Memory Verse:
“Do not labour for the food which perishes, but for the good which endures to eternal life, which the Son of man will give to you” (John 6:27 RSV).
A SERVANT OF THE KING
Biblical stewardship recognizes three important facts.
First, God is the owner of everything, and every part of our lives (Psalm 24:1).
Second, God has called us to steward His resources (Genesis 1:26; 1 Corinthians 4:1-2).
Third, the goal of stewardship is to advance God’s kingdom mission in the world (Matthew 28:19-20).
A definition of biblical stewardship might read as follows: “Biblical stewardship recognizes that God’s resources are to be deployed through God’s people to accomplish God’s mission.”
Biblical stewardship is often referred to as “whole-life stewardship” because God calls us to be good stewards of every area of our lives.
Organising our talents to live a good life is not enough; what is required is a new life where what is in our hearts is in our legs. God no more wants your love out of obligation than you want the love of a spouse because it is their duty or responsibility. Stewards who live inside out do not walk life’s stage only because of careful planning, strategy and performance in according with their talents. They show their parentage in spontaneous ways; they conform to the powerful, living Spirit of God.
As Billy Graham once said: “The object of your faith must be Christ. Not faith in ritual, not faith in sacrifices, not faith in morals, not faith in yourself—not faith in anything but Christ!” That is what we are called into, a new life in Christ. Stewards, take use their talents; laboring in service for the Lord to accomplish God’s mission.
Reading John 6: 25-29
What do you observe?
Why is Jesus telling the people? What did Jesus mean when he said “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent”
What does this mean for us today? What does it have to say about stewardship?
Lordship is intimacy with God through the indwelling Christ integrated into daily life. Jesus is Lord and we are His stewards—managing the talents that He has placed in our lives.
The Lordship paradigm is the foundational concept undergirding all of stewardship. Accepting God as
Author and Owner of our abilities and giving Him control of these abilities transforms our entire approach to daily life. Lordship is even greater than simple surrender to God and must be integrated into the very core of our being and passion.
So let’s explore this kingdom economy paradigm, seeking to find ways to make it our own life perspective in relation to investing in and using our talents to serve God in mission.
At i the foundation of such stewardship is our heart and its action with the will of God “being about our Master’s business” The Economy of the kingdom of God requires our “talents” to me surrendered to the will of God.
JESUS AS A STEWARD OF HIS TALENTS
Jesus begins with identification with the Father.
Reading Luke 2:41-52:
What do you observe?
Why is Luke telling us? What did Jesus mean when he said “I had to be in my Father’s house”
What does this mean for us today? What does it have to say about stewardship?
The apostle Paul presents Jesus Christ as Lord because of who He is and what He has done (Philippians 2:5-11). Being God, Jesus chose to empty Himself, becoming a man. Yet simply becoming human was not enough. He identified Himself with the essence of humanity, taking the form of a servant and dying our death on Calvary. In doing so, He identified Himself with our sin to the extent of becoming “sin for us” (2 Corinthians 5:21). As a result, God has exalted Jesus, given Him a name above all other names, and at the end of time, every tongue will declare Him Lord. So the fact that He is Lord is an eternal reality. It is not enough to simply say that He is Lord. It must be a confession of relationship with Him if it is to transform our lives. It is by virtue of relationship with Him that we share in the humility of Christ and the exaltation of Christ.
We often identify our self via our talents. I’m a musician, I’m a Architect, I’m a mother, I’m a writer. But this identity need’s purpose to bear eternal fruit. This purpose is found in relationship with Christ.
STEWARDSHIP INVITES PARTNERSHIP UNDER CHRIST’S LORDSHIP
Too often, we see Lordship as simple obedience. God says it, we do it. While containing an element of truth, this approach in regard to using our talents and abilities ultimately leads to failure and discouragement. The power for obedience is often missing. We try to obey only to fail again and again. We attempt to do by human force of will what only God can empower. At other times, we understand Lordship to mean the loss of control. Once again, there is an element of truth. But it must be much more. It is a surrender that leads to an even more powerful life. Lordship is intimacy with God through the indwelling Christ integrated into daily life. It is the
result of accepting Christ as Saviour, Owner, and present within us through the ministry of the Holy Spirit.
Reading Romans 6: 1-14
What do you observe?
What does it mean to be baptized into His death?
What does this mean for us today to be instruments of righteousness? What does it have to say about stewardship of talents?
In the relationship with Jesus Christ as Lord, we discover a level of intimacy where the core of our hearts
is transformed by the very presence of God. In giving the promise of “another Comforter”, Jesus also promised to return to us (John 14:18). When the Comforter came, He brought the assurance of His presence.
This indwelling presence of Christ is the essential core of the Biblical concept of Lordship. Paul presents the promise “that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith” (Ephesians
3:16-17, ESV). Paul concludes that as a result of knowing the heights and depths of God’s love we will be “filled with all the fullness of God” (Eph. 3:15-19). This is the scope of the promised intimacy with God—Christ bringing the fullness of God into our lives.
Reading Col 3:17
What do you observe?
What does it mean “in whatever you do, do in the name of the Lord Jesus“
What does this mean for us today to be instruments of righteousness? What does it have to say about stewardship of talents?
Christ invites us into a partnership. As the indwelling Christ (Eph. 3:16-17), His Lordship empowers our everyday activities. Accepting Him as Owner we manage His resources with His guidance and power. Therefore whatever we do is done to God’s honour and glory (1 Cor. 10:31).
Since it is His business, what is done in the name of that business reflects on Him. We act in the name of the Lord, “And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him” (Col. 3:17, ESV). Everything we do is done serving Him (Col. 3:22-24).
STEWARDSHIP OF TALENTS REQUIRES BOTH LABOUR AND INVESTING
Reading 2 Kings 4:1-7
What do you observe?
How can this passage be understood?
What does this mean for us today? What does it have to say about stewardship?
Elisha gave a particular instruction, requiring: the widow’s use of time and “use of her talents”. The widow was required go out and labour, to ask/borrow empty jars from others for God to fills. (Similar to Jesus turning water to wine). The resulting miracle required her to then go out and sell oil! allowing her to repay her debt and redeem her sons from being sold as slaves.
What skills does the window require?
Reading 1 Peter 4:10
What do you observe?
How does Peter hope to encourage the church?
What does this mean for us today? What does it have to say about stewardship?
Biblical stewardship may be summarized in three principles:
1) God is the owner of everything.
2) God’s covenant people are held responsible for their management of God’s resources.
3) Giving is a worshipful response to God’s ownership of all things and a witness of God’s glory.