

Sermon Summary

Christmas morning as a child was filled with anticipation, the aroma of cinnamon and ham strata, and the joy of unwrapping gifts. One of the most exciting presents was always the one labeled “some assembly required.” That phrase, while daunting to some, is a fitting metaphor for the way Jesus describes the kingdom of God in Luke 19. As Jesus approaches Jerusalem, he tells a parable to correct the crowd’s expectations about the immediate arrival of God’s kingdom. Instead, he reveals that the kingdom is both present and still unfolding, and that in the meantime, “some assembly is required”—there is work to be done with what God has entrusted to us.

The first truth to recognize is that everything we have is a gift from God. Just as the nobleman in the parable gives his servants a sum of money, so too does God give us all we have—not as wages earned, but as pure, undeserved gifts. Our abilities, our resources, even our very lives are given out of God’s fatherly goodness and mercy. This perspective shifts our hearts from prideful ownership to humble stewardship.

Yet, with these gifts comes responsibility. The nobleman instructs his servants to “engage in business” until he returns. God grants us freedom to use what he’s given, not to hoard or idolize, but to serve others and advance his kingdom. Money and possessions are tools, not treasures; we are called to love people and use things, not the other way around. When we reverse this, we risk making idols out of what was meant to be a blessing.

There is also accountability. The parable ends with the nobleman returning to settle accounts. In the same way, Jesus will return to judge how we have managed what was entrusted to us. This is not meant to drive us to fear, but to freedom. For where we have failed, Jesus has succeeded. He perfectly stewarded every gift, gave his life for us, and purchased our forgiveness with his own blood. Our identity is now secure as beloved children of the King, and we are invited to live in his kingdom, using our gifts for his glory and the good of others.

As we pray “Thy kingdom come,” we ask not only for God’s reign in the world, but in our own lives. By the Holy Spirit, we are empowered to believe, to serve, and to invest in the only kingdom that lasts forever.

Key Takeaways

1. Everything we possess is a gift from God, given not because of our merit but out of his fatherly love and mercy. Recognizing this truth cultivates gratitude and humility, reminding us that our abilities, resources, and even our breath are not our own, but graciously entrusted to us for a purpose. [07:24]
2. God entrusts us with freedom and responsibility to use his gifts wisely. We are not micromanaged, but called to put his resources to work in ways that serve others and honor him. The way we use what we’ve been given—our time, talents, and treasures—can have eternal impact, and we are invited to participate in God’s ongoing work in the world. [10:20]
3. The temptation to love money and use people is a distortion of God’s design. When we make money or possessions our ultimate security, we risk turning them into idols and treating others as means to an end. True stewardship means loving people and using things, not the reverse, and keeping our hearts anchored in God as our only true refuge. [11:34]
4. Accountability is a reality in God’s kingdom. There will come a day when we give an account for how we have managed what was entrusted to us. Yet, this accountability is not meant to crush us, because Jesus has already fulfilled all righteousness on our behalf, offering us forgiveness and a new identity as beloved children of God. [14:38]
5. Praying “Thy kingdom come” is an invitation for God’s reign to be manifest not just in the world, but in our own lives. By the Holy Spirit, we are empowered to trust God’s promises, to live as stewards of his gifts, and to invest in what is eternal, knowing that our hope and security rest in Christ’s finished work and the promise of his everlasting kingdom. [19:28]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:03] - Childhood Christmas Memories
[02:10] - “Some Assembly Required” and the Kingdom
[03:15] - Jesus’ Parable in Luke 19
[04:16] - The Gift: God’s Generosity
[07:24] - Luther’s Catechism and the First Article
[09:27] - The Responsibility of Stewardship
[10:20] - Using God’s Gifts for Good
[11:34] - The Danger of Loving Money
[12:52] - Accountability Before God
[14:38] - Jesus: The Perfect Steward
[15:18] - Our New Identity in Christ
[16:41] - The True Nature of God’s Kingdom
[17:42] - Living in Freedom, Not Fear
[18:13] - Praying for God’s Kingdom
[19:28] - Investing in the Eternal Kingdom

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Luke 19:11-27 (CSB) — > As they were listening to this, he went on to tell a parable because he was near Jerusalem, and they thought the kingdom of God was going to appear right away. Therefore he said, “A nobleman traveled to a far country to receive for himself authority to be king and then to return. He called ten of his servants, gave them ten minas, and told them, ‘Engage in business until I come back.’ ... (Read the full passage: Luke 19:11-27)

1 Timothy 6:6-10 (CSB) — > But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out. If we have food and clothing, we will be content with these. But those who want to be rich fall into temptation, a trap, and many foolish and harmful desires, which plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, and by craving it, some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

Observation Questions

In the parable Jesus tells in Luke 19, what does the nobleman give to his servants, and what instructions does he leave them with? ([03:15])
According to 1 Timothy 6, what is the root of all kinds of evil, and how does Paul describe the dangers of loving money? ([09:27])
What happens when the nobleman returns in the parable? How does he respond to the way each servant used what was entrusted to them? ([12:52])
What does the sermon say about the source of everything we have, including our abilities and resources? ([07:24])

