This week, Pastor Chris began a new mini-series on financial stewardship. In His earthly ministry, Jesus spoke more about money than He did heaven and hell combined. How we manage our money reflects our hearts and our spiritual health, and our management will determine the rewards we receive in Heaven. Who do you believe your money belong to? Do you consider yourself an owner or a steward of your finances? As Christ’s followers, we have a responsibility to manage what we’ve been entrusted with God’s way and for His glory.

A steward is someone entrusted with another’s wealth or property and charged with the responsibility of managing it in the owner’s best interest.

Matthew 25:14–29 (ESV)
14 “For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property. 15 To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. 16 He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. 17 So also he who had the two talents made two talents more. 18 But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master’s money. 19 Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. 20 And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me five talents; here, I have made five talents more.’ 21 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ 22 And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me two talents; here, I have made two talents more.’ 23 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ 24 He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, 25 so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here, you have what is yours.’ 26 But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? 27 Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. 28 So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents. 29 For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.

  1. God is the owner; we are the steward.

Psalm 89:11–12 (ESV)
11 The heavens are yours; the earth also is yours; the world and all that is in it, you have founded them. 12 The north and the south, you have created them; Tabor and Hermon joyously praise your name.

1 Corinthians 4:7 (ESV)
7 For who sees anything different in you? What do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it?

Deuteronomy 8:17–18 (ESV)
17 Beware lest you say in your heart, ‘My power and the might of my hand have gotten me this wealth.’ 18 You shall remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you power to get wealth, that he may confirm his covenant that he swore to your fathers, as it is this day.

God’s Priorities:
• Tithe to the Lord
• Take care of needs
• Generosity
• Leave a legacy
• Enjoy life and pleasures

World’s Priorities:
• Enjoy life and pleasures
• Leave a legacy
• Generosity
• Take care of needs
• Pay my dues/philanthropy

2. As a steward, we have divine responsibility.

Think like a manager…
• A manager oversees the owner’s assets for the owner’s benefit.
• A manager carries no sense of entitlement to the assets he or she manages.
• A manager finds out what the owner wants done with His assets and then to carry out His will.
• A manager gives sacrificially.

2 Corinthians 8:1–5 (ESV)
1 We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia, 2 for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. 3 For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord, 4 begging us earnestly for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints— 5 and this, not as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us.

• A manager gives cheerfully.

Exodus 36:4–7 (ESV)
4 so that all the craftsmen who were doing every sort of task on the sanctuary came, each from the task that he was doing, 5 and said to Moses, “The people bring much more than enough for doing the work that the LORD has commanded us to do.” 6 So Moses gave command, and word was proclaimed throughout the camp, “Let no man or woman do anything more for the contribution for the sanctuary.” So the people were restrained from bringing, 7 for the material they had was sufficient to do all the work, and more.

• A manager gives generously.

1 Chronicles 29:14 (ESV)
14 “But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able thus to offer willingly? For all things come from you, and of your own have we given you.

• L (Labor), I (Influence), F (Finances), E (Expertise)

3. The steward will give an accounting.

Romans 14:12 (ESV)
12 So then each of us will give an account of himself to God.

Areas of Accounting
• Our possessions
• Our time
• Our abilities

MY GIVING COVENANT

  1. I affirm God’s full ownership of me, and everything entrusted to me.
  2. I set aside the firstfruits—at least 10 percent—of every wage and gift I receive as holy and belonging exclusively to the Lord.
  3. Out of the remaining treasures God entrusts to me, I seek to make generous freewill gifts.
  4. I ask God to teach me to give sacrificially to His purposes, including helping the poor and reaching the lost.
  5. Recognizing that I cannot take earthly treasures from this world, I determine to lay them up as heavenly treasures—for Christ’s glory and the eternal good of others and myself.
  6. I ask God to show me how to lead others to the present joy and future reward of the Treasure Principle.

Excerpt From: Randy Alcorn. “The Treasure Principle.”

Luke 22:19 (ESV)
19 And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”

Discussion Questions

  1. What is the difference between stewardship and ownership?
  2. What does it look like to be a faithful steward? Are you living as one?
  3. If you looked at your bank account, what would it reflect about your priorities? Share honestly with the group. Are there any practical changes you need to make?
  4. We are called to steward more than just our finances. What do you invest most of your time in? What about your abilities (or spiritual gifts)?
  5. Pastor Chris said, “if you always believe you’re an owner of your resources, there will always be conflict in your heart toward God.” Did this sermon expose any conflict in your heart toward your finances or possessions that you need to pray through?

Application Questions

  1. This week, take a fresh look at your budget and ask the Lord to search your heart posture toward your finances. Is there anything you need to change to reflect your position as a steward rather than an owner? Make that change this week.
  2. Do you currently tithe? If you don’t, pray the 4 R’s this week (repent, receive, rebuke, replace) for the sin of withholding God’s resources from Him, and begin to tithe starting in September.
  3. Meditate on Deuteronomy 8:17-18 and 1 Corinthians 4:7 this week. Align your heart with God’s truth in these verses and post them in your home as warfare against the spirit of entitlement.