The greatest Stewardship—the good news
1. STEWARDSHIP REQUIRED
STEWARD—the proper administration of al the value that is placed in our hands.
G3623
oy-kon-om’-os
· a house distributor (that is, manager),
· or overseer, employed by another to oversee
· by extension a fiscal agent (treasurer);
· figuratively a preacher (of the Gospel):—chamberlain, governor, steward.
1 Corinthians 4
1Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God. 2Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.
1 Pet 4:7 (KJV)
7But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.
1 Pet 4:8 (KJV)
8And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.
1 Pet 4:9 (KJV)
9Use hospitality one to another without grudging.
1 Pet 4:10 (KJV)
10As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
TLB: 10God has given each of you some special abilities; be sure to use them to help each other, passing on to others God’s many kinds of blessings.
NLT: 10God has given gifts to each of you from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Manage them well so that God’s generosity can flow through you.
1 Pet 4:11 (KJV)
11If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
GIFT-
G5486
charisma
Ø a (divine) gratuity, that is, deliverance (from danger or assion).
Ø (specifically) a (spiritual) endowment, that is,
Ø (subjectively) religious qualification, or
Ø (objectively) miraculous faculty:—(free) gift.
THAT WE ARE REQUIRED TO BE FAITHFUL STEWARDS CANNOT BE DENIED!
2. STEWARDS OF WHAT?
ALL THE VALUE, WORTH, SIGNIFICANCE, & SUBSTANCE THAT IS PLACED IN OUR CARE, UNDER OUR ADMINISTRATION, OR GIVEN IN TRUST TO OUR SUPERVISION.
WHETHER --MATERIAL OR IMMATERIAL, TANGIBLE OR INTANGIBLE, APPARENT OR OBSCURE, SEEN OR UNSEEN
The responsibility remains.
There is no viable excuse for negligence.
excuses
2. Please excuse Lisa for being absent. She was sick and I had her shot.
3. Dear School: ExcusesPlease excuse John being absent on Jan. 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, and also 33.
14. Please excuse Jennifer for missing school yesterday. We forgot to get the Sunday paper off the porch, and when we found it Monday, we thought it was Sunday.
12. Please excuse Jimmy for being. It was his father’s fault.work 9. I’m not coming in because I need a mental day.
26. I won’t be in today....I’m calling in dead.
31. I can’t come into work today because of eye trouble.... I can’t see working today.Police: 1. Please excuse me from this speeding ticket. My wife ran off with a state policeman and when I saw your flashing lights I didn’t stop because I thought you might be the trooper who is trying to bring her back to me.
jury
11. "I’m a professional psychic so I would know who is guilty even before the trial."
There is no valid excuse for failing to properly administer the value in your life.
Of all the value you have received, The greatest value that you have received is the gift of God—
The saving knowledge of Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour.
Or as 1 Pet 4:10 (KJV)
10As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
He has deposited that value in your life. It is His asset invested in you. It becomes your liability.
As with all the value placed in your life—proper administration of the value is required.
Does he invest any value in you that He does not expect and deserve stewardship?
If financial—stewardship?
If tangible—stewardship?
If material, apparent, seen realm—stewardship?
If intangible, obscure, unseen,--stewardship?
q In the area of resources, proper administration is seen in the payment of the tithe, the bringing of offerings in accordance with God’s direction, and the faithful administration of the resources that remain after that initial obedience.
q In the spiritual, perhaps less tangible realm, the proper administration of the “manifold grace of God” is seen in the investment of that resource to the benefit of the depositor.
Matt 25:14 (KJV)
14For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods.
Matt 25:15 (KJV)
15And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey.
Matt 25:16 (KJV)
16Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents.
Matt 25:17 (KJV)
17And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two.
Matt 25:18 (KJV)
18But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord’s money.
Matt 25:19 (KJV)
19After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them.
Matt 25:20 (KJV)
20And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more.
Matt 25:21 (KJV)
21His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
Matt 25:22 (KJV)
22He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them.
