Stewardship Series Part 2
Biblical Stewardship Initiated
Luke 19:11-27
I. It Must Be Acknowledged
God started the process of stewardship by the things He gave us.
- James 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.
- He gave us His Son
- John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
- He gave us His Salvation – Eph. 2:8, 9
- Ephesians 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:.
- He gave us His Spirit
- 2 Corinthians 1:22 Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.
- He gave His Scripture
- Psalms 68:11 The Lord gave the word: great was the company of those that published it.
- He gave us Spiritual leadership
- 4:11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
- He gave us Substance
- James 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.
- 2 Peter 1:3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:
II. It Must Be Appreciated
Taking the gifts of God for granted will result in serious mishandling of those gifts.
From studying Scripture, we learn that it is possible for us to not appreciate, or despise the gifts.
DESPISE: to contemn, despise, disdain, think little or nothing of
- We can despise the church of God – I Cor. 11:22
- We can despise prophesying – I Thess. 5:20
- We can despise the man of God – Titus 2:15
- We can despise the chastening of the Lord – Heb. 12:15
Failure to appreciate what God has given will always result in stewardship failure.
III. It Must Be Accepted
TURN to Luke 19:11-27, there is a certain nobleman that left 10 servants with a pound each.
Definition of OCCUPY: to be occupied in anything; to carry on a business; to carry on the business of a banker or a trader
Verse 15 tells us that he returned “that he might know how much every man gained…”
He called each and every one of them into account.
One of the servants was scared of the demanding nobleman. The Bible uses the word “austere”.
Definition of AUSTERE: of mind and manners: harsh, rough, rigid
He was so intimidated of his master’s expectations that he hid his pound in a napkin.
Sitting on it is NOT AN OPTION!
Notice the master’s answer: vs. 26 For I say unto you, That unto every one which hath shall be given; and from him that hath not, even that he hath shall be taken away from him.
There is coming a day when each and every one of us will stand before God and give an account.
He will know that we have received His gift of the Son, Salvation, the Spirit, the Scripture, his substance.
Imagine the God of Heaven looking at you and me and asking us – “What did you do with it?