PRINCIPLE OF STEWARDSHIP

Stewardship: The conducting, supervising, managing of something entrusted in our care by God Himself. Seeds: Time, talents, resources, finances, etc.
Stewardship is similar to the planting of those seeds in good soil.

OPENING SCRIPTURE: Matthew 25:14-30

14 “For the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country, who called HIS OWN SERVANTS and delivered his goods to them. 15 And to one he gave FIVE TALENTS, to another TWO, and to another ONE, TO EACH ACCORDING TO HIS OWN ABILITY; and immediately he went on a journey.
16 Then he who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents. 17 And likewise he who had received two gained two more also. 18 But he who had received one went and dug in the ground, and hid his lord’s money. 19 After a long time the lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them.
20 “So he who had received five talents came and brought five other talents, saying, ‘Lord, you delivered to me five talents; look, I have gained five more talents besides them.’ 21 His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’
22 He also who had received two talents came and said, ‘Lord, you delivered to me two talents; look, I have gained two more talents besides them.’ 23 His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’
24 “Then he who had received the one talent came and said, ‘Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 25 And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground. Look, there you have what is yours.’
26 “But his lord answered and said to him, ‘You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed. 27 So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest. 28 So take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents.
29 ‘For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away. 30 And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

• Talent here is a measure of weight in silver. 1 Talent = 33kg (72.75 lbs)
• According to today’s market, the price of silver is $0.75 per gram. 1 Talent = $24,750
• Jesus is referring to Himself as the man or the master.
• The servants are believers like you and me.

POINT #1: DIFFERENT CAPACITIES-SAME OPPORTUNITY

And to one he gave FIVE TALENTS, to another TWO, and to another ONE, TO EACH ACCORDING TO HIS OWN ABILITY (CAPACITY); (v 15)

• The distribution of the talents was not unfair. The master was being mindful of the weight of the responsibility upon each one of the servants.
• The master knows that too much responsibility given prematurely could crush us.
• The distribution of responsibility was based on their capacity to handle the task.
• The Master gave to all 3 servants in equal measure: THE OPPORTUNITY TO SUCCEED!

We’ve all been given different assignments based on our capacities but the same opportunity to succeed! Different assignments-Same opportunity to success!

All the servants were given the same opportunity to succeed and to hear those words: ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’

POINT #2: EXPECTATION

Then he who had received the five talents WENT AND TRADED WITH THEM, and made another five talents. And likewise he who had received two gained two more also. But he who had received one went and dug in the ground, and hid his lord’s money (vv 16-18)

I believe the master set clear expectations for the servants: Work and multiply the talents.
The expectation of stewardship is not burying but planting.

Those who are PLANTED in the house of the LORD Shall FLOURISH in the COURTS OF OUR GOD. 14 They shall still BEAR FRUIT in old age; They shall be FRESH and FLOURISHING. (Psalm 92:13-14 NKJ)

• When you are planted you will see opportunities to succeed no matter what the assignment is.

POINT #3: PERCEPTION OF GOD

“Then he who had received the one talent came and said, ‘LORD, I KNEW YOU TO BE A HARD MAN, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed. And I WAS AFRAID, and went and HID YOUR TALENT in the ground. Look, THERE YOU HAVE WHAT IS YOURS.’ (vv24-25)

• The unfaithful servant had the wrong perception of God. Instead of seeing God as a loving Father, he saw God as a hard master!

The unfaithful servant didn’t waste the master’s money – he wasted an opportunity.
He missed the opportunity to hear His master say:
“Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.”

CONCLUSION

• What is the Holy Spirit saying to you through this message?