Theme: Stewardship Topic: Faithful Stewardship of God’s Treasure
Main Texts: 2 Kings 12:9-15, Matthew 25:14-30
Key verse: “His Lord said to him, well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord” Mathew 25:23
Introduction:
Godly stewardship begins with recognising that everything in the world belongs to God (Ps 24:1), including the power to create wealth (Deut. 8:18). We should honour those to whom honour is due including those that through hard work, initiative and faithfulness build substantial businesses providing employment, income and life opportunities to many but we need to recognise the true source of wealth – it is not the brilliance or tenacity of “self-made” billionaires. We are not owners but stewards responsible to use wealth for His purposes. How we manage money reveals our values and trust in God. Jesus links stewardship of money with spiritual responsibility (Luke 16:10-12). Proper stewardship includes judicious use of debt (Prov 22:7, Ro 13:8), recognising that debt limits freedom and can cause anxiety. Borrowing excessively or chasing wealth without contentment erodes faith and freedom. The Bible encourages giving. Doing so acknowledges God as the provider and aligns our heart with his compassion for others (2 Cor 9:7). We are also encouraged to save to prepare for future needs and opportunities. Wise people live below their means to remain flexible and free to give. Our main texts today provide us with three different examples of stewardship. Joash was faithful while under the godly supervision of Jehoiada but struggled with follow through (2Ki 12:6-8) and eventually fell away (2 Chr. 24:15-23). The first two servants in Mathew 25 were considered “good and faithful” in doing the Master’s will. The third servant was dismissed as “wicked and lazy” and severely punished. We need to give heed to what the Lord is saying to us through these texts as faithful stewardship is not optional: we will each give an account individually for how we use what God has given to us, be it much or little.
Q1.(1a) Read Matt. 6:33, Lk 16:10-12. According to these texts, what is the cornerstone of faithful financial stewardship? (1b) What role does giving play in financial management (see 2 Cor 9:6-7 and Prov 11:24-25)? (1c) What can we learn about stewardship from the ant? Prov 6:6-8, 21:20.
Paragraph 2:
King Joash was zealous to restore the house of the Lord which had fallen into disrepair through neglect and vandalism under the the reign of Baal worshippers. He began a successful fundraising campaign but, many years later, the work had still not started. Good stewardship requires more than willingness and good intentions. There must be follow through in the form of organized action, effective process, accountability, and the right people in place. When Joash put the right measures and people in place the repairs were made. In the case of the three servants, each was given a substantial sum of money, based on the Master’s assessment of their ability. God distributes financial and material resources unequally but purposefully. He knows our capacity and expects faithful management at every level. The faithful servants immediately put their talents to work and multiplied them (vv.16–17). The third did not.
Q2.(2a) What do you think prevented the repairs ordered by King Joash being done for so long? 2 Ki 12:4-8? (2b) Read 2Ki 12:9-12, 14-15 What changes made the biggest difference to the repair project? (2c) What do you think was at the root of the different behaviours observed in the servants in the parable? Do such differences exist in the church today? If so, how do they impact her work?
Paragraph 3:
The parable of the talents is the fourth of five parables in Mathew 24 and 25 that deal specifically with Christ’s second coming and believers’ readiness. This parable teaches that God entrusts resources to His people with the expectation of wise, diligent, and faithful management the results of which He will judge. Faithfulness brings reward; neglect brings loss. We are called to invest what God gives us— money, time, and gifts—for His glory and the good of others. Are we ready for His return?
Q3.(3a) Do you think it is “fair” that some Christians are given more resources by God than others? Give reasons for your answer. (3b) Think back on some of the topics we have covered so far in this quarter – Luke 12:35-48 (readiness); Exodus 31 (God’s equipping); Ephesians 5:15-17 (time management); 1 Corinthians 12:7 (spiritual gifts) and today’s lesson on treasure. Are you happy with your state of readiness?
Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for all the rich resources you have made available to us to carry out your work. Help us to be ready that we may live to hear “well done good and faithful servant”. Amen