Matt 25:23 (KJV)
23His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
Matt 25:24 (KJV)
24Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed:
Matt 25:25 (KJV)
25And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine.
Matt 25:26 (KJV)
26His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed:
Matt 25:27 (KJV)
27Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury.
Matt 25:28 (KJV)
28Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents.
Matt 25:29 (KJV)
29For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.
TLB: 29For the man who uses well what he is given shall be given more, and he shall have abundance. But from the man who is unfaithful, even what little responsibility he has shall be taken from him.
Matt 25:30 (KJV)
30And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Ø What has God asked us to do with the “manifold grace of God” value that He has deposited in our lives?
1) Luke 14:22 (KJV)
23And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.
Matt 28:19 (KJV)
19Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
Matt 28:20 (KJV)
20Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
2) Acts 1:8 (KJV)
8But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
3)
Matt 5:13Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.
14Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.
15Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.
16Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
4)
Matt 9:37 (KJV)
37Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few;
Matt 9:38 (KJV)
38Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.
According to the parable:
It is not what we do not do with what we do not have—rather what we do with what is invested in us.
We can a reverential fear or be terrified.
When we say nothing, talk to no one, make no invitations, and do little, never approach anyone—we are digging hole and hiding what has been invested in us by the master.
The master called these wicked and lazy!
If we properly administrate the tangible we will be blessed!
If we properly administrate the intangible “manifold grace of God” we will be blessed.
Joel 3:9 (KJV)
9Proclaim ye this among the Gentiles; Prepare war, wake up the mighty men, let all the men of war draw near; let them come up:
Joel 3:10 (KJV)
10Beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruninghooks into spears: let the weak say, I am strong.
Joel 3:11 (KJV)
11Assemble yourselves, and come, all ye heathen, and gather yourselves together round about: thither cause thy mighty ones to come down, O LORD.
Joel 3:12 (KJV)
12Let the heathen be wakened, and come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat: for there will I sit to judge all the heathen round about.
Joel 3:13 (KJV)
13Put ye in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe: come, get you down; for the press is full, the vats overflow; for their wickedness is great.
Joel 3:14 (KJV)
14Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision.
Psa 94:16 (KJV)
16 Who will rise up for me against the evildoers? or who will stand up for me against the workers of iniquity?
Psa 94:17 (KJV)
17 Unless the LORD had been my help, my soul had almost dwelt in silence.
Isa 6:8 (KJV)
8Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.
Isa 6:9 (KJV)
9And he said, Go, and tell this people,
2 tim 4:1
1And so I solemnly urge you before God and before Christ Jesus—who will someday judge the living and the dead when he appears to set up his Kingdom—
2 Tim 4:2 (TLB)
2to preach the Word of God urgently at all times, whenever you get the chance, in season and out, when it is convenient and when it is not. Correct and rebuke your people when they need it, encourage them to do right, and all the time be feeding them patiently with God’s Word.
1O Timothy, my son, be strong with the strength Christ Jesus gives you.
2 Tim 2:2 (TLB)
2For you must teach others those things you and many others have heard me speak about. Teach these great truths to trustworthy men who will, in turn, pass them on to others.
Col 1:28 (TLB)
28So everywhere we go we talk about Christ to all who will listen, warning them and teaching them as well as we know how. We want to be able to present each one to God, perfect because of what Christ has done for each of them.
Col 1:29 (TLB)
29This is my work, and I can do it only because Christ’s mighty energy is at work within me.
Rom 7:23-25
So you see how it is: my new life tells me to do right, but the old nature that is still inside me loves to sin. Oh, what a terrible predicament I’m in! Who will free me from my slavery to this deadly lower nature? Thank God! It has been done by Jesus Christ our Lord. He has set me free.
Will you join me in a commitment to the proper administration of the “manifold grace of God” value?
Will you join me in a commitment to become a witness, a minister of the gospel, salt and light—it is the manner in which we properly administer the value!
