Stewardship
01/18/04 AM
Text/Reading: 1 Corinthians 4:1-5
Introduction
Ill: A wealthy businessman from Texas was in the habit of giving his dad unique gifts on his birthday. As his business travels took him around the world, he would always search to find something truly remarkable to give to his dad. But this past year he felt he had outdone himself. He discovered a talking bird that had been trained to speak five languages and even more incredible, could sing “The Yellow Rose of Texas” while standing on one foot. The talented bird cost him ten thousand dollars, but he felt it was worth every penny. This would be a gift his dad would never forget and he arranged to have the bird delivered in time for his dad’s birthday.
About a week after the bird was delivered he called his father. “Dad, how did you like the bird?” His father responded, “Son, you have to tell me where you found that bird because it was delicious!”
Question: What do you do with the gifts that have been given to you?
1 Corinthians 4:1-5
I. A Matter of Defining
A. Merriam-Webster:
1. Stewardship
1: the office, duties, and obligations of a steward
2: the conducting, supervising, or managing of something; especially: the careful and responsible management of something entrusted to one’s care
B. The word steward actually comes from two root words: “stig” meaning a hall or household and “weard” meaning to ward or keep. In other words, a keeper of the household: a servant.
C. 1 Corinthians 4:1 “Let a man regard us in this manner, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God.”
As it was for Paul, it is the same for us: servants and stewards.
D. If you have ever been on a ship, you know what a ship’s steward is. Or if you have ever been on an airplane, you know what a steward or stewardess is. That person does not own the airplane or anything on the plane. That steward has been given the responsibility of taking the goods that belong to a higher authority and dispensing it to the people for their benefit. That is a steward – on an airplane or ship – and in the spiritual realm as well.
E. As far as Christians are concerned, stewardship involves the responsibility of managing God’s work through the church.
1. God has appointed all Christians to be His stewards on earth.
1 Peter 2:9 “But you are a chosen race, A royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;”
2. Ephesians 2:8-10 “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.”
F. What are we stewards of? All that has been given to us. What has been given to us? EVERYTHING.
II. A Matter of Determining
A. We must determine what is required of us.
1. Some people feel that if I don’t get too involved in church or get too involved in doing things for Christ that He won’t ask too much.
Matthew 10:38 “And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. 39“He who has found his life will lose it, and he who has lost his life for My sake will find it.”
B. I’ve heard it preached as Time, Talent, and Treasure
1. Time: How do you spend your time?
a. Ephesians 5:15-16 “Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil.”
b. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-17 “Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
c. Philippians 4:8 “Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.”
2. Talent
a. 1 Corinthians 7:7b “…However, each man has his own gift from God, one in this manner, and another in that.”
b. Ephesians 4:11-12 “And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ;”
3. Treasure
a. 2 Corinthians 9:6-7 “Now this I say, he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”
b. Mark 12:41-42 “And He sat down opposite the treasury, and began observing how the people were putting money into the treasury; and many rich people were putting in large sums. A poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which amount to a cent. Calling His disciples to Him, He said to them, “Truly I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all the contributors to the treasury; for they all put in out of their surplus, but she, out of her poverty, put in all she owned, all she had to live on.”
C. Notice that it is not required of a steward to be eloquent or to have many gifts, but that he be found faithful. 1 Corinthians 4:2
D. There are so many who will be rewarded someday, not because they did some great thing or had some great gift, but because they were faithful in what they did and how they did it. Matthew 25:34
E. Paul goes on to say that it doesn’t matter what you think of me, nor really even what I think of myself. What really matters is what the Lord thinks. 1 Corinthians 4:3, 4.
G. QUESTION: What do you spend your free time doing?
H. QUESTION: When nothing has your immediate attention, what do your thoughts turn to?
I. Those things that occupy your mind and your time, determine the condition of your heart. Matthew 6:21 “for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
1. Are you interested in the things of God?
2. Are you concerned about the needs of others?
3. Do you think about & look for opportunities to serve God? The Church? Others?
III. A Matter of Deciding
A. What kind of steward will you be for the Kingdom of God?
1. As long as I keep a low profile, no one will ask me to do much, I don’t have to get too involved, and things will just take care of themselves.
2. When I do get involved, am I serving myself, or serving God? 1 Corinthians 4:5 – what is the motive of our hearts?
3. Luke 12:35-48
IV. Conclusion
Invitation
