Taking the "Stew" Out of Stewardship (Part 1 of 4)
What is Jesus’ Take on Stewardship?
Matt. 25:14-30
Jan. 7, 2007 FBC, Chester Mike Fogerson, Pastor
I Introduction
A Opening Story
B Jesus knew of the human heart’s resistence concerning stewardship (essence of the text in a sentence).
1 For it is just like a man about to go on a journey, who called his own slaves and entrusted his possessions to them. 15 "To one he gave five talents, to another, two, and to another, one, each according to his own ability; and he went on his journey. 16 "Immediately the one who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and gained five more talents. 17 "In the same manner the one who had received the two talents gained two more. 18 "But he who received the one talent went away, and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.
19 "Now after a long time the master of those slaves came* and settled* accounts with them. 20 "The one who had received the five talents came up and brought five more talents, saying, ’Master, you entrusted five talents to me. See, I have gained five more talents.’ 21 "His master said to him, ’Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’ 22 "Also the one who had received the two talents came up and said, ’Master, you entrusted two talents to me. See, I have gained two more talents.’ 23 "His master said to him, ’Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’ 24 "And the one also who had received the one talent came up and said, ’Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow and gathering where you scattered no seed. 25 ’And I was afraid, and went away and hid your talent in the ground. See, you have what is yours.’ 26 "But his master answered and said to him, ’You wicked, lazy slave, you knew that I reap where I did not sow and gather where I scattered no seed. 27 ’Then you ought to have put my money in the bank, and on my arrival I would have received my money back with interest. 28 ’Therefore take away the talent from him, and give it to the one who has the ten talents.’
29 "For to everyone who has, more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but from the one who does not have, even what he does have shall be taken away. 30 "Throw out the worthless slave into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Matt 25:14-30 (NASB)
a We are called to be faithful & good servants to our God (essence of the sermon in a sentence).
b I pray you’ll have a richer understanding of Jesus’ words on stewardship and that it (your understanding) will lead you to "stew-less" stewardship (objective).
2 How well are you living Jesus’ words on stewardship? (Probing question)
a Let’s look at Jesus’ teaching on stewardship by looking at the master & servants in our text (transitional sentence).
b Pray
II Jesus’ take on stewardship For it is just like a man about to go on a journey, who called his own slaves and entrusted his possessions to them.
A The absolute owner (slaves, talents), master, lord was going on an extended journey.
1 Why was the master gone?
a Maybe to build mansions, fight a battle, secure more servants, expand his kingdom (we don’t know).
b The master in our story is Jesus
aa He was in the world for one brief generation, 33 years, & then gone on a journey, "I go to prepare a place..."
bb His spiritual power is not absent (we know what it’s like to walk, talk with Him & hear Him talk to us).
2 In our text, the master was coming back, & he did.
a In my story, the master is coming back & will!
b No one who believes the New Testament can deny that our Lord who came is coming again.
B The slaves (the correlative of ‘Lord’) were property of their Lord (Master)
1 The slaves had been purchased, bought, paid for, cared for, protected by their Lord (He, the Lord, owned them!)
a And they sang* a new song, saying, "Worthy are You to take the book and to break its seals; for You were slain, and purchased for God with Your blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation. Rev 5:9 (NASB)
b Jesus, the Master/Lord, has purchased the elect with His blood on the cross at Calvary, & He’s seeking more servants today who’ll serve in His Kingdom.
2 In our text, the Master entrusted his slaves with his possessions for one reason (5 gained 5 more; 2 gained 2 more)-to enrich the Master.
a "Well done, good & faithful servant..." twice, to the faithful servants who took their talents and served the lord.
aa The Master didn’t compliment them for brilliance, smarts, looks, ability-FAITHFULNESS.
bb Our Jesus will not say, "well done" to anyone unless it has been well done.
b Rewarded for their faithfulness (servants to rulers! Share in the joy that comes from using the Lord’s resources the Lord’s way)
c Rebuke for the other servant’s unfaithfulness
C The unfaithful servant teaches us what NOT to do as servants of God.
1 He dragged his feet.
a Faithful servants didn’t waste time with their opportunity to bring increase to their Master, they went to work! (V. 16 "immediately", v. 17 "in the same manner").
b V. 18 "But the one who received the one talent went away..."
c The #1 lesson is that our Lord does not want us to wait (drag our feet) to be good & faithful, use what you’ve been given now to grow His Kingdom.
2 He blamed the Master for his unfaithfulness And the one also who had received the one talent came up and said, ’Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow and gathering where you scattered no seed. 25 ’And I was afraid, and went away and hid your talent in the ground. See, you have what is yours.’
a He called the Master "hard" & accused him of "reaping what he did not sow & gathering what he did not scatter."
aa He’s saying, "You’re unpleasable. You got your wealth from exploiting the labor of others. I couldn’t win."
bb Invest & make profit-I’d see nothing from it; invest & lose it-I’d invoke your wrath. You’re the reason I didn’t do anything, so here’s YOUR money.
cc He failed the Master’s trust & then turns around & insults the Master.
dd Maybe he was mad because he only got one talent.
b The #2 lesson: only unfaithful servants blame the Lord for their unfaithfulness.
aa Example: "God doesn’t need my talent, time, treasure. He’s got enough, & besides, it’s only a little anyway."
bb Church, it’s important to use your one because we’ve been appointed as servants by the Lord.
cc Were it not for the one-talent people in the church being faithful with what has been given to them, very little would get done for the Kingdom.
3 He lost out on being with the Lord.
a The Lord called him "worthless", "useless", "of no value" to Him & cast him out of His presence.
b The slave "stewed" over stewardship, too much hardship/trouble.
c Lesson #3: When we approach stewardship as a hardship we’ll find nothing but distress outside of it.
III Conclusion
A Jesus knew of the human heart’s resistence concerning stewardship (essence of the text in a sentence).
1 We are called to be faithful & good servants to our Lord (essence of the sermon in a sentence).
a We’ve looked at Jesus’ take on stewardship:
aa Master owns it all
bb Servants are entrusted to use what the Master has entrusted them with to enrich the Master.
cc Being unfaithful as a steward, "stewing" over stewardship, puts them outside of the Lord’s joy & presence.
b I pray you’ll have such a richer understanding of Jesus’ words on stewardship that it will lead you to "stew-less" stewardship (objective).
2 Options?
a Lord vs. Savior: If He’s Lord, He’s automatically Savior, but embracing Him as Savior doesn’t always mean He’s Lord.
b Faithful servant or unfaithful servant: bringing increase to the Lord or embezzling from Him.
B How well are you living Jesus’ words on stewardship? (Probing question)
1 Last week, we paid respect to Gerald R. Ford, President of the United States.
a He became Vice-President to Richard M. Nixon after Spiro Agnew resigned in disgrace.
b The vice-presidency is often referred to as "one heart beat away from being President."
aa This has happened 9 times out of 43 Presidents (21% of the time).
bb Not common, but it does happen & the VP is called upon to take on the responsibility of being President.
2 I believe we are all one heartbeat away from being called upon to take responsibility & give account for our stewardship.
a V. 18 & 19 is where I think we live our lives.
aa We have our talent now, supposed to use them now, but the Master is coming.
bb How do you feel going into the v. 19 of your life? (Probing question).
b Savior & Lord? Faithful or unfaithful?
c Pray
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