What's God Say? | January 4th
Sermon Overview
Understanding Biblical Stewardship: More Than Just Money
When we hear the word "stewardship," many of us immediately think about money and giving. While financial stewardship is certainly important, biblical stewardship encompasses so much more. At its core, stewardship is about the careful and responsible management of something entrusted to our care.
The earth belongs to the Lord, and everything in it - including all people - belongs to Him. As believers, we are called to be faithful stewards of everything God has placed under our care.
What Does the Parable of the Shrewd Steward Teach Us?
One of Jesus' most puzzling parables involves a dishonest steward who, when faced with losing his job, cleverly reduces his master's debtors' bills to secure his future. Surprisingly, both the master and Jesus commend his shrewdness.
The lesson isn't about endorsing dishonesty. Rather, Jesus points out that "the sons of this world are more shrewd in their generation than the sons of light." The wicked steward understood his temporary situation and acted wisely within his worldview. How much more should believers, who know this life is temporary and that we serve an eternal God, act wisely with what He has entrusted to us?
What Are the Different Areas of Stewardship?
Biblical stewardship extends far beyond our wallets into several key areas:
Stewardship of Our Spiritual Gifts
First Peter 4:10 reminds us that "as each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God." The moment you place your faith in Christ, you receive supernatural gifts from the Holy Spirit - not for your own benefit, but to serve others and advance God's kingdom.
Stewardship of the Gospel Message
Second Corinthians 4:7 tells us we have "this treasure in earthen vessels." The gospel message that transformed your life has been entrusted to you to share with others. You don't need the gift of evangelism to do the work of an evangelist - every believer has been given this precious stewardship.
Stewardship of Material Blessings
Like Abraham, who was blessed to be a blessing, we receive material gifts from God not just for our own enjoyment, but to bless others. James reminds us that "every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights."
How Do We Avoid Legalistic Stewardship?
The danger in discussing stewardship is that it can quickly become a burden of "ought to" rather than a joy of "get to." True biblical stewardship flows from grace, not guilt.
We must first remember that we are saved by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone. Our stewardship is never about earning God's favor - it's our thank-you response to the salvation we've already received.
Why Must We Understand God's Love First?
Before we can be faithful stewards, we must fully embrace that we are God's beloved children. Until we understand this foundational truth, everything becomes drudgery rather than delight.
God's Love Is Personal
Jesus said, "Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends." He laid down His life specifically for you. The psalmist declares, "How precious are your thoughts about me, O God! They cannot be numbered."
When Jesus taught His disciples to pray, He began with "Our Father" - not a distant deity, but "Abba, Father" - the intimate cry of a child to their daddy.
God's Love Is Generous
First John 3:1 tells us to "see what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!" God doesn't give grudgingly - He lavishes His love upon us.
Paul couldn't contain his amazement: "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ."
God's Love Is Purposeful
God's love isn't just sentimental - it's transformational. Colossians 1:21-22 explains that He reconciled us "in order to present you before him holy and blameless and beyond reproach."
His purpose is to transform us into the people we long to be in our hearts, equipping us for every good work He has prepared for us.
What's the Proper Perspective on Material Things?
Jesus taught us not to store up treasures on earth where moth and rust destroy, but to store up treasures in heaven. Everything material in this world is temporary - it's all going to burn up eventually.
The question isn't whether we can have material blessings, but whether we serve them or use them to serve God. We cannot serve both God and wealth, but we can serve God with our wealth.
Jesus reminds us that we are worth far more than the sparrows, whom our Heavenly Father feeds. If God cares for the birds of the air, how much more will He care for us? He even knows the number of hairs on our heads!
Life Application
This week, challenge yourself to shift from an "ought to" mentality to a "get to" mentality regarding stewardship. Begin each day by reminding yourself that you are God's beloved child - personally known, generously loved, and purposefully equipped.
Take inventory of what God has entrusted to your care: your spiritual gifts, opportunities to share the gospel, and material blessings. Ask yourself how you can be a faithful steward in each area, not out of obligation, but out of gratitude for what Christ has done for you.
Consider these questions for personal reflection:
When we hear the word "stewardship," many of us immediately think about money and giving. While financial stewardship is certainly important, biblical stewardship encompasses so much more. At its core, stewardship is about the careful and responsible management of something entrusted to our care.
The earth belongs to the Lord, and everything in it - including all people - belongs to Him. As believers, we are called to be faithful stewards of everything God has placed under our care.
What Does the Parable of the Shrewd Steward Teach Us?
One of Jesus' most puzzling parables involves a dishonest steward who, when faced with losing his job, cleverly reduces his master's debtors' bills to secure his future. Surprisingly, both the master and Jesus commend his shrewdness.
