Stewardship – such an ugly word
Used to make you feel bad about yourself, feel guilty
- All about money
Let’s consider it in a different light
Matthew 25:14-30
"It's also like a man going off on an extended trip. He called his servants together and delegated responsibilities. To one he gave five thousand dollars, to another two thousand, to a third one thousand, depending on their abilities. Then he left. Right off, the first servant went to work and doubled his master's investment. The second did the same. But the man with the single thousand dug a hole and carefully buried his master's money. "After a long absence, the master of those three servants came back and settled up with them. The one given five thousand dollars showed him how he had doubled his investment. His master commended him: 'Good work! You did your job well. From now on be my partner.' "The servant with the two thousand showed how he also had doubled his master's investment. His master commended him: 'Good work! You did your job well. From now on be my partner.' "The servant given one thousand said, 'Master, I know you have high standards and hate careless ways, that you demand the best and make no allowances for error. I was afraid I might disappoint you, so I found a good hiding place and secured your money. Here it is, safe and sound down to the last cent.' "The master was furious. 'That's a terrible way to live! It's criminal to live cautiously like that! If you knew I was after the best, why did you do less than the least? The least you could have done would have been to invest the sum with the bankers, where at least I would have gotten a little interest. "'Take the thousand and give it to the one who risked the most. And get rid of this "play-it-safe" who won't go out on a limb. Throw him out into utter darkness.' - The Message
What are your thoughts on this passage?
Why would the man give his money to the servants?
- Travel in that day was precarious
- In his absence, his money would still be working for him
- Trusted them
What did the man expect?
- Doubling was common
- Expected return because he trusted these servants
Why was the man angry with the third servant?
- Expected him to take care of his possessions
- He could have at least given it to the bankers (no risk)
- He did less than the least
- He did not care about the master
Bring it into our perspective
- Who is the Master?
- Who are the servants?
- What is it that God is entrusting to us?
- And that makes us what? Stewards.
So, how are we doing with this stewardship thing? How do you suppose God feels about you?
Take a moment a close your eyes. Imagine having a one-on-one conversation with God. Stewardship. Face-to-face, heart-to-heart.
- What would you say?
- What would God say?
1. Thank You - I think he would look you right in the eye and say “Thank You.”
- Those times you helped someone else that meant that you had to sacrifice in some way.
- That time you loaned that money to a friend and you had a hunch that you would never get it back (and you were right) but you did it anyway.
- For that kid in that third world country that for a time you supported, thank you for doing that.
- For that time that even though you thought that it would be wasted on booze or cigarettes, you gave that man standing on the side of the road a few bucks, thank you.
I know for a fact that if God was to have a personal conversation with Sunrise, he would be saying “Thank you” to us as well.
It still amazes me to think about how churches operate. How many places can you go where a group of people come together and pass around a plate and people give all kinds of money and personal time?
For instance, think about Sunrise over the last year. Think of how we have generously given thousands of dollars and have invested countless hours to missions and ministries; don’t you think God is saying Thank You?
I think he would also be saying thank you that and for how we are planning to be giving even more of our time and money next year to even more missions and ministry - expanding our impact on the community around us, this region, and even throughout the world!
I hope you are getting the idea here now, God saying thank you for all you are doing – thank you for all the times
- you have sacrificed
o money to Haiti
o Open Arms, Children of Vietnam, Cherokee Building Mission, LCAP, Drive-Thru Breakfast, CROP Walk,…
- for the small ways too
o the old car
o computer
o clothes
o toys
- all the little things that you gave away because you knew somebody else needed them.
God remembers all of those things and I believe he says to you thank you.
Some of you have a hard time with receiving thanks and you may be saying, “Aw come on, do you really believe God is really going to thank me for that? I know I wasted a lot on frivolous thing and didn’t do all that much. I know I could have done more or given more.”
2. Stop – Stop feeling guilty. God has entrusted you with a great deal. He wants you to enjoy what you have. God does not want you to give your time and money out of guilt. So stop that. Now I am not saying that you don’t need to give or your time and money. Just stop with the guilt and the negative attitude about giving.
3. Start – Start a new attitude about stewardship. Start afresh knowing that
- God loves you
- God trusts you
- God wants the best for you.
God wants you to give because you love him and you want to share the love.
Let’s be real here folks, the more we love God, the more we will want to give. That’s just the plain and simple truth.
The purpose of stewardship is not to take away from what we have. It’s just the opposite. It is to give more. Just as the Master gave even more to the first two servants, God is eager to give us more because God loves us and trusts us.
To think stewardship is about taking our stuff away is to think God to be a thief. And we know that is simply not true. Here is what we know Jesus said about his purpose.
John 10:10
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly. - NRSV
We know this to be true because of how Jesus demonstrated the extent he went so that we would have life and have it abundantly.
(Communion)
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