Honoring God as Faithful Stewards of Our Time, Talents, and Treasures

Where were you on September the 11th, 2001?

Most people in this room, most people in this country

who are over, say, age 35 to 40

can tell you where they were and what they were doing

when they heard news that there had been a terrorist attack

on American soul.

It had a profound effect on just about everyone

who saw those twin towers come crashing down.

Many people immediately opened their hearts

and their pocketbooks to those victims.

Many people gave donations to various charities

to be used to help the thousands that needed help.

Well, then the first weeks after the attack,

the Red Cross received $547 million

designated to help those touched by this tragedy.

But then the Red Cross made a shocking announcement.

They were going to hold almost half of those funds,

$247 million in reserve.

Some of you may remember that.

Well, as you can imagine,

there was a great public outcry against that decision.

The Attorney General of New York issued a warning to the Red Cross

that they must spend those donations

in the way or according to the way those donors had specified

and nothing else.

There was a company in California,

Siebel Systems.

When they heard what the Red Cross was planning to do,

they asked for their $3.2 million to be returned.

Well, after the upheaval,

the Red Cross reversed their decision

and promised that all 9-11 donations

would be used to help 9-11 victims.

And that company said they could keep the money.

But what I want us to think is this.

The public outcry over the Red Cross

holding half of those donations

made it clear that everyone,

people in government,

private, common, ordinary citizens,

everyone expects their donations

to whatever cause

be used only for the purpose

that they were given.

Now, in the same way,

God expects us to use all the resources

he has given us

according to his purpose,

the way that he intends.

And that's because everything that we have,

our time,

our talents,

and our treasures,

they were all ultimately given to us by God

with the understanding

that he remains the owner.

And what he gives to us,

he entrusts us

with the privilege and responsibility

of being his good managers.

I want to ask you,

how well are you taking care of

and using the time that God's given you?

The talents,

the abilities,

the opportunities that you have.

The money,

the material possessions

that God has entrusted to your care.

You know,

it's important that we be good managers

or stewards of this

because one day

we are all going to give an account

of how we have used

everything that God has given us.

Jesus talked about that

in several of his parables.

Probably the most well-known

is in Matthew chapter 25.

Matthew 25 · chapter mention

And I want to ask you to turn with me

as you see on the screen there,

Matthew 25,

beginning in verse 14.

And this will not be on the screen.

So if you would,

please turn.

If you don't have your Bible,

there's a pew Bible.

And follow along with me

in Matthew 25,

beginning in verse 14.

Matthew 25,

Matthew 25,

Jesus is explaining

some things about

the kingdom of God

or the kingdom of heaven.

That's how he begins

chapter 25,

verse 1.

Then the kingdom of heaven

will be like,

and he talks about,

gives one parable.

Then in verse 14,

he's talking again

about the kingdom of heaven.

Let's read in verse 14.

For it will be like

a man going on a journey

who called his servants

and entrusted to them

his property.

To one,

he gave five talents.

To another,

two.

To another,

two.

To another,

one.

To each,

according to his ability.

Now notice that.

God creates us all differently.

He entrusts to us

different amounts

of all that we have.

Then he went away.

Verse 16.

He who had received

the five talents

went at once

and traded with them

and he made five talents more.

So also,

he who had the two talents

made two talents more.

But he who had received

the one talent

went and dug in the ground

and hid his master's money.

He dug a hole

and put it in it.

Let me pause here.

A lot of you

have a Bible translation

that when you see

the word talent there

at the beginning,

there's a footnote

that explains

what that means.

In the ESV version

that I'm reading from,

it says a talent

was a monetary unit

worth about

20 years wages

for a laborer.

It's a lot,

but not as much

as you might think

because a laborer

made just enough

to get by

for the day.

Let's continue on now

in verse 19.

Now after a long time,

the master of those servants

came and settled accounts

with them.

And he who had received

the five talents

came forward,

bringing five talents more,

saying,

Master,

you delivered to me

five talents.

Here I have made

five talents more.

