THE FAITHFUL STEWARD

THE FAITHFUL STEWARD

Matthew 25:14-30, Lk 19:13, I Peter 4:10, Lk 12:43

According to the parable of Jesus in (Matt.25:14-30). The emphasis of Jesus here is not amount of gifts that was given to those stewards but the degree of their faithfulness to talents. Any steward that faithful in little shall be commended and give more responsibility of service.

It makes no different no matter who commit evil, time it was committed or the place, it does not change that evil, if proper correction and action is not taken.

The nations of the world do not lack people in leadership Positions. They lack genuine leadership who shall be faithful to God and mankind. The result is that we have no shortage of individuals running our countries, business or churches with big position. They are well dressed and well-grounded and highly skilled, yet lack of faithfulness is the epidemic of character fall out. But God want the church to stand out and be different.

WHY THIS TOPIC IS SO CRUCIAL?

1.     Unfaithfulness is wicked and unscriptural

2.     Unfaithfulness leads to destruction

3.     Unfaithfulness close doors of favour

4.     Unfaithfulness leads to greed and corruption

5.     Unfaithfulness leads to poverty, lack and hardship

1.     USHER AS A GOD’S SERVANT (Rom. 12:28)

(a)    This noble department (ushering) can be categorized  under ministry of help. Which literal means one who gives assistance. (Ps. 84:10) called them doorkeepers. Its better to be a door keeper in the house of God than to be a steward of idol. You are doing a reward-able job.

2.     MEANING OF SALIENT WORDS:

(a)       Faithful: Its means ability to show proper accountability of any assignment given to you.

(b)       Steward: The word steward in Greek is Oikonomon, meaning to distribute, dispense and manage something or resources on behalf of the owner. Christian stewardship therefore means practice of systematic and proportionate given of life, time, abilities and material possessions, based on the conviction that they are from God and be used for His kingdom.

2.         Foundation for stewardship:

(a)   God owns everything through creation (Gen. 1:1) e.g. land, and sea, silver/gold, loving creature, man, heaven/earth (Ps. 89:11).

(b)   God owns everything through Redemption: by incarnate of Christ – dying, resurrection and shielding His blood to save mankind (I Peter 1:18-19)

II.                 AREAS OF CHRISTIAN STEWARD

(a)   Stewardship of Life – Ecc. 12:7

What is life? Ps. 90:12

·        Life is our time here on earth

·        Its only once, no second change

·        Life is sacred/important and how we live it now affect our eternity.

·        Life is time – don’t waste it

·        Life is purpose – fulfill it

·        Life is problem   -           solve it

·        Life is sorrow      -           overcome it

·        Life is battle        -           fight it

·        Life is adversity – turn it to achievement

NOTE:  There are right and wrong ways to live. We are to decide either to live in sin, wickedness or to make the world better than we met it (faithfulness).

(b)   Steward of our Time: Ecc. 3:1 

Christian steward required that we look at the proper use of our time, lest we be condemned for misusing it. He that is wasting his time is surely wasting his life. If you don’t move with time, time will move without you.

(c)   What is time?

·        Time is life – people who have problems managing their time have problem managing their live.

·        Time is money. You spend 24 hours daily working and we receive money in exchange.

·        Time does not discriminate. All of us have 24 hours in a day. 7 days in a week and 52 weeks in a year. How faithful are you to your days and God’s work? (Prov.6:6-11)

NOTE: Wise and foolish use of Time Matt 25:1-3

ü  Wise use of Time                              Foolish use of time

ü  Prayer / study time                            Procrastination

ü  Worship Time                                   Delay

ü  Rest/Meditation Time                       Poor planning

ü  Fellowship Time                               useless talk time

ü  Work, time                                        Idle task

ü  Family/service                                  expensive joke

Warning: Control your time, or someone else will, control your destining or someone else will.

Good stewardship of our time demands that we make proper plan of our time (John 9:4) for better performance in our destiny/service to God.

(c)        Steward of Talents 

Matt. 25:15 God made each of us for a special purpose. He gives us difference ability according to His purpose for our lives.

-Purpose of talents / gifts

v To build up the body of Christ Eph. 11:13

v To edify the saints – I Cor. 12:4-7

v To profit withal – Matt.25:14-30

v To make the church of Jesus beautiful and fulfill her mandate to the world

III        CONTEMPORARY RESEARCH OF BATTLE OF UNFAITHFUL STEWARD. Lk. 12:42

It cut across my mind that the subject of unfaithful steward is a global issue. It’s like a cankerworm that eaten humanity at a very high speed. Let us see a few examples of unfaithfulness stewards (humanity):

(a)  Government politics.

President Bill Clinton was impeached by the U.S House of representative for perjury and obstruction of justice related to his testimony about the Monica Lewinsky scandal.

(b)   Business and Economics: 

The German company Slemons agreed to a settlement of ($330 Million) with the Greek government for alleged bribery in connection with contract bids for the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens.

(c)   Sports: 

It was in daily last week that Nigeria football federation  propose  to higher a foreign coach while they still owe home based coach Samson Siasia five months salary.

(d) Religion:

Ted haggard resigned as pastor of his Church in Colorado (U.S.A.) and as president of the National Association of Evangelicals after a homosexual affairs with a male prostitute, as well as illegal drug abuse.

NOTE:

Time will not permit me to say more of: Unfaithfulness stewardship in other area of life like: Arts, Entertainment, and media, charity/Non-profit (NGO), education and health e.t.c.

My point of concern: If all other sectors are unfaithful steward to their God’s given assignment. Must church join them in perpetrating of evil syndrome? We then need to return to (Psalm 1:1-6).

Who shall abide in your tabernacle; He that has clean hand and pure heart. The ungodly are not so; Are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.

IV        DANGERS OF UNFAITHFUL STEWARD:

The scriptures warns against unfaithfulness to all believers and workers in His vineyard.

Matt. 25:28. Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents:

1.     Lost of contact/communion with creator John 3:23-24

2.     Eternal condemnation/rejection John 3:18, Lk.12:47.

3.     Lost of gifts/reward- Matt./25:28

4.     Lost of eternal kingdom Matt.25:41

V.  BLESSINGS OF BEEN A FAITHFUL STEWARD :

Luk.8:18, for whosoever hath, to him shall be given and whosoever hath not from him shall be taken. Jesus said If you are not faithful in ungodly mammon who shall give you the true riches of kingdom.

1.         More grace from God 2 Cor. 9:8

2.         Promotion and advancement Lk 12:42

3.         Favour and blessing Lk 12:43

4.         Effectiveness and fruitfulness

5.         Commendation from the Lord. Lk. 12:44

7.         Life changing life style

8.         Model of light to the corrupt, violent and present high level of moral decadence

9.         Certainty of eternity.

Conclusion, 

If there is any time for body of Christ to wake up from her slumber, it can start from (ushering) department of the church, it is now. let us stop religiosity without integrity and let our lifestyle correct abnormality of our days. Why? A good and exemplary life speaks volume than ten thousand sermons. Your life is your mirror. Our ways of life speak so loudly that people don’t hear what we are saying.

Be faithful in that little he has committed to your hand it is a way to elevation.

Happy seminar.

Author; Pastor C.A Olanrewaju