Introduction

Good morning, church family! Today, we're going to dive into a topic that affects each and every one of us – stewardship. You see, God has called us to be wise and responsible stewards of His creation, and it's something we should take to heart.

Let's start by looking at what the Word of God says in Genesis 1:26: "Then God said, 'Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.'"

This verse clearly shows that God created us in His image and entrusted us with the responsibility of having dominion over His creation. John Piper once said, "God made us to be conduits of His grace. The danger is in thinking the conduit should be lined with gold. It shouldn't. Copper will do."

In other words, we must remember that as stewards of God's creation, we are here to serve, not to be served. Our lives should not be focused on accumulating wealth and possessions for ourselves, but rather on using the resources God has given us to care for the world around us and to bless others.

As we delve into this topic, let's ask God to open our hearts and minds to understand His will for us as stewards of His creation.

Please bow your heads as we pray:

Heavenly Father, thank You for creating us in Your image and entrusting us with the responsibility of caring for Your creation. As we explore the topic of stewardship today, we ask that You open our hearts and minds to understand Your will for our lives. Teach us to be wise and generous stewards, using the resources You've given us to care for the world around us and to bless others. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

Now, let's dive into God's Call to Stewardship...

"God made us to be conduits of His grace. The danger is in thinking the conduit should be lined with gold. It shouldn't. Copper will do." —John Piper

God's Call to Stewardship

God's call to stewardship is the understanding that God has entrusted us with the responsibility of managing and taking care of His creation. This call is not just limited to the environment, but it also extends to our time, talents, and resources. As Christians, we are called to be wise and responsible stewards of all that God has given us.

One of the first instances of this can be found in the creation story in the book of Genesis, as we read. When God created Adam and Eve, He gave them dominion over all the earth and every living creature. This was not just a privilege, but also a responsibility. They were to care for the earth and its inhabitants, ensuring that all living things could thrive and flourish. This responsibility was not just given to Adam and Eve, but it has been passed down to each of us as well.

In the New Testament, Jesus also teaches about stewardship through various parables. One such parable is the Parable of the Talents found in Matthew 25:14-30. In this story, a master entrusts his servants with varying amounts of talents (a form of currency) and expects them to invest and grow the resources given to them. The master then returns and holds each servant accountable for how they managed the resources entrusted to them. Similarly, God has entrusted us with various resources, and He expects us to use them wisely and for His glory.

In Psalm 24:1, we read, "The earth is the Lord's, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it." All we have is a gift from God, and we are merely stewards of His resources. This understanding should shape our perspective on how we use and manage the resources God has given us.

Each of us has been uniquely gifted by God with various abilities and skills. These gifts are not meant to be used solely for our own benefit, but rather to serve others and bring glory to God. In 1 Peter 4:10, we are instructed to "use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God's grace in its various forms." This means that we should be intentional about using our time and talents to serve others and further God's kingdom.

As Christians, we are called to be generous and to give of our resources to support the work of the church and to help those in need. In 2 Corinthians 9:6-7, the Apostle Paul writes, "Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver." This verse reminds us that our giving should be done with a joyful heart and a willingness to support the work of God's kingdom.

As mentioned earlier, God entrusted Adam and Eve with the responsibility of caring for the earth and its inhabitants. This responsibility has not changed, and we are still called to be good stewards of the environment. This means that we should be mindful of our actions and their impact on the environment, and we should strive to make choices that promote the well-being of the earth and its creatures.

God's call to stewardship is not a burden, but rather an opportunity to participate in God's work. When we embrace our role as stewards, we are able to partner with God in caring for His creation and furthering His kingdom. This is both a privilege and a responsibility that we should take seriously.

The Responsibility of Stewardship

The responsibility of stewardship includes not only our personal finances, but also our time, talents, and even the environment ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO