Gen 1:1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
Psa 24:1 The earth is the LORD’s, and all its fullness, the world and those who dwell therein.
Hag 2:8 ‘The silver is Mine, and the gold is Mine,’ says the LORD of hosts.
How many of us know that as it relates to the Kingdom of God, each and every born again believer and disciple of Christ should understand the importance of good stewardship? This is word that all of us should be familiar with. Someone may be asking the question, “What is stewardship?” Let me explain!
When we look at the scriptures, Jesus trained 12 ordinary men and poured into them over a three year period. Jesus taught and preached to them. He ministered to them, told them parables, shared the mysteries and secrets of the Kingdom, and above all he shared with them the important principles of stewardship, which equates to being faithful over that which God has entrusted to your care!
Let’s define stewardship. Stewardship is the process of being faithful as a manager or overseer over that which belongs to another. Stewardship is being faithful as a steward in everything that God entrusted to us, and that is your time, your talents, your treasure and your temple which is your body!
A steward is one has been entrusted to manage another’s property, finances, or other affairs. Stewardship as it relates to the Kingdom of God is personal responsibility of taking care of the gifts, talents and abilities that God has given to you for his glory.
The term stewardship literally refers to a responsibility given to an individual to take care of something one does not own, or something that has been entrusted to your care.
The bible says in Psalm 24:1: “The earth is the LORD’s, and all its fullness, the world and those who dwell therein.” Which means that everything that we have in our possession or own really belongs to God. This is why we must take care of Gods property which is his people, money, property, and his church!
Many of the parables that Jesus spoke about dealt with stewardship and being faithful! Both of these words go hand in hand! One of the names of God is Adonai, which means Lord, master and owner. How many of us know that the LORD is owner of the entire earth!
God created everything that you and I have and own. A man may have put it together or an idea was given, but it all came from God. Listen to what the Bible says:
Psa 24:1 The earth is the LORD’s, and all its fullness, The world and those who dwell therein.
Psa 50:10 For every beast of the forest is Mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills.
Hag 2:8 ‘The silver is Mine, and the gold is Mine,’ says the LORD of hosts.
Mat 21:13 And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer.
Sometimes we as Pastor’s say come and visit my church, but the truth of the matter is that the church belongs to God. That is why Jesus said, “Upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell will not prevail against it.” (Matt 16: 18)
Jesus also said, “My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations.” (Matt 21: 13) If you all can remember Jesus got mad when the people of God where doing everything in his house except praying and worshipping. That is the only time I find in the Bible where Jesus whipped some folks!
God created everything! He even created you, which means that even your body does not belong to you! This is why you must take care of your body!
1Co 6:19 Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?
1Cor 6:20 For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.
The money you have does not belong to you! Sure you have it, you worked for it, you saved it, but it belongs to God. You know how I know it belongs to God, when you die, you can’t take it with you! Psalm 24:1 The earth is the LORD’s, and all its fullness, the world and those who dwell therein.
I have never been to a funeral where someone took the house, car, bank account, gold and silver to the grave with them! Have you?
In the Bible Jesus told many parables about stewardship, and how important it is to be a good steward over the things that have been entrusted to us. This is why we must handle our finances properly, take care of the Lords house, handle his money wisely, as well as his people.
See the question is, “What are you doing with what belongs to God?” Are you using it for the Glory of God or wasting it? Are you being faithful with gifts that God has entrusted to you? Some of us have many gifts and abilities, some of us have a few abilities, and some have only one ability. But whatever the Lord has blessed you with, God wants you to use it for his Glory and to be a good steward over it.
Stewardship for us as believers in Christ is being faithful as a steward in our giving, our time, talents, our temple and our treasure. Which means that everything that we have in our possession really belongs to God. He gave us dominion over everything but it belongs to God. Listen to the scriptures:
Psa 115:15 May you be blessed by the LORD, Who made heaven and earth.
Psa 115:16 The heaven, even the heavens, are the LORD’s; but the earth He has given to the children of men.
Notice that God owns it all, but has given us dominion over it or to maintain it!
Good stewardship can be summed up in one word, and that word is faithful! Are you being faithful with the thing that God has entrusted to you? As a matter of fact have you been faithful in what has been entrusted to you in the church or ministry in which you are a member?
The Lord will never give you greater if you have not been faithful with the little. The problem we have in many churches is that there are many people who but don’t understand good stewardship or faithfulness!
Now let us understand that being faithful and faithfulness is not just a Biblical principle, it is a life principle!
This is not just a Kingdom principle for those in church. Each and every person reading this must be faithful in relationships, on your job, in schoolwork, in friendships, and in anything in which you have a responsibility or accountability! The Apostle Paul said something profound in 1 Cor 4: 1-2:
1Cor 4:2 Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful. Did you get that? It is required? Paul confirms what many other scriptures in the Bible declare.
Proverbs the book of wisdom also speaks about the blessings that are imparted to the faithful man or woman!
Pro 28:20 A faithful man will abound with blessings, But he who hastens to be rich will not go unpunished.
This is so true! It is amazing today that most people want a get rich quick scheme for business to get money! It doesn’t work that way. The only place you will find success before work is in the dictionary!
One of the most profound teachings on being faithful can be found in Luke 16: 10-12 . This scripture sets the standard! Let us read:
Luk 16:10 He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.
Luk 16:11 If therefore you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?
Luk 16:12 And if you have not been faithful in that which is another man’s, who shall give you that which is your own?
Notice that Yeshua (Jesus) Christ, the greatest teacher that ever walked this planet gives us three profound principles of stewardship:
- Be faithful in the little.
- Be faithful with worldly wealth.
- Be faithful with that which belongs to another man.
Just remember that when you are faithful with the little, God will entrust you with much more. Is this not a principle of sowing and reaping? This is why it is important to take your servitude and stewardship seriously. God is watching and remember that whatever we sow we reap. When we are faithful with the little, God will reward us with much more.
Ps 101:6 – My eyes shall be on the faithful of the land, that they may dwell with me. He who walks in a perfect way, he shall serve me.
Rom 14:12 So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.
Did you know that all of us will stand before the Lord one day. As a matter of fact, every King, Queen, President, or Ruler in the earth shall stand before the Most High God.
There will be two judgments! The Great White Throne of judgment is for unbelievers and non-Christians. It is not for rewards. It is account to God for your works in the earth! Christians will stand before the judgment seat of Christ. This judgment is for crowns and rewards. Crowns and rewards will be given according to works and words.
I want you to know that if we live our lives according to the principles of the Kingdom of God you can rest assured that God will entrust us with much more. As a Kingdom citizen in Christ we are supposed to be good managers over everything that God has entrusted to us! One day when we will stand before the KING of Kings and LORD of Lord’s, it should be our desire to hear:
Mat 25:23 ‘Well done, good and faithful servant, you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’
God bless, Pastor Quinn