The lesson isn't about endorsing dishonesty. Rather, Jesus points out that "the sons of this world are more shrewd in their generation than the sons of light." The wicked steward understood his temporary situation and acted wisely within his worldview. How much more should believers, who know this life is temporary and that we serve an eternal God, act wisely with what He has entrusted to us?
What Are the Different Areas of Stewardship?
Biblical stewardship extends far beyond our wallets into several key areas:
Stewardship of Our Spiritual Gifts
First Peter 4:10 reminds us that "as each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God." The moment you place your faith in Christ, you receive supernatural gifts from the Holy Spirit - not for your own benefit, but to serve others and advance God's kingdom.
Stewardship of the Gospel Message
Second Corinthians 4:7 tells us we have "this treasure in earthen vessels." The gospel message that transformed your life has been entrusted to you to share with others. You don't need the gift of evangelism to do the work of an evangelist - every believer has been given this precious stewardship.
Stewardship of Material Blessings
Like Abraham, who was blessed to be a blessing, we receive material gifts from God not just for our own enjoyment, but to bless others. James reminds us that "every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights."
How Do We Avoid Legalistic Stewardship?
The danger in discussing stewardship is that it can quickly become a burden of "ought to" rather than a joy of "get to." True biblical stewardship flows from grace, not guilt.
We must first remember that we are saved by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone. Our stewardship is never about earning God's favor - it's our thank-you response to the salvation we've already received.
Why Must We Understand God's Love First?
Before we can be faithful stewards, we must fully embrace that we are God's beloved children. Until we understand this foundational truth, everything becomes drudgery rather than delight.
God's Love Is Personal
Jesus said, "Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends." He laid down His life specifically for you. The psalmist declares, "How precious are your thoughts about me, O God! They cannot be numbered."
When Jesus taught His disciples to pray, He began with "Our Father" - not a distant deity, but "Abba, Father" - the intimate cry of a child to their daddy.
God's Love Is Generous
First John 3:1 tells us to "see what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!" God doesn't give grudgingly - He lavishes His love upon us.
Paul couldn't contain his amazement: "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ."
God's Love Is Purposeful
God's love isn't just sentimental - it's transformational. Colossians 1:21-22 explains that He reconciled us "in order to present you before him holy and blameless and beyond reproach."
His purpose is to transform us into the people we long to be in our hearts, equipping us for every good work He has prepared for us.
What's the Proper Perspective on Material Things?
Jesus taught us not to store up treasures on earth where moth and rust destroy, but to store up treasures in heaven. Everything material in this world is temporary - it's all going to burn up eventually.
The question isn't whether we can have material blessings, but whether we serve them or use them to serve God. We cannot serve both God and wealth, but we can serve God with our wealth.
Jesus reminds us that we are worth far more than the sparrows, whom our Heavenly Father feeds. If God cares for the birds of the air, how much more will He care for us? He even knows the number of hairs on our heads!
Life Application
This week, challenge yourself to shift from an "ought to" mentality to a "get to" mentality regarding stewardship. Begin each day by reminding yourself that you are God's beloved child - personally known, generously loved, and purposefully equipped.
Take inventory of what God has entrusted to your care: your spiritual gifts, opportunities to share the gospel, and material blessings. Ask yourself how you can be a faithful steward in each area, not out of obligation, but out of gratitude for what Christ has done for you.
Consider these questions for personal reflection:
- Do I truly believe that I am God's beloved, or do I still operate from a performance-based mindset?
- In what areas of stewardship am I acting shrewdly for God's kingdom, and where am I being passive?
- How can I better use my spiritual gifts, gospel opportunities, and material blessings to serve others and advance God's kingdom?
- What would change in my daily life if I fully embraced that everything I have belongs to God and has been entrusted to my care?
Devo 1 – Everything Belongs to Him
Have you ever been asked to house-sit for someone? The responsibility feels different when you're caring for something that belongs to another person. You're more careful with their belongings, more attentive to their instructions, and more aware that you'll need to give an account when they return. This is the heart of biblical stewardship. Everything we have - our time, talents, relationships, and resources - ultimately belongs to God. We're not owners; we're managers. We're caretakers of what He has entrusted to us. This perspective changes everything. When we truly understand that we're stewards rather than owners, it shifts our focus from accumulation to administration, from hoarding to honoring God with what He's given us. The question isn't 'How much can I keep for myself?' but rather 'How can I faithfully manage what belongs to Him?' Stewardship isn't about perfection - it's about faithfulness. God doesn't expect us to be perfect managers, but He does call us to be faithful ones. When we approach our resources, relationships, and responsibilities with this mindset, we begin to see them as opportunities to honor God rather than burdens to bear. Today, take a moment to look around at your life. Your home, your family, your job, your abilities - all of these are gifts from God, entrusted to your care. How might your perspective change if you truly embraced the reality that you're a steward of God's blessings rather than the owner of your possessions?
