Blessed Series part 2 | The Law of Stewardship
March 7, 2021

Blessed Life Series Part 2 | The Law of Stewardship

March 7 2021 | Antione Ashley

Arise Church.png

Blessed Series Part 2: The Law of Stewardship

Text: Matthew 25:29 (NKJV)

Matthew 25:29 (NKJV)
29 ‘For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away.

Intro:
We all grew up in church wanting to hear the words of Jesus saying, “Well done my good and faithful servant, enter in the joy of the Lord.” But what if I told you that in the verse Jesus declares this, he was speaking not to you being saved, but how well you managed money?”

POWER Thought:
If you will be blessed you will need to know and implement the principles of stewardship, and God will abundantly bless you the moment you get serious about it.

Matthew 25:29 (NKJV)
29 ‘For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away.

The Setup: Matt. 25:14-19

14 “For the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them.

In this parable, Jesus defines what the kingdom of heaven is like, and he chose to use a unique story to do so. He said the kingdom of Heaven is like…

God delivered to his servants His __goods __for them to

What did these stewards understand about this transaction?

The Money was NOT THEIRS but __God’s

They were expected to

HIS GOODS

They would have a period of

after some appointed time

What we need to take away from this:

The Successful Report & Response: Matt. 25:19-23

19 After a long time the lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them.

20 “So he who had received five talents came and brought five other talents, saying, ‘Lord, you delivered to me five talents; look, I have gained five more talents besides them.’ 21 His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’

22 He also who had received two talents came and said, ‘Lord, you delivered to me two talents; look, I have gained two more talents besides them.’ 23 His lord said to him, ‘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.’

Both of these stewards, during their report to God, told Him what they did with the talents given to them

Both of these stewards were rewarded by God with affirmation and a blessing of more

Well done my

and servants
You were faithful over few things, I will make you ruler over many things
Enter in the joy of your Lord

What we need to take away from this:

As a steward, we are

for good stewardship

The way in which we **increase our money and resources **now will

what God will allow us to rule over in the kingdom of God with Jesus.

The Unsuccessful Report & Response: Matt. 25:24-28

24 “Then he who had received the one talent came and said, ‘Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 25 And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground. Look, there you have what is yours.’

26 “But his lord answered and said to him, ‘You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed. 27 So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming **I would have received back my own with interest**. 28 So take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents.

Jesus is saying that this is how one in the kingdom should

to live.

There are very serious problems with how this man took care of God’s goods

What we need to take away from this:

The Summary: Matt.25:29-30

29 ‘For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away.

Jesus lays out a clear summary to the parable, and that is:

  • What you have been given, you must steward well and increase.
    • God views increase as you and I being GOOD and FAITHFUL stewards
    • This increase causes us to gain more in abundance after we give an account for our he work

- But he also views as a sin

5 Areas of Stewardship

1: Time - Moment of Impact

Eph 5:15-16 (NKJV)
15 See then that you walk circumspectly (carefully), not as fools but as wise, 16 *redeeming the time, because the days are evil.*

God wants you to be careful in how you steward your time.

“You only have one life to make a full impact, and only one life to obey God.” —#blessedSeries

Your time is limited and it cannot be squandered by lack of without vision —#BlessedSeries

2: Things - Resources

15 Then he said, “Beware! Guard against every kind of greed. Life is not measured by how much you own.”21 “Yes, a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God.” (luke 12:15; 21)

God wants you to steward things you have for the benefit of your life, your family, and then others.

3: Talents - Skills

Fan into flame the gift of God in you … 2 Tim 1:6

Your gift makes room for you and bring you before great men… Prov 18:16

Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ. Col 3:23-24

Your talents are meant to be stewarded well in your life.

4: Treasures - Finances

Diligent hands bring wealth - Proverbs 10:4.

Wealth gained hastily will dwindle, but whoever gathers little by little will increase it. - Proverbs 13:11

But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.—1 Timothy 5:8

In your finances, you should

  • First honor God - Tithe

  • Stabilize your Budget

  • Stabilize your Home

  • Used for eternal purposes

5: Testimony - Witness

29 ‘For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away. 30 And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ - Matt 25:29-30

In the larger context of Matthew 25, the main point of this parable is clear: our readiness for Jesus’ return is determined by our stewardship of the resources that He has given us.

Remember, He’s been away to a far country, but he told us that he’d be coming back.

  • I want to be like the first two men with a good account of my things and enter into joy

  • But there is a reality of ending up like the last man who was condemned.