Stewardship: Living with Purpose and Accountability

Devotional

Day 1: Faithful Stewardship of God’s Gifts

Everything you have and are is a gift from God, not for your exclusive possession, but as a stewardship to be managed for His glory and the good of others. God entrusts each person with unique resources—time, talent, and treasure—according to His wisdom, and He expects us to use these gifts to bless others and advance the gospel. Whether your abilities seem great or small, they are significant in God’s eyes, and He desires that you use them faithfully, not just for your own enjoyment, but to serve and honor Him. Consider how even the smallest act of generosity or service can have eternal impact when offered back to God. [38:59]

James 1:17 (ESV)
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.

Reflection: What is one specific gift—whether time, talent, or treasure—that God has given you, and how can you intentionally use it this week to bless someone else or serve your church?

Day 2: Faithfulness, Not Prominence, Brings God’s Blessing

God’s affirmation is not based on how much you have, but on how faithfully you use what you’ve been given. The parable of the talents shows that both the servant with five talents and the one with two received the same praise from the master, because both were faithful with their resources. It is not about comparing yourself to others or wishing for more, but about being diligent and faithful with what is in your hands. God delights in your faithfulness, whether your role is visible or hidden, and He promises to reward those who steward their lives well for His purposes. [41:55]

Matthew 25:21 (ESV)
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: In what area of your life have you been tempted to compare your gifts or resources to others, and how can you shift your focus to simply being faithful with what God has entrusted to you?

Day 3: Fear and Inaction Lead to Loss

Fear can paralyze us and keep us from using the gifts God has given, but doing nothing with your life is not neutrality—it is rebellion against God’s purpose for you. The servant who buried his talent out of fear lost even what he had, missing the opportunity to honor his master and bless others. God calls you to step out in faith, trusting Him with the results, rather than letting fear or excuses keep you from obedience. Remember, only you can use the unique gifts God has placed in your life, and if you do not use them, they will be wasted forever. [45:30]

Matthew 25:24-25, 28-29 (ESV)
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.’ ... 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.

Reflection: What is one area where fear or insecurity has kept you from stepping out to serve or use your gifts, and what is one small step you can take today to move forward in faith?

Day 4: Accountability Before Christ Is Inevitable

One day, every believer will stand before the judgment seat of Christ to give an account for how they used their life—not for salvation, but for stewardship. While your sins are covered by the blood of Jesus, the way you invested your time, talent, and treasure will matter for eternity. This coming evaluation should not fill you with dread, but with a holy motivation to live each day with purpose, knowing that your choices have eternal significance. Begin with the end in mind—not just your funeral, but the moment you stand before Jesus and long to hear, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” [50:16]

2 Corinthians 5:10 (ESV)
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.

Reflection: If you were to stand before Jesus today, what would you most want Him to say about how you used your life, and what is one change you can make this week to better align your actions with that desire?

Day 5: Today Is the Day to Respond

No one is guaranteed tomorrow, and the most important decision you can make is to turn from your sin and trust in Jesus for salvation. While the judgment seat of Christ is for believers, there is a more sobering reality for those who have not given their lives to Christ—the great white throne judgment. God’s invitation is open today: receive the gift of salvation, and begin living a life that matters for eternity. Don’t put off the most important choice you will ever make; today is the day to respond to God’s call and surrender your life to Him. [59:02]

Romans 10:9 (ESV)
Because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

Reflection: If you have never fully surrendered your life to Jesus, what is holding you back from making that decision today? If you have, who is one person you can pray for or share the gospel with this week?

Sermon Summary

This morning began with a celebration of new life and the sacred responsibility God entrusts to parents. As we dedicated these children, we recognized that every child is a gift from God, and with that gift comes the call to raise them in a home where Jesus is Lord, the Bible is taught, and God’s love abounds. We prayed for these families, asking God to bless them, to give parents wisdom and grace, and to draw these children to Himself at an early age. This is a reminder that the church is a family, supporting one another as we seek to honor God in our homes.