His master said to him,

Well done,

good and faithful servant.

You have been faithful

over a little.

I will set you over much.

Enter into the joy

of your master.

And he also said,

and he also,

who had the two talents

came forward,

saying,

Master,

you delivered to me

two talents.

Here I have made

two talents more.

And I want you to note,

his master said to him,

the very same thing.

He wasn't given as much.

He didn't have as much

when the master returned.

But he'd been faithful

with what he had been given.

And so he has commended

just as much.

Well done,

good and faithful servant.

You have been faithful

over a little.

I will set you over much.

Enter into the joy

of your master.

He also,

who had received

the one talent,

came forward,

saying,

Master,

I knew you

to be a hard man,

reaping where you

did not sow

and gathering

where you scattered

no seed.

So I was afraid

and I went out

and hid your talent

in the ground.

Here you have

what is yours.

But his master

answered him,

you wicked

and slothful servant.

You knew that I reap

where I have not sown

and gather

where I scattered

no seed.

Then you ought

to have invested

my money

with the bankers

and at my coming

I should have received

what was my own

with interest.

So take the talent

from him

and give it to the one

who has ten talents.

For to everyone

who has

will more be given

and he will have

an abundance.

But from the one

who has not,

even what he has

will be taken away

and cast

the worthless servant

into the outer darkness.

In that place

there will be

weeping

and gnashing

of teeth.

Now I think

it's pretty obvious

that the man

in this parable,

the master of the servants

represents God.

The men receiving

the talents,

they represent

God's people.

Jesus is making

a point

that whatever

we've been given

by God,

whether it be

great or small,

we are responsible

to God

to wisely

manage it.

Note how

Jesus concludes

this.

His point

of the parable

is that

one day

everyone

is going to

give an account

to God

for how they

have managed

what God

has given them.

And we're not

just talking about

money here.

I'm beginning

a series today

that will help

us to evaluate

our stewardship

and we'll explain

that word

in a moment

of what God

has given us

using three

categories.

Our time,

our talents,

our abilities,

our opportunities,

and our treasures,

our money

and material

possessions.

As we go

through this study

today and the

next few weeks,

I want us to pray

that God will work

like this.

If we are being

wise stewards,

and I know a lot

of people in this room

are,

you'd recognize

that the time,

talents,

and treasures

God has given you

are a trust.

And while none of us

does it perfectly,

some people really

do seek to be

a wise manager

of their time,

of their talents,

and their treasures.

They want to please

God.

They want to be

used by God

to meet people's

needs in their life.

And so,

as we go through

this,

if you're being

a wise steward

in one or more

of these areas,

you'll be affirmed.

You'll be

encouraged

to continue

to remain

faithful.

Pray that God

will do that

if you're a wise

manager.

But if we're not

being wise stewards,

let's pray that

we will be

convicted of our

sin of poorly

managing what

God's given us.

Let's pray that

we will be made

aware of it.

We'll know

what needs to

change.

What priorities

need to change

so that we can

become wise

and faithful

stewards

of everything

that we are

and everything

that we have

because

every single

one of us

in this room,

if you

truly believe

what the Bible

says about God,

about living life

as a Christian,

about how things

are going to

come to an end,

I want us to

understand that

one day,

every single one

of us in this

room,

we're going to

stand before

God.

And a part of

what will take

place that day

is we will

give an account.

Jesus told this

and several other

parables like this.

We're going to

give an account

of what we have

done,

how we have

managed

the time,

talents,

and treasures

that God has

entrusted to our

care.

Now,

the first step

to understanding

our responsibility

to wisely manage

our resources

is to accept

the fact

that God

owns it all.

So let's

look first.

God is the

creator and

owner of

everything.

You know

how the Bible

begins.

God created

the world

and everything

in it.

Just as a

reminder,

Genesis 1,

1,

in the beginning,

God created

the heavens

and the earth.

Now,

the fact that

God is the

creator of

all that is

means that

he owns

all that

is.

