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Who is Steward? - Sermon Series - Sermon Two: Physical Things
by Chris Cumming
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In part one of this five-part sermon series, I opened with the parable
of the Unjust Steward. The key verse I quoted was Luke 16 and verse
two:
Luke 16:2
And he called him, and said unto him, How is it that I hear this of
thee? give an account of thy stewardship; for thou mayest be no longer
steward.
The lord here is asking for an accounting… “Give an account.” Give a
statement of your expenses and of your conduct while you have been
steward.
The purpose of Part One was threefold:
1. Define what a steward is.
2. To encourage you to give an account before your Lord.
3. To instruct you in being a good steward.
In Parts 2-5 we are going to continue in our instructions in being a
good steward. We will, in turn, discuss Physical, Mental, Emotional and
Spiritual stewardship. Today is Part 2 of the series and discusses our
Physical Stewardship.
Let us begin with a few more scriptures on general stewardship.
2 Corinthians 5:10
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every
one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath
done, whether it be good or bad.
1 Peter 4:5
Who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the
dead.
This verse is confirmed and clarified in 2 Timothy 4:1
2 Timothy 4:1
I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall
judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;
And now a scripture showing clearly the fact that firstfruits are giving
their stewardship account now before God.
1 Peter 4:17-18
17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God:
and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not
the gospel of God?
18 And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and
the sinner appear?
Elements of Stewardship
Stewardship is at the core of much of what we do on a daily basis in our
lives and in the Salvation Process. Spiritual Stewardship involves all
the thousands of physical, mental, emotional and spiritual elements and
subjects we come in contact with throughout our lives. We must
acknowledge and address each one. We must study it both from the
secular and the spiritual viewpoints. We must pray about them, make
them the subject of our meditations and then commit ourselves to
operating them, and controlling them. We are to take the positive
elements and increase them while insuring the negative ones are in check
or eliminated.
Physical Stewardship
There are many subject areas we could discuss under the heading of
Physical Stewardship. We will address three:
1. Finances
The Word of God is replete with scriptures on money and finances. Look
at a Topical Bible and you will see entries for Finances, Financial
Curses, Debt, Gifts, Hardships, Offerings, Problems, Recovery, Reward
and Success. Each of these subject areas is a study in stewardship.
How do we manage money? How do we eliminate debt? How do we repair and
maintain a good credit rating? How do we prepare offerings to God? How
can we be a good steward in gift-giving? The ministry could easily give
a sermon for each of these questions. Let us discuss general scriptures
on financial stewardship.
Are we to provide for our families?
1 Timothy 5:8
But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own
house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.
Does God want us to perform cost analysis?
Luke 14:28
For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first,
and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?
Are we to provide an inheritance to our children?
Proverbs 13:22
A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children's children: and the
wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just.
Where do we get the power to be financially solvent and to whom is
given this power?
Deuteronomy 8:18
But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God: for it is he that giveth thee
power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware
unto thy fathers, as it is this day.
Notice the commentary on this verse...
God - giveth thee power to get wealth -
Who among the rich and wealthy believes this saying? Who gives wisdom,
understanding, skill, bodily strength, and health?
Is it not God? And without these,
how can wealth be acquired? Whose is providence? Who gives fertility to
the earth? And who brings every proper purpose to a right issue? Is it
not God? And without these also can wealth be acquired? No. Then the
proposition in the text is self-evident: it is God that giveth power to
get wealth, and to God the wealthy man must account for the manner in
which he has expended the riches which God hath given him.
~Adam Clarke
How do we honor God in this area and what will happen if we do?
Proverbs 3:9-10
9 Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all
thine increase:
10 So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst
out with new wine.
Does one become wealthy in money by setting his mind on acquiring the
money or is there a different way this works?
Proverbs 28:20
A faithful man shall abound with blessings: but he that maketh haste to
be rich shall not be innocent.
How do we make our way prosperous in this life? How do we experience
success?
Joshua 1:8
This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt
meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according
to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way
prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.
Financially how are the wicked and righteous described in Psalms?
Psalm 37:21
The wicked borroweth, and payeth not again: but the righteous sheweth
mercy, and giveth.