Bible Verse
'The earth is the Lord's, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it.' - Psalm 24:1
Reflection Question
What area of your life do you struggle most with seeing as belonging to God rather than yourself, and how might embracing your role as a steward change your approach to that area?
Quote
The careful and responsible management of something entrusted to one's care.
Prayer
Father, help me to see clearly that everything I have comes from You. Give me the wisdom to be a faithful steward of all You've entrusted to my care. Transform my heart from ownership to stewardship, and help me to honor You in how I manage Your blessings. Amen.
Bible Verse
'The earth is the Lord's, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it.' - Psalm 24:1
Reflection Question
What area of your life do you struggle most with seeing as belonging to God rather than yourself, and how might embracing your role as a steward change your approach to that area?
Quote
The careful and responsible management of something entrusted to one's care.
Prayer
Father, help me to see clearly that everything I have comes from You. Give me the wisdom to be a faithful steward of all You've entrusted to my care. Transform my heart from ownership to stewardship, and help me to honor You in how I manage Your blessings. Amen.
Devo 2 – You Are His Beloved
Before we can faithfully steward what God has given us, we must first understand who we are to Him. Too often, we approach our relationship with God from a place of performance rather than position. We think we need to earn His love, prove our worth, or work our way into His good graces. But God's love for you isn't based on your performance - it's based on His character. You are His beloved child, chosen and cherished not because of what you do, but because of who you are in Christ. This isn't just a nice theological concept; it's a life-changing reality that should transform how you see yourself and how you live. When you truly believe you are God's beloved, everything changes. Obedience becomes a joy rather than a burden. Service flows from gratitude rather than guilt. Stewardship becomes a privilege rather than a pressure. You begin to live from a place of 'I get to' instead of 'I have to.' The enemy wants you to forget this truth because he knows that when you live from your identity as God's beloved, you become unstoppable in your faith. You stop trying to earn what you already have and start living from the abundance of what you've been given. Until you embrace this reality - that you are deeply loved, completely accepted, and fully cherished by the Creator of the universe - everything else in your Christian life will feel like an obligation rather than an opportunity.
Bible Verse
'See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!' - 1 John 3:1
Reflection Question
In what ways do you still try to earn God's love rather than simply receiving it, and how might fully accepting your identity as His beloved child change your daily walk with Him?
Quote
Until we embrace the reality as a believer in Christ, you are beloved of God. You are the apple of his eye. Until that happens, everything's an ought to be rather than a get to.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, help me to truly believe and embrace that I am Your beloved child. Remove any lies I've believed about needing to earn Your love. Let this truth sink deep into my heart and transform how I see myself and how I live for You. Amen.
Bible Verse
'See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!' - 1 John 3:1
Reflection Question
In what ways do you still try to earn God's love rather than simply receiving it, and how might fully accepting your identity as His beloved child change your daily walk with Him?
Quote
Until we embrace the reality as a believer in Christ, you are beloved of God. You are the apple of his eye. Until that happens, everything's an ought to be rather than a get to.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, help me to truly believe and embrace that I am Your beloved child. Remove any lies I've believed about needing to earn Your love. Let this truth sink deep into my heart and transform how I see myself and how I live for You. Amen.
Devo 3 – His Love is Personal
In a world of billions of people, it's easy to feel like just another face in the crowd. We might wonder if God really knows us personally or if we're just part of some cosmic mass of humanity that He loves in general terms. But God's love for you is deeply, intimately personal. Jesus didn't die for humanity as a concept - He died for you specifically. If you were the only person who ever lived, He still would have come to earth, lived a perfect life, and given Himself on the cross for you. His love isn't generic; it's personal. His thoughts toward you are precious and countless. When Jesus taught us to pray 'Our Father,' He was inviting us into a personal relationship with the Creator of the universe. Not 'the distant deity' or 'the cosmic force,' but 'Father' - a term of intimacy, relationship, and love. This is the God who knows the number of hairs on your head, who sees when a sparrow falls, and who has engraved your name on the palms of His hands. This personal love should transform how you approach stewardship. You're not managing resources for a distant, impersonal God who might notice your efforts if you're lucky. You're stewarding gifts from a loving Father who knows you intimately, cares about your heart, and delights in your faithful service. When you truly grasp how personal God's love is for you, stewardship becomes less about duty and more about relationship. It becomes a conversation between you and your loving Father about how to best use what He's given you.
Bible Verse
'How precious to me are your thoughts, God! How vast is the sum of them!' - Psalm 139:17
Reflection Question
How does knowing that God's love for you is deeply personal change the way you think about your daily decisions and the way you use what He's given you?
Quote
God's love for you is personal. It's personal.
Prayer
Dear Father, thank You that Your love for me is not distant or general, but personal and intimate. Help me to live each day aware of Your personal care for me and let that awareness shape how I steward everything You've entrusted to me. Amen.