Turning to God’s Word, we explored the parable of the talents in Matthew 25. Jesus tells this story in the context of His return, urging us to live in light of eternity. The parable is not just about money, but about all the resources God has entrusted to us—our time, our talents, and our treasure. Each of us has been given something valuable, not for our own pleasure alone, but as a stewardship to be used for God’s glory and the good of others. The story challenges us to consider how we are investing what God has given us. Are we using our gifts, or are we letting them go unused, like forgotten gift cards?

The parable teaches that God is the source of every blessing, and that what we have is not truly ours, but His. We are stewards, not owners. Faithful stewardship leads to God’s best blessings—not necessarily in prominence or recognition, but in hearing the words, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” The issue is not how much we have, but what we do with what we have. Fear and inaction, on the other hand, lead to loss. Doing nothing with our lives is not neutrality; it is rebellion against the purpose for which God created us.

Finally, we are reminded that accountability is inevitable. Jesus will return, and each of us will stand before Him to give an account for how we used the life He gave us. For believers, this is not about salvation—that was settled at the cross—but about how we lived in response to God’s grace. The call is to live with the end in mind, not just our funeral, but the day we stand before Christ. May we use our time, talent, and treasure in such a way that we hear, “Well done,” and enter into the joy of our Master.

Key Takeaways

1. Every Blessing Is a Stewardship, Not Ownership Everything we have—our time, abilities, and resources—comes from God and is entrusted to us for a purpose. We are not owners, but stewards, called to manage these gifts for God’s glory and the good of others. This perspective shifts our focus from self-gratification to faithful service, reminding us that not everything that comes to us is meant for us alone. Our lives are meant to be channels of blessing, not reservoirs of self-indulgence. [37:45]
2. Faithfulness, Not Prominence, Is What God Rewards God does not measure our lives by how much we have or how visible our service is, but by our faithfulness with what we’ve been given. The servants who received different amounts in the parable were both commended equally for their faithfulness, not for the size of their return. This means that the quiet acts of obedience and service, done in faith, are just as significant in God’s eyes as the more public or celebrated ones. What matters is not the magnitude of our gifts, but the faithfulness of our stewardship. [41:55]
3. Fear and Inaction Are Forms of Rebellion The servant who buried his talent did so out of fear, but his inaction was not excused—it was condemned. Doing nothing with what God has given us is not a neutral choice; it is a rejection of our calling and a waste of God’s investment in us. God has given each of us something unique to use for His kingdom, and if we do not use it, it will be lost forever. Fear should not keep us from stepping out in faith and serving as God leads. [46:10]
4. Accountability Before Christ Is Certain and Serious There will come a day when each of us stands before Jesus to give an account for how we used our lives. For believers, this is not about our salvation, which is secured by Christ’s sacrifice, but about our faithfulness as stewards. The judgment seat of Christ will reveal the true value of our choices and the impact of our lives. This reality should sober us and motivate us to live intentionally, knowing that our lives matter for eternity. [48:55]
5. Living With the End in Mind Transforms Daily Choices It is easy to be distracted by trivial pursuits or to live as if this life is all there is. But when we remember that the true “end” is not our funeral, but standing before Christ, it changes how we use our time, talent, and treasure. Each day becomes an opportunity to invest in what lasts, to bring glory to God, and to bless others. The goal is to live in such a way that we hear, “Well done, good and faithful servant,” and enter into the joy of our Master. [50:16]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:45] - Child Dedications and Family Blessings
[06:24] - Gifts for Families and Prayer
[10:23] - Greeting and Fellowship
[12:00] - Introduction to Matthew 25
[30:58] - The Parable of the Talents: Context and Reading
[33:06] - Jesus’ Return and Living in Readiness
[34:51] - The Master’s Gifts: Time, Talent, and Treasure
[37:45] - God as the Source and Stewardship Explained
[38:59] - What Is a Talent? Biblical and Practical Meaning
[41:55] - Faithful Stewardship and God’s Blessings
[46:10] - The Danger of Fear and Inaction
[48:55] - Accountability and the Judgment Seat of Christ
[50:16] - Living With the End in Mind
[59:02] - Invitation and Closing Prayer

Bible Study Guide

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.’”

