Stewardship: Living for God's Glory, Not Ours

What if everything you have—your time, your talents, your money, your influence, your very life—was never truly yours? In a world that prizes ownership and self-made success, it’s easy to forget that all we possess is, in fact, entrusted to us by God. Even our bodies, as Paul reminds us in 1 Corinthians, are not our own but belong to the Lord, bought at a price. This truth challenges the very foundation of how we view our lives and resources. We are not owners, but stewards, called to use what we’ve been given for God’s glory, not our own comfort or security.

Jesus’ parable of the talents in Matthew 25 is not just a lesson about money or even stewardship in the way we often think of it. It’s a revelation of what the kingdom of heaven is like—a kingdom that operates on principles radically different from the world’s. In God’s kingdom, everything is given on purpose and for a purpose. The Master knows each servant’s ability and entrusts resources accordingly, not randomly or by chance. Our gifts, experiences, and opportunities are not accidents; they are intentional assignments from God, designed for us to use in service to His kingdom.

The parable also exposes the danger of a mindset that seeks to protect and preserve rather than invest and risk for God’s sake. The servant who buried his talent wasn’t careless—he was cautious, even prudent by worldly standards. Yet, in the eyes of the Master, this caution was wasteful. God does not call us to play it safe with what He’s given us. He calls us to use it all, to risk, to serve, to multiply His kingdom, trusting that He is the true owner and provider.

There is a day of accountability coming. Each of us will give an account for how we used what was entrusted to us. The reward is not material prosperity, but the joy of sharing in the Master’s happiness—knowing that our lives have been part of something eternal. The question is not, “What do I have?” but, “What will I do with what God has placed in my hands?” Will I hold back, or will I pour it out for His glory?

Key Takeaways

• 1. True Ownership Belongs to God Everything we have—our time, talents, resources, and even our very lives—are not our own but are gifts from God. Recognizing this truth shifts our perspective from entitlement to gratitude and responsibility. We are called to glorify God with all that we are and all that we have, understanding that nothing is truly “ours” to begin with. [03:54]
• 2. God Entrusts According to Our Unique Abilities God knows each of us intimately and entrusts us with resources, opportunities, and responsibilities that align with our unique abilities and experiences. There is no room for comparison or envy; what matters is faithfulness with what we have been given, not what someone else has. Our value in the kingdom is not measured by quantity, but by our willingness to serve with what God has placed in our hands. [15:08]
• 3. A Kingdom Mindset Requires Risk and Urgency The world teaches us to protect, reserve, and play it safe, but the kingdom of heaven calls us to invest everything for God’s purposes. Holding back out of fear or caution is not faithfulness—it is waste. God desires that we use all He has given us, with a sense of urgency and trust, to expand His kingdom and bless others. [19:47]
• 4. Accountability Is Certain and Motivates Faithful Action There will come a day when each of us must give an account to God for how we used what was entrusted to us. This reality should not produce fear, but a holy motivation to live purposefully and invest our lives in what matters eternally. The joy of the Master—His approval and shared happiness—is the true reward for faithful service. [31:57]
• 5. Our View of God Shapes Our Use of His Gifts If we see God as harsh or demanding, we will act out of fear, seeking to protect ourselves and minimize risk. But if we see Him as generous and trustworthy, we will step out in faith, using all we have for His glory. The difference between protecting and investing is not just a matter of strategy, but a reflection of our relationship with God and our trust in His character. [35:45]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [02:25] - The Illusion of Ownership
• [03:54] - You Are Not Your Own
• [05:34] - The Parable’s True Focus: The Kingdom of Heaven
• [07:28] - Understanding Kingdom Culture
• [11:32] - What Do We Value Most?
• [12:46] - Everything Is Entrusted, Not Earned
• [14:10] - Gifts Given According to Ability
• [15:08] - The Danger of Comparison
• [17:45] - God’s Purpose in Our Experiences
• [18:50] - Shifting to a Kingdom Mindset
• [19:47] - The Folly of Self-Preservation
• [20:42] - Created on Purpose, for a Purpose
• [28:50] - The Cost of Playing It Safe
• [31:57] - The Coming Day of Accountability
• [35:45] - Our View of God and Our Response
• [38:34] - Entrusted with the Mission

Bible Reading

Matthew 25:14-30 (ESV) – The Parable of the Talents —
> 14 “For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property. 15 To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. 16 He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. 17 So also he who had the two talents made two talents more. 18 But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master’s money. 19 Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. 20 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.’ 21 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.’ 22 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.’ 23 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.’ 24 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, 25 so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here, you have what is yours.’ 26 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? 27 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. 28 So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents. 29 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. 30 And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’”

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (ESV) —
> 19 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, 20 for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.

Observation Questions

1. In the parable, how did the master decide how many talents to give each servant? What does the text say about the reason for the different amounts? ([14:10])
2. What did the servant with one talent do differently from the other two servants, and what was his reasoning? ([19:47])
3. According to 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, what does Paul say about ownership of our bodies and lives?
4. What was the master’s response to the servants who invested their talents versus the one who hid his? ([31:57])

Interpretation Questions

1. What does it mean that “everything we have is entrusted to us by God” rather than owned by us? How does this challenge the way people usually think about their time, money, and abilities? ([03:54])
2. Why do you think Jesus emphasizes that the master gave talents “to each according to his ability”? What does this say about comparison and envy among believers? ([15:08])
3. The servant who hid his talent acted out of fear and caution. What does this reveal about his view of the master, and how might our view of God affect the way we use what He’s given us? ([35:45])
4. The parable ends with a day of accountability. What does this suggest about the importance of how we use our resources and opportunities in this life? ([31:57])

Application Questions

1. The sermon said, “We are not owners, but stewards, called to use what we’ve been given for God’s glory, not our own comfort or security.” What is one area of your life (time, money, skills, relationships) where you tend to act more like an owner than a steward? What would it look like to shift your mindset in that area? ([03:54])
2. The parable shows that God entrusts resources “according to our unique abilities.” Is there a gift, talent, or opportunity in your life that you have been tempted to compare with others? How can you focus on faithfulness with what you have, rather than wishing for what someone else has? ([15:08])
3. The sermon challenged us to “invest and risk for God’s sake” rather than play it safe. Can you think of a time when you held back out of fear or caution? What would it look like to take a step of faith with what God has given you, even if it feels risky? ([19:47])
4. The day of accountability is coming, but the reward is “the joy of sharing in the Master’s happiness.” How does knowing you will give an account to God motivate you (or not) to live differently? Is there a specific area where you feel called to be more intentional or bold? ([31:57])
5. The sermon said, “Our view of God shapes our use of His gifts.” If you’re honest, do you see God as generous and trustworthy, or as harsh and demanding? How does this affect your willingness to serve, give, or take risks for His kingdom? ([35:45])
6. The parable is not just about money, but about all of life. What is one practical way you can use your time, influence, or resources this week to serve God’s kingdom, rather than just your own interests? ([11:32])
7. The pastor said, “God desires that we use all He has given us, with a sense of urgency and trust, to expand His kingdom and bless others.” What is one thing you could do this month to invest more fully in God’s purposes, rather than holding back? ([19:47])