And this

is stated

in numerous

ways

throughout the

Bible.

I want you

to look at

this example

from Psalm

24.

It's familiar

to a lot

of people.

The earth

is the

Lord's

and all

it contains

the world,

look at

this,

and those

who dwell

in it.

Don't just

look out

at the

mountains.

Think about

God's

beautiful

creation.

You know,

God made

this,

this is

his,

look in

the mirror.

God made

all of us

in his

images.

We're going

to see

it in a

moment.

Just as

the mountains,

the world

belongs to

him,

we belong

to him.

Paul repeats

this,

at least part

of it,

in 1 Corinthians

10.

Note,

the earth

is the

Lord's

and everything

in it.

Now,

in the

story of

creation,

it really

zeroes in

on God's

special

creation,

which is

human beings.

Just look at

this.

God created

human beings

in his

image.

Here's a

summary statement

of the

creation of

man.

Look at it

in verse

26 and

27,

the first

part of

verse 26.

Then God

said,

let us make

man in

our image

after our

likeness.

And then,

so God

created man

in his own

image.

In the

image of

God,

he created

him.

Male and

female,

he created

them.

Now,

this is

such a

special

creation,

the creation

of human

beings in

God's

image,

that God

goes on

in the

second

chapter of

Genesis,

the whole

chapter,

to describe

in detail

how God

created the

man and

the woman.

Now,

the creation

of human

beings leads

us to the

major point

about stewardship.

Look at

this.

God made

human beings

the managers

or stewards

of all

that he

created

and owned.

And God

made this

clear when

he created

that first

man and

woman.

Look at

it.

It's really

the climax

of creation

in Genesis

1.

Then God

said,

let us make

man in

our image

after our

likeness

and let

them have

dominion

over the

fish of

the sea

and over

the birds

of the

heavens

and over

the livestock

and over

all the

earth and

over every

creeping thing

that creeps

on the

earth.

And then

verse 28,

and God

blessed them

and God

said to

them,

be fruitful

and multiply

and fill

the earth

and subdue

it and

have dominion.

There's that

word again.

Have dominion

over the

fish of the

sea and

over the

birds of

the heavens

and over

every living

thing that

moves,

on the

earth.

We need

to understand

especially in

this day

and time,

God created

everything.

He created

everything good.

Animals and

plants,

the earth,

the environment.

It is very

good because

it is created,

it was created

by God.

It's God's.

But God

created human

beings.

Let's be more

specific.

Let's think

about it.

God created

us and gave

us the

privilege and

responsibility

to be in

charge of

this creation,

to get

dominion,

to rule.

There's a lot

of weird

environmentalists

who just don't

seem to

understand that

plants and

animals and

humans are not

all equal.

Plants and

animals exist to

serve our

purpose.

Now we've got

to be good

stewards,

no doubt.

We've got to

be responsible

in taking care

of this earth,

everything in it.

And we don't

always do a good

job in doing

that.

But make no

mistake,

your dog,

and especially

your cat,

is not,

is not on

equal ground

with you.

We've got a

little dog,

Molly.

If fire breaks

out in my

house when all

my family's

there, I'm

going to make

sure that Lisa

and David and

Amy and Will

and Olivia and

Michael and

Jennifer get

out.

And if I have

time, I'm going

to go back and

get Molly.

But I'm not

going, I'll risk

my life for my

family.

But I'm not

going to risk

my life for a

dog.

Human beings

are created in

God's image.

Human beings

are special.

Human beings

are in charge

under God to

take care of,

to be stewards

of everything

that exists.

We need to do

it well,

we need to do

it wisely.

But don't listen

to the liberal

environmentalists

who want to

make us think

that we're here

to serve the

earth.

The earth is

not our

mother.

Only a fool

thinks that.

We are God's

people created

in His image

with the God

given responsibility

says right here

to rule,

to have

dominion.

It's a

privilege,

but it's also

a responsibility.

Now let's look

closer at this

idea of

stewardship.