Observation Questions

In the parable, what did the master entrust to each servant, and how did he decide how much to give each one? (Matthew 25:14-15)
What did the first two servants do with what they were given, and what was the master’s response to them? (Matthew 25:16-23)
How did the third servant explain his actions to the master, and what was the master’s reaction? (Matthew 25:24-30)
According to the sermon, what are the “talents” in our lives today, and how does the pastor describe their purpose? [[34:51]]

Interpretation Questions

The sermon says, “Everything you have and everything you are is a gift from God… It is actually your stewardship. There’s a difference between ownership and stewardship.” What does it mean to be a steward rather than an owner of your time, abilities, and resources? [[37:45]]
The master in the parable rewards both the five-talent and two-talent servants equally, even though their results were different. What does this teach about what God values in our service? [[41:55]]
The third servant was motivated by fear and did nothing with his talent. Why does the sermon say that inaction is not neutral, but actually rebellion? [[46:10]]
The pastor says, “Accountability is inevitable. The master is coming back… and we’re going to be evaluated for the way that we use our lives.” How should the reality of future accountability before Christ shape the way we live now? [[48:55]]

Application Questions

The sermon began with child dedications, highlighting the responsibility to raise children in a home where Jesus is Lord and God’s love abounds. If you are a parent, grandparent, or spiritual mentor, what is one specific way you can be more intentional about pointing the next generation to Jesus this week? [[06:24]]
The pastor said, “Not everything that comes to you is meant for you… Our lives are meant to be channels of blessing, not reservoirs of self-indulgence.” Can you think of a recent blessing (time, skill, or resource) that you could use to serve someone else? What would it look like to do that? [[37:45]]
The parable shows that faithfulness, not prominence, is what God rewards. Are there “small” or unseen ways you are serving God or others that you tend to overlook or undervalue? How might God see those acts differently than you do? [[41:55]]
The sermon warns that fear and inaction are forms of rebellion. Is there a gift, ability, or opportunity God has given you that you’ve been hesitant to use because of fear or uncertainty? What is one step you could take this week to move forward in faith? [[46:10]]
The pastor said, “Doing nothing with your life is not neutrality… it is rebellion against God.” Are there areas of your life where you’ve been “burying your talent”? What would it look like to dig it up and put it to use? [[46:10]]
The reality of standing before Christ for an account is meant to motivate us, not terrify us. How does thinking about hearing “Well done, good and faithful servant” change your perspective on your daily choices? Is there a specific area where you want to be more intentional? [[50:16]]
The sermon challenged us to “live with the end in mind.” What is one practical change you could make this week to invest your time, talent, or treasure in something that will last for eternity? [[50:16]]

Sermon Clips

You see, all of us have been given gifts from God. They're not gifts for our own pleasure. I mean, even though God wants us to enjoy things, they are gifts and stewardships for us to use for His glory and to do good for others. To expand the reach of the gospel, to bless the church that Jesus died and rose again to establish. That's why He gives us these resources. And He gives us resources in three ways. All of us have time, all of us have talent, and all of us have treasure. And in this parable that Jesus tells, He's going to talk to us about the importance of our investing, our time, talent, and treasure for eternity. How you spend your life matters. [00:32:18] (51 seconds) #GiftsForGlory

