Stewardship
Sermon Series: 5 Scriptures that remind us who
we are.
#1 of 5: Stewardship
February 1, 2004
Matthew 25:14-30
4th Sunday after the Epiphany
Galena-Warwick United Methodist Charge
Warwick & Galena, Maryland
Rev. Dr. Lawrence D. Jameson
larry@larryjameson.com
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We are stewards of God’s grace.
That’s who we are.
It’s our identity.
The Lord Jesus told a parable
about a wealthy man who had three servants.
Each servant had different level of skill.
So the master gave them different responsibilities.
To one he gave five talents of money,
to another two talents,
and to another one talent,
each according to his ability.
Then the wealthy man took a trip.
It was understood,
that while he was away,
the servants were expected to use their gifts wisely.
Before we go any farther with this parable,
let’s ask a question.
Why was it understood
that the servants were expected
to use their gifts wisely?
The answer is in the relationship.
The master owns the property.
The servants are entrusted with something
that does not belong to them.
What does belong to the servants?
Trust
Faith
Friendship
Loyalty
Opportunity
Challenge
Ability to learn
Ability to grow
Ability to achieve
Those qualities are priceless.
Those qualities are worth much more than money.
Don’t feel sorry for the servants,
just because they are servants.
In a way, they are wealthy beyond description.
Now let’s get back to the narrative.
What happened to servant # 1?
Verse 16 says:
16The man who had received the five talents went at once and put his money to
work and gained five more.
Bravo! Excellent work!
That took tremendous skill and commitment.
Do you know how to put money to work?
It isn’t easy.
It requires a plan:
thoughtful consideration of options
It requires action:
plans are important, but the decision to act is critical
It requires taking risks:
there are no guarantees in life
even the best plans can fail
it takes courage to be a servant
It requires follow through:
making a daily commitment isn’t easy, but it pays off
Just about everything we do requires all four of these elements.
PLANNING, ACTION, RISK, FOLLOW THROUGH.
Our ability to do these things is itself a GIFT FROM GOD.
Dear ones, WE ARE STEWARDS.
That’s who we are.
We get to plan
We get to act
We get to risk
We get to follow through
It’s a privilege and an honor to serve the Lord Jesus Christ.
What happened to servant #2?
In verse 17 the Bible says:
So also, the one with the two talents gained two more.
Bravo! Well done!
This servant did very well.
I like the guy with the two talents.
Why?
Because I can relate.
He wasn’t in the spotlight,
but the spotlight isn’t the important thing.
The important thing is this:
He was faithful with what he had.
Here is something worth noting.
The master said EXACTLY the same words
to the first two servants.
'Well done, good and faithful servant!
You have been faithful with a few things;
I will put you in charge of many things.
Come and share your master's happiness!'
You have heard me ask this question before.
“What is the best thing you will ever hear?”
The answer:
“Well done, good and faithful servant!”
This is critical.
It isn’t the amount of talents you are given.
It’s what you do with what you have.
That goes down deep
in my identity as a Christian.
What happened to servant # 3?
18
But the man who had received the one talent went off,
dug a hole in the ground and hid his master's money.
24
"Then the man who had received the one talent came. 'Master,' he said, 'I knew
that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where
you have not scattered seed. 25So I was afraid and went out and hid your talent
in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.'
26
"His master replied, 'You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where
I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? 27Well then, you
should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I
would have received it back with interest.
28" 'Take the talent from him and give it to the one who has the ten talents.
Servant #3 missed the point.
It isn’t about talents.
It isn’t about possessions.
It’s about
Trust
Faith
Friendship
Loyalty
Opportunity
Challenge
the ability to learn
the ability to grow
the ability to achieve
It’s about relationship.
Conclusion
Dear ones, WE ARE STEWARDS.
That’s who we are.
We get to plan
We get to act
We get to risk
We get to follow through
It’s a privilege and an honor to serve the Lord Jesus Christ.
PRAYER FOR STEWARDS
Dear Jesus, we want to be faithful.
We want to hear you say, “Well done, good and faithful servants!”
Show us how to plan, so we can work together in harmony.
Help us to take action, and not to wait too long.
Give us courage to take appropriate risks.
And dear Lord, help us to follow through!
We are not focused on the talents.
We are not working for the payoff.
We are thrilled to be your beloved children!
It is an honor to be your stewards! Amen.