Stewardship is

really the most

accurate and

traditional word

that describes

our responsibility

and privilege

to care for

and manage

God's creation.

But let's be

honest,

how many times

have you used

the word

steward or

stewardship

in the last

year or even

heard it?

I don't use it.

It sort of,

just sort of

left my way

of thinking.

Well,

because it's

no longer a

commonly used

word,

it may be

sort of hard

to grasp

what we're

talking about

here.

Many modern

Bible translations

even use

other words

to describe

this responsibility.

There's nothing

wrong with that,

but at the same

time,

the word

steward and

stewardship,

these words

are good,

they're helpful.

I want you

to look at

some examples

of how they're

used in Scripture.

In 1 Corinthians

1 Corinthians 4:1

4 verses 1 and 2,

note that the

word steward

refers to a

person.

Here's the

Scripture.

This is how

one should

regard us

as servants

of Christ

and stewards

of the mysteries

of God.

Moreover,

it is required

of stewards

that they be

found faithful.

Other translations

describe a

steward as

someone who

has been

entrusted with

something,

the NIV.

Someone who

has been put

in charge

as a manager

of something,

the New Living

Translation.

Now look at

the word

stewardship

in Colossians

1.25.

The word

stewardship

refers to

a steward's

responsibility.

Here's the

Scripture.

I became a

minister according

to the

stewardship from

God that

was given

to me for

you to

make the

word of

God fully

known.

The New

Living

Translation

uses the

word

responsibility

to describe

the idea

of stewardship.

Now let's

try to define

what the Bible

means when it

uses these

two words.

Look first

at a

steward.

A steward is

someone who

is entrusted

with what

belongs to

another.

A steward is

a manager of

what belongs

to another.

Stewardship

refers to the

actual responsibility

of managing

or taking care

of what

belongs to

another person.

The idea of

stewardship really

has in mind

we're not just

managers,

managers,

we're managers

of that which

has been given

to us and

in this case

we're managers

of what God

has entrusted

to our care.

Stewardship is

a God-given

responsibility

that we need

to understand

and take very

seriously

but it's not

a very popular

idea today

is it?

A lot of

us grew

up being

told we're

a part of

the me

generation.

Life's about

me.

What pleases

me.

Spending my

time, talents

and money

on me

and what

makes me

happy.

We've learned

that lesson

very well

haven't we?

We have

become today

the most

selfish and

self-centered

generation in

American history.

We have

fallen far

short of the

example of the

World War II

generation,

generation

that Tom

Brokaw

called the

greatest

generation

and for a

lot of us

in this

room that

was our

parents.

That was

our

grandparents

who understood

the idea of

stewardship,

who understood

the idea of

service,

who understood

their time,

talents and

treasures could

be used to

accomplish much

in this world

for others

and they

willingly gave

their time,

their talents,

their treasures,

their lives.

A lot of us

know they gave

it for us

and they also

gave it to

many great

causes.

We've also

fallen far

from the

commitment of

earlier generations

of Christians.

You know,

Baptists have

historically

emphasized the

importance of

stewardship.

Let me say,

when we talk

about stewardship,

it's a lot

more than money.

Southern

Baptists

developed

their own

statement of

their faith,

what they

believe,

in 1925

called the

Baptist Faith

and Message.

The Baptist

Faith and Message

has been revised

twice,

updated,

emphasized some

things that need

to be more

emphasized today

in light of

today's culture,

clarifies some

things.

In both

updates,

1963 and

the year

2000,

stewardship

remained in

the statement

of faith.

And I want

you to look

at it.

This is our

church and

denomination's

official statement

of faith.

God is the

source of all

blessings,

temporal and

spiritual.

All that we

have and are

we owe to

him.

Christians are

therefore under

obligation to

serve him with

their time,

talents,

and material

possessions,

and should

recognize all

these as

entrusted to

them to use

for the glory

of God and

for helping

others.

Now,

Baptists have

never had a

monopoly on

truth.

Don't ever

think that

you're something

special because

you're a

Baptist.