The English Standard version reads:
Psalm 37:31
The wicked borrows but does not pay back, but the righteous is generous
and gives;
Should we borrow money?
Proverbs 22:7
The rich ruleth over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the
lender.
Romans 13:8
Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth
another hath fulfilled the law.
Notice the commentary on the first four words,
"Owe no man anything." The commentary first speaks to
non-monetary debts but then speaks to financial debt.
Moreover, pecuniary debts may be here intended, such as are come into by
borrowing, buying, commerce, and contracts; which though they cannot be
avoided in carrying on worldly business, yet men ought to make
conscience of paying them as soon as they are able: many an honest man
may be in debt, and by one providence or another be disabled from
payment, which is a grief of mind to him; but for men industriously to
run into debt, and take no care to pay, but live upon the property and
substance of others, is scandalous to them as men, and greatly
unbecoming professors of religion, and brings great reproach upon the
Gospel of Christ. ~John Gill
I went back over these few scriptures to see what areas of stewardship
are indicated. Here is the list:
* Provide for the family
* Perform cost analysis…budget
* Tithe…honor God
* Be generous and find or create opportunities to give
* Avoid borrowing as much as possible
* Get out of debt
Being a steward is a full-time endeavor.
2. Time
Is there a verse or biblical concept that speaks to stewardship of
time but, in fact, giving our life of time to Christ?
Galatians 2:20
I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ
liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the
faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
If Christ is ruling our lives...and therefore our time, this sets the
foundation and the motive and the passion for our stewardship of time.
This idea of Christ in us will influence all the elements we speak of in
all five of these sermons.
Are we to consider the larger picture and scope of the time God gives
us and therefore apply time to the Salvation Process?
Psalm 90:12
So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto
wisdom.
Let us look at the first part of this verse in the commentary.
So teach us to number our days -
literally, “To number our days make us know, and we will bring a heart
of wisdom.” The prayer is, that God would instruct us to estimate our
days aright: their number; the rapidity with which they pass away; the
liability to be cut down; the certainty that they must soon come to an
end; their bearing on the future state of being.
~Barnes Notes
So teach us to number our days - Let us
deeply consider our own frailty, and the shortness and uncertainty of
life, that we may live for eternity, acquaint ourselves with thee and be
at peace; that we may die in thy favor and live and reign with thee
eternally. ~Adam Clarke
Is scripture saying, then, that we should give our time over to the
will of God?
James 4:13-15
13 Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a
city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain:
14 Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your
life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then
vanisheth away.
15 For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do
this, or that.
Regarding our time management, are we to trust in God?
Psalm 62:8
Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him:
God is a refuge for us. Selah.
Does scripture state a sense of urgency in our stewardship of time?
Mark 13:33-37
33 Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is.
34 For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his
house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work,
and commanded the porter to watch.
35 Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house
cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the
morning:
36 Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping.
37 And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.
Ephesians 5:15-17
15 See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,
16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
17 Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the
Lord is.
What is the meaning of the phrase there in verse 16, "Redeeming the
time."?
Notice the commentary...
Redeeming the time - The word rendered
here as “redeeming,” means “to purchase; to buy up” from the possession
or power of anyone; and then to redeem, to set free - as from service or
bondage; [Galatians 3:13]. Here it means, to rescue or recover our time
from waste; to improve it for great and important purposes.
~Barnes Notes
Quoted and very related verse:
Galatians 3:13
Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse
for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:
Colossians 4:5 says
Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time.
3 Blessings
There is a hymn we have sung in church over the years. The title of it
is,
Count Your Blessings
When upon life’s billows you are tempest-tossed,
When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,
Count your many blessings, name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.
Refrain:
Count your blessings, name them one by one,
Count your blessings, see what God hath done!
Count your blessings, name them one by one,
*Count your many blessings, see what God hath done.
[*And it will surprise you what
the Lord hath done.]
---end quote from the lyrics---
The hymn, itself is encouraging us to manage our blessings. The hymn's
lyrics are inspired from 1 Thessalonians.
1 Thessalonians 5:18
In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus
concerning you.
Notice the commentary...
