Devoted Stewardship
As 2025 began I challenge the church to focus on the fundamentals. We took two Sundays to consider Acts 2:42-47. We noted seven fundamental aspects of the early church by which the Lord blessed in “adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.” God honored the faithfulness of the believers by giving success to their effort to be obedient to the Great Commission.
The seven fundamental things we identified were: evangelism, discipleship, fellowship, ministry, worship, prayer, and stewardship. These seven fundamental practices are not to be programs the church runs through staff oversight, but are to become disciplines of the daily life of every believer. Yes, there are ministries designed to facilitate each of these seven things, but the programmed ministries are the starting point, the practice court, if you will, for the believer to come aside be encouraged, receive some training and coaching, so they will be more equipped for the real battle.
As we consider stewardship, I want you to be reminded of what God says in Acts 2:44-45, “And all those who had believed were together and had all things in common; 45 and they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need.”
The principle of stewardship is not about hating money, not about giving up all your money, not about giving all your money to the church, nor about becoming a “tither.” Stewardship is about our relationship to God. And it begins with the first verse of the Bible. “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth,” (Gen. 1:1). As creator He is owner and ruler. As His special creation we are given dominion and a stewardship.
Am I going to steward God’s resources under God’s guidance? That is the question the steward asks. God has endowed us with our lives, our minds, our talents, our opportunities, our physical resources of strength, ingenuity, creative ability, and even the hours of our day. Will I use what God has provided in a joyful way for His glory? Many of us fall into the trap of serving our money and other resources. That does not produce the greatest joy. Stewardship is not about what we give up, but about what we gain. A steward gains his or her greatest joy when they rightly use their resources in service to the Creator.
Jesus’ parable on the subject clears the way well for how we ought to think:
“For it is just like a man about to go on a journey, who called his own slaves and entrusted his possessions to them. 15 To one he gave five talents, to another, two, and to another, one, each according to his own ability; and he went on his journey. 16 Immediately the one who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and gained five more talents. 17 In the same manner the one who had received the two talents gained two more. 18 But he who received the one talent went away, and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money. 19 “Now after a long time the master of those slaves *came and *settled accounts with them. 20 The one who had received the five talents came up and brought five more talents, saying, ‘Master, you entrusted five talents to me. See, I have gained five more talents.’ 21 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’ 22 “Also the one who had received the two talents came up and said, ‘Master, you entrusted two talents to me. See, I have gained two more talents.’ 23 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’ 24 “And the one also who had received the one talent came up and said, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow and gathering where you scattered no seed. 25 And I was afraid, and went away and hid your talent in the ground. See, you have what is yours.’ 26 “But his master answered and said to him, ‘You wicked, lazy slave, you knew that I reap where I did not sow and gather where I scattered no seed. 27 Then you ought to have put my money in the bank, and on my arrival I would have received my money back with interest. 28 Therefore take away the talent from him, and give it to the one who has the ten talents.’ 29 “For to everyone who has, more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but from the one who does not have, even what he does have shall be taken away. 30 Throw out the worthless slave into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” (Matthew 25:14-30)
The joy of the Master is our purpose. We exist by His glory, for His glory, and to bring Him glory. When we lose sight of that, we will accept the glory of creation, including money, as a disappointing and damaging substitute. So, when we give a tithe and an offering, it is not about the cause we are giving to, it is about stewardship, joy, and glory.
By His Grace and For His Glory,
Pastor Mark