You're not.

Christians for

all generations

have understood,

wrote about the

importance of

being good

stewards.

The English

Standards Version

Study Bible,

ESV Study Bible,

Bible.

In the back of

that Study Bible

are some great

articles.

I used to say

it a lot and I

got tired of

saying it, but

everybody in this

church, you ought

to have an ESV

Study Bible.

Even if you

don't want to

have notes at

the bottom to

help you understand

the different

passages, it's

worth buying for

the articles in

the back.

They'll help you

to understand more

about who God

is, understand

more about what

we believe as

Christians.

It even has a

lot of things

related to ethics,

things like

taking care of

the environment

the right kind

of way.

Things like

divorce and

remarriage.

But there's also

an article on

stewardship.

That's what I

want to call your

attention to.

Stewardship in

all of life.

It says,

whatever a person

owns, he or she

is to manage as a

steward who is

responsible to God.

Stewardship

responsibilities

extend not only to

the creation,

material possessions,

and natural

resources, but also

to other things

such as talents or

skills that have

been given by God,

as explained in

1 Corinthians 4-7.

Time and

opportunities,

Ephesians 5.

The wonderful

responsibility of

bearing and raising

children, Ephesians

6-4.

And spiritual gifts

and ministries found

there in 1 Corinthians,

Ephesians, and 1 Peter.

Now let me say here,

we're going to talk

about a lot of

things in this course

of studies on

stewardship, but I'm

not going to get into

who should have more

children.

Okay?

I'm not going to

emphasize anything

about producing and

bearing children.

But some of you need

to have more.

I will tell you that.

Okay?

Those articles

reveal that Christians

have historically

understood their

responsibility to

practice wise

stewardship.

But that was a day

gone by.

That's other people.

What about us?

What about you?

Do you understand

that God has given

you the responsibility

to wisely use all

the resources that He

has entrusted to your

care?

And then think,

how well am I really

practicing God-honoring

stewardship or management

of my time,

of my talents,

of my treasures?

As we begin this series

on stewardship,

I want to make it clear

that we will not be just

looking at our resources

or using our resources

in the ministry of the

church.

Here's what I mean.

You may come to church

every single Sunday

of the year.

And that's great.

But what about the other

days of the week?

How do you use your time

Monday through Saturday

as well as spend time

in church on Sunday?

You may give a tithe

or more.

But you may give a tithe,

10% of every dollar

you earn to the Lord

through this church

without fail,

and I commend you

for that.

But what about

the other 90%?

Are you wisely

using all the money

and material things

that God has entrusted

to you?

Now,

I also want to make it

clear that when we seek

to be wise and faithful

stewards,

we won't just work

and give it all away.

That's what some people

will get in mind

to start talking about

things like stewardship.

He's going to try to

inflict a guilt trip on me

that I need to work hard

and make a lot

and give it all away.

No,

not at all.

The Bible talks about

working,

giving,

enjoying even,

having,

taking pleasure from

the fruits of our labor.

Look at how Paul

points this out.

It's in 1 Timothy

1 Timothy 6:17

chapter 6,

verse 17.

As for the rich

in this present age,

charge them not

to be haughty,

nor to set their hopes

on the uncertainty

of riches,

but on God

who richly provides us

with everything

to enjoy.

God created joy

and pleasure.

It's a part of the makeup

of a human being

made in His image.

So,

some of the money

that we make,

some of the things

that we have,

we ought to just enjoy them.

We ought to use them

in such a way

that brings us pleasure.

But at the same time,

we need to look

at the warning here.

Paul tells us

in that passage there,

and by the way,

I put it wrong

in the notes.

It's 1 Timothy chapter 6.

1 Timothy 6 · chapter mention

There is no 2 Timothy chapter 6.

1 Timothy 6.

We must always guard

against pride

of possessions

or thinking

they're going to last forever

or thinking

we're going to last forever

to be able

to enjoy them.