In everything give thanks - That is, to
God the Father, in the name of Christ; see Ephesians 5:20 thanks are to
be given to him for all things, as the Ethiopic version renders it; for
all temporal good things; for our beings, the preservation of them; for
food and raiment, and all the mercies of life; for the means of grace,
the word and ordinances, and the ministers of the Gospel; for spiritual
blessings, for electing, redeeming, regenerating, adopting, pardoning,
justifying, and persevering grace: for a meetness for heaven, a right
unto it, and a good hope of it; and especially for Jesus Christ, for
such an husband, such an head, such a surety and Saviour, and advocate
with the Father, as he is; and for life, peace, joy, comfort,
righteousness, and salvation in him: and thanks should be given to God
in every circumstance of life; in adversity, as Job did; when not in so
comfortable and agreeable a frame of soul as to be wished for, since it
might be worse, and is not black despair; even under the temptations of
Satan, since they might be greater and heavier, and since the grace of
God is sufficient to bear up under them, and deliver out of them, and
since there is such a sympathizing high priest and Saviour; and in
afflictions of every kind, since they are all for good, temporal, or
spiritual, or eternal.
Quoted verse:
Ephesians 5:20
Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name
of our Lord Jesus Christ;
For this is the will of God - which may
refer either to all that is said from 1Thessalonians 5:11 to this
passage, or particularly to this of giving thanks; which is the revealed
and declared will of God, is a part of that good, perfect, and
acceptable will of his, and what is well pleasing in his sight, and
grateful to him; see Psalm 69:30 and is ...
Quoted verses:
1 Thessalonians 5:11
Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as
also ye do.
Psalm 69:30
I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify him with
thanksgiving.
in Christ Jesus concerning you - either
declared in and by him, who has made known the whole of the will of God,
and so the Arabic version, "which he wills of you by Jesus Christ"; or
which is exemplified in Christ, who for, and in all things, gave thanks
to God, and had his will resigned to his in every circumstance of life;
or, which being done, is acceptable to God through Christ. The
Alexandrian copy reads, "for this is the will of God towards you in
Christ Jesus"; that is, with respect to you who are in Christ secretly
by election, and openly by the effectual calling; and who, of all men in
the world, have reason to be thankful for everything, and in every
circumstance. ~John Gill
I understand that I must be a good steward of blessings, but how do
I even receive these blessings?
Luke 11:28
But he said, Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and
keep it.
Are there limits to God's blessings?
Malachi 3:10
Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in
mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I
will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing,
that there shall not be room enough to receive it.
Does God set blessings before us? if so, what must we do according
to the book of Deuteronomy?
Deuteronomy 11:26-27
26 Behold, I set before you this day a blessing and a curse;
27 A blessing, if ye obey the commandments of the LORD your God, which I
command you this day:
Is it possible that we can be made rich in many ways by the blessings
of God?
Proverbs 10:22
The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with
it.
Notice the commentary...
The blessing of the Lord, it maketh rich - In the diligent use of means; see Proverbs 10:4; riches are from
the Lord, and should be acknowledged as such, and not attributed to the
industry, diligence, sagacity, and merit of men; but should be looked
upon as had through the blessing of the Lord upon the labours of men;
and when they come this way they come as a blessing, and with one: it
may be understood of being made rich in a spiritual sense; it is the
blessing, good will, and favour of God, that makes men rich in Christ;
that bestows upon them his unsearchable riches; that enriches them with
all spiritual blessings in him; that makes them rich in faith and in
good works, and with the riches of grace and of glory;
~John Gill
Quoted verse:
Proverbs 10:4
He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand: but the hand of the
diligent maketh rich.
and he addeth no sorrow with it
- no sorrow goes along with the blessing, but what is a blessing itself,
as one observes; riches enjoyed through the blessing of God are not
attended with that sorrow in getting, keeping, and losing them, as the
riches of wicked men unlawfully gotten are; see 1 Timothy 6:9; for as
the good man comes by them easily, without any anxious care and sinful
solicitude, he seeking the kingdom of God and his righteousness, all
these things are added to him, over and above, without much thought
about them, or expectation of them, Matthew 6:33; so