God gives into the lives of his servants he gives us time he gives us talent he gives us treasure now when i'm using the word talent there i'm talking about skills and abilities god's given you something to use in his kingdom to bring you great glory for example maybe god's given you a natural ability some people can just sing they don't need any vocal training they can just sing kind of like sydney i mean it's just amazing right when she sings some people are like me they can't play the radio okay i mean i turn up the radio loud and my wife says why and i say so i can drown out my singing so i sound like kenny chesney or george straight or whoever i'm listening to and some people but some people have this wonderful natural talent that god gave you to sing you ought to be using it. [00:41:13] (56 seconds) #UseYourGodGivenTalent

Some people have this wonderful ability to connect some adults have a wonderful ability to connect with students and children for some people it's just a real struggle to make that connection between two generations but some people just have this ability to do it and it maybe it's a natural talent maybe it's a spiritual gift i don't know why aren't you using it you see that's the that's the issue that everything we have is a gift from god but it's a gift from god to use in our lives so that we might glorify him. [00:42:08] (33 seconds) #BlessOthersWithBlessings

Faithful stewardship leads to god's best blessings in verse 19 jesus says now after a long time the master came back if the journey is a picture in this parable of his ascension then the there's this long time and then jesus is going to come back so this refers to the return of christ and at the return of christ what happens is an evaluation of the three servants to the one he gave five talents and he earned five more he goes out and he does something with it he uses it he the bible says jesus said in the parable that he employs it in business yes that's right you use your business your job to glorify god and he makes five more talents and he returns it to the master because it was his anyway. [00:44:16] (50 seconds) #FaithfulnessOverQuantity

What about my talent all of you have natural talents if you're saved you have a spiritual gift and you have learned skills you went to college or trade school you learned how to do something maybe you didn't go to school like that you just learn stuff you have learned skills are you using those to advance the gospel see that's the question. [00:47:45] (25 seconds) #FearLeadsToLoss

God has given you something that only you have God has given you something to use for his glory for the good of others to bless people to advance the gospel God has given you something and if you don't use it it will be wasted forever because nobody else has it and nobody else can get it it was given to you by the master and only you can use it in his service. [00:52:18] (30 seconds) #UniqueGiftForHisGlory

Accountability is inevitable the master is coming back his name is Jesus and what Jesus describes here in a narrative in a story the Apostle Paul gives us in 2nd Corinthians 5 10 for we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body whether good or evil the judgment seat of Christ is the place where believers will be evaluated where we'll be judged now I want you to understand that your eternal salvation will not be on the line that day that that is not what the judgment seat of Christ is about the judgment seat of Christ is for believers but for those of us who seem to think that how we live doesn't matter I need you to know that the judgment seat of Christ will be very very serious. [00:52:50] (59 seconds) #JudgmentSeatAwareness

While we watch for signs of the end of days Jesus is watching for how we spend our days it's not about predicting the end I saw it this week by the way Jesus was supposed to come back on September 23rd he didn't what part of no one knows the day or the hour do these people not understand but what matters is how you got up on September 24th and used your life to bring glory to God. [00:56:37] (42 seconds) #WellDoneFaithfulServant

If you're a follower of Christ your life matters if you came here today and you are not a follower of Christ though I want to tell you something your life matters and the choice that you need to make today is to turn from your sin and repentance and give your life to Christ because while the judgment seat of Christ will be intimidating and fearsome and it's going to be very serious there is a worse place to stand the Bible calls it the great white throne and at the great white throne if your name is not found written in the book called the Lamb's Book of Life then you will be cast forever into a horrible place called hell. [00:57:19] (43 seconds) #LiveForTodayNotTheEnd

Maybe for some of us this morning isn't so much about coming forward but about getting on our knees and saying God how am I really using my life and some of us are using it on trivial pursuits and maybe you just need to be honest with God about that but for some of you you've never trusted Jesus for your eternal life you've never given your life to Christ turned from your sin and repentance and totally trusted that what Jesus did on the cross is the full payment for your sin today is the day to do that. [00:58:34] (51 seconds) #LifeMattersChooseChrist

Ask a question about this sermon

Chatbot

Transcript

What was the most surprising thing in this sermon?

Were there any personal stories shared?