Interpretation Questions

Why do you think Jesus chose to use the phrase “engage in business until I come back” in the parable? What does this say about our role in God’s kingdom? ([03:15])
The sermon says that everything we have is a gift from God, not something we’ve earned. How might this perspective change the way someone views their possessions or achievements? ([07:24])
The parable includes both reward and accountability. How does the reality of future accountability affect the way a believer might live today? ([12:52])
The sermon mentions that Jesus perfectly stewarded every gift and gave his life for us. How does this truth impact the way we approach our own failures in stewardship? ([14:38])

Application Questions

The sermon talks about the temptation to “love money and use people” instead of “loving people and using things.” Can you think of a time when you’ve struggled with this temptation? What practical steps could you take to reverse this pattern in your life? ([11:34])
If everything you have is a gift from God, how might that change the way you approach your job, your home, or your finances this week? Is there something you need to let go of or use differently? ([07:24])
The nobleman in the parable gives his servants freedom to use what he’s entrusted to them. Where in your life do you feel God has given you freedom, and how are you using it? Are there areas where you feel you could be more intentional? ([10:20])
The sermon says that accountability is not meant to drive us to fear, but to freedom because of what Jesus has done. How does knowing your identity is secure in Christ affect your willingness to take risks or serve others? ([14:38])
When you pray “Thy kingdom come,” what are you actually asking God to do in your life? Is there a specific area where you need to invite God’s reign and direction right now? ([19:28])
The sermon mentions that we can’t take our possessions with us, but we can “send it ahead” by investing in God’s eternal kingdom. What is one way you could invest your time, talents, or resources in something that will last? ([19:28])
Think about a gift or ability God has given you. How could you use it this month to serve someone else or advance God’s kingdom in a practical way? ([10:20])

Sermon Clips

He doesn't micromanage us, he entrusts us, he gives us freedom, it's up to us to use what he's given to us temporarily to make an eternal difference. You see, sometimes we get this backwards in this world, that we can forget that money is a tool, not a treasure, and not something we love. See, we're called to love people and not love money, to just use money. [00:09:02] (25 seconds) #FreedomToMakeEternalImpact

But so often in this world, and maybe you've had this experience, and maybe it's happened to you, or maybe you've fallen into this trap, is that when you tend to, instead of loving people and using money, if you switch that, and you love money, what happens is that you use people. Nobody wants to be treated that way. In fact, we end up in trouble. [00:09:27] (24 seconds) #LovePeopleNotMoney

Money in and of itself is not evil. That is not what the scripture says. Money in and of itself is amoral. It is neither good nor bad. It is just an object, a thing, part of this creation that God has given to his people. But how we use it, that's where evil or good can come in. We can use that money for good, or we can use that money for evil. We can use it to build our little kingdom or to bless God's kingdom. How we use it, how we use it, it matters. [00:10:03] (33 seconds) #MoneyIsAmoralUseWisely

If we're honest, we've all messed up in this area. We waste it. We impulse buy. We stash it. We idolize it. I mean, I admit, I've been in Sam's Club, and I've convinced myself at times that I needed that five -gallon bucket of cheese balls. Spoiler alert, I didn't. Two months later, they're stale and they're nasty, but hey, I saved a couple bucks in the moment. God gives us freedom, but let's not abuse that freedom and use his gifts wisely and put them in their proper place. [00:10:55] (39 seconds) #UseGiftsWiselyNotWastefully

That's why Jesus says in the gospel of Matthew, he says, where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. And the things of this world, the temporary things like money, possessions, whatever it might be, are a horrible place to put our trust and our faith. When God, the creator who made us and gave us these gifts, invite us instead to trust in him. [00:12:07] (24 seconds) #TrustGodNotTemporaryThings

But in this upside down kingdom, the good news about that accountability, when the master returns, he's not just settling accounts, he's bringing mercy. Because if we're honest, we've all failed here. We've wasted, we've hoarded, we've trusted money and stuff more than God. But the true and faithful servant Jesus didn't. He perfectly used every gift that his father had given to him. He gave his very life for us. He paid the debt in full on his cross. And when he rose, he gave us the richest gift of all, forgiveness, eternal life, and a promise of a kingdom that cannot be taken away. [00:14:20] (41 seconds) #MercyInAccountability

And friends, that's the heart of this parable. Not what will you do with the things God has given to you, what will you do with your mina, but rather look at what Jesus, look at what Jesus has done with his life for you. [00:15:01] (15 seconds) #JesusPaidThePrice

I have been bought with a price, a price of God's own son's blood poured out and shed for me. And because of that, because of that, I've got a new identity as a beloved son, as a chosen daughter of the king of kings who has invited me to live in his kingdom. [00:15:38] (22 seconds) #UnexpectedEternalKing

They were expecting a king, but the king that they were expecting was not the king that God would send them. An earthly kingdom is what they desired, but God had something even better for them, an eternal one. only Christ himself could bring as a gift to his people. [00:16:27] (19 seconds) #EveryGiftFromAbove

And as we pray that petition once again today in a few minutes, be assured that Christ has made you a part of his kingdom for eternity by the power of his Holy Spirit, having worked faith in us in the assurance in the waters of our baptism, and that we can marvel as we wait for the things he's allowed us to do as we manage what he has given for us temporarily, influencing that which is eternal, as we wait for that final consummation of that kingdom to come, and his will to be done on earth as it is in heaven. [00:19:52] (34 seconds)

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