Bible Verse
'How precious to me are your thoughts, God! How vast is the sum of them!' - Psalm 139:17
Reflection Question
How does knowing that God's love for you is deeply personal change the way you think about your daily decisions and the way you use what He's given you?
Quote
God's love for you is personal. It's personal.
Prayer
Dear Father, thank You that Your love for me is not distant or general, but personal and intimate. Help me to live each day aware of Your personal care for me and let that awareness shape how I steward everything You've entrusted to me. Amen.
Devo 4 – His Love is Generous
God doesn't just love you - He lavishes His love upon you. The word 'lavish' means to give generously, abundantly, without restraint. This is how God loves you. He doesn't hold back, ration His blessings, or give you just enough to get by. He pours out His love and blessings abundantly. Think about what God has already given you. He has blessed you with every spiritual blessing in Christ. He has given you His Holy Spirit to live within you. He has adopted you into His family, made you His heir, and promised you an eternal inheritance. He has given you gifts and abilities, relationships and opportunities, and countless daily provisions. This generous love should shape how we approach stewardship. We don't serve a stingy God who barely provides for our needs. We serve a generous Father who delights in blessing His children. When we understand His generosity toward us, it becomes natural to be generous with what He's given us. But here's the beautiful truth: God's generosity isn't dependent on our performance. He doesn't bless us because we've earned it or because we promise to use it perfectly. He blesses us because He is generous by nature, and generous love is who He is. When you truly grasp God's generous love toward you, it transforms your heart. You begin to see your resources not as things to hoard but as tools for blessing others. You start to understand that God has blessed you not just for your own enjoyment, but so that you can be a conduit of His generosity to others.
Bible Verse
'Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.' - Ephesians 1:3
Reflection Question
In what specific ways have you experienced God's generous love in your life, and how can recognizing His generosity inspire you to be more generous with others?
Quote
See what great love the Father has lavished. Lavished. I love this word lavished on us. That we should be called children of God. And that's what we are.
Prayer
Generous Father, thank You for lavishing Your love and blessings upon me. Help me to truly see and appreciate all the ways You've been generous to me. Make me a conduit of Your generosity to others, using what You've given me to bless those around me. Amen.
Bible Verse
'Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.' - Ephesians 1:3
Reflection Question
In what specific ways have you experienced God's generous love in your life, and how can recognizing His generosity inspire you to be more generous with others?
Quote
See what great love the Father has lavished. Lavished. I love this word lavished on us. That we should be called children of God. And that's what we are.
Prayer
Generous Father, thank You for lavishing Your love and blessings upon me. Help me to truly see and appreciate all the ways You've been generous to me. Make me a conduit of Your generosity to others, using what You've given me to bless those around me. Amen.
Devo 5 – Living the Abundant Life
Jesus said He came so that we might have life and have it abundantly. This abundant life isn't about accumulating more stuff or achieving worldly success. It's about experiencing the fullness of life that comes from being used by God for His kingdom purposes. True abundance is found when we align our lives with God's purposes, when we allow Him to work in and through us for His glory. It's the joy of seeing God use our gifts to bless others, the satisfaction of knowing our lives matter for eternity, and the peace that comes from living in harmony with our Creator's design. Biblical stewardship is the pathway to this abundant life. When we fully embrace who we are in Christ and how He wants to use us, we discover the life we were created to live. We stop trying to find fulfillment in temporary things and start investing in eternal purposes. This doesn't mean life becomes easy or that we'll never face challenges. But it does mean we'll experience the deep satisfaction that comes from living with purpose, the joy of being part of God's work in the world, and the peace of knowing our lives are making an eternal difference. The abundant life is available to every believer, but it requires surrendering our agenda for God's agenda, our plans for His purposes, and our resources for His kingdom. When we do this, we discover that what we thought was sacrifice was actually the pathway to the life we've always longed for.
Bible Verse
'The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.' - John 10:10
Reflection Question
What would it look like for you to experience more of the abundant life Jesus offers, and what might you need to surrender or embrace to move toward that fullness?
Quote
Biblical stewardship is you fully understanding who you are in Christ and how he wants to use you to your joy for his kingdom purposes.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, thank You for coming to give me abundant life. Help me to find true fulfillment not in temporary things but in being used by You for eternal purposes. Show me how to be a faithful steward so I can experience the fullness of life You have for me. Amen.
Bible Verse
'The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.' - John 10:10
Reflection Question
What would it look like for you to experience more of the abundant life Jesus offers, and what might you need to surrender or embrace to move toward that fullness?
Quote
Biblical stewardship is you fully understanding who you are in Christ and how he wants to use you to your joy for his kingdom purposes.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, thank You for coming to give me abundant life. Help me to find true fulfillment not in temporary things but in being used by You for eternal purposes. Show me how to be a faithful steward so I can experience the fullness of life You have for me. Amen.