You know,

there's nothing wrong

with having nice things,

but there's a whole lot wrong

with being prideful

and arrogant

and acting like

you're so great

that you're able

to acquire them

with nobody else's help.

And we'll look at

in other messages.

God made you

the way you are.

If you've had the ability

to make money,

if you've had the ability

to invest money

and you've done well,

thank God

for the wisdom.

Thank Him

for the opportunity.

Thank Him

for the health.

We have nothing

that He has not given us.

We've got to guard

against the pride

of possessions

thinking they'll always last

or that we'll always

be around to enjoy them.

But God also wants

us to enjoy our resources.

He gives them to us

to enjoy.

The key to experiencing

this joy though,

look at it.

Keep our hope on God.

God's the giver.

See, what God

wants us to do

is we enjoy

what we've got.

Enjoy the gifts

He gives us.

But always remember

the gifts come

from Him,

the giver.

And enjoy the gifts

but enjoy the giver

more

and thank Him.

And as we're talking about,

use them

in a way that you know

will please Him.

Now,

we're going to wind this up

and I want you to think

with me.

How do you think

of all the resources

at your disposal?

I'm talking about everything.

You,

your mind,

your energy,

your abilities,

all the stuff you own.

How do you think

of all the resources

at your disposal?

Do you really

and truly

acknowledge

that God owns

it all?

Do you really

and truly believe that?

Are you seeking

to be a faithful

steward

of all

that God

has given you?

Time,

talents,

treasures.

Here's something

all of us need

to understand.

We're going to give

an accounting

for what we've done

with it,

so are you prepared

right now

to give an accounting

to God

for what you have done

with all that He has put

in your hands

or in your body

or around you.

I want us

in the next few minutes

just to ask God

to help us

to see

what kind of steward

we are

in His eyes.

And then we need

to respond

accordingly.

If God convicts you

of selfishness,

of hoarding,

of wasting time,

confess it

as the sin

that it is.

Change your mind.

Turn from it.

Ask His forgiveness.

If God does that,

then ask Him

to show you

what needs to change,

how you need

to change your schedule,

change your priorities,

change your emphasis,

and ask Him

to help you

to be able

to do that,

to follow through

with that.

It may be, though,

that God affirms you.

Or maybe He affirms you

in your giving

but not in your use

of time.

Or in the way

you use your talents

for His glory

and people's good

but not the way

you give.

Ask God

to help you

to see what kind

of steward

you are

right now.

And in the areas

He affirms you,

just give thanks

to Him

and ask Him

to help you

to remain faithful.

But I want us

this moment,

I want you

to make

a commitment

to be present

the next few Sundays

as we look at

how God wants

all of us

to practice

faithful stewardship

with all of our time,

talents,

and treasures

in a way

that does

bring glory

to Him,

good to others,

and joy

to ourselves.

Let's pray together.

Dear God,

we all have time,

talents,

and treasures.

Show us

from your perspective,

which is the

true perspective,

what kind of stewards

we really are

with the way

we spend our time,

the way we spend

our talents

and abilities,

the way we spend

our money.

Help us,

Father,

to respond to you

right now

accordingly.

Father,

if there are

people in this room

who do not

have a relationship

with you,

help them to

understand that

they have been

created

in your image,

that Jesus died

to pay the penalty

for their sins.

Overwhelm them

right now,

Father,

with your grace.

Enable them

to trust Jesus

and call upon him

to save them.

Help any Christian

in this room,

dear God,

who walking in

the idea of being

a steward of anything

was foreign to them

because everything

in life is about them.

It's theirs

and they do what

they want to do with it.

Convict whoever

of such an attitude.

Help us all,

dear God,

to grasp hold of,

to truly embrace

that you own it all

and we are stewards,

managers,

that one day

we will give

an account to you

for how faithful

we have been

with what we had.

And just in an attitude

of prayer,

you respond to the Lord

as he wants you to.

I'd be happy

to pray with you

during this time

here at the front

if you would like

to do that.

But the important thing

is listen to the Lord

and respond to him,

obey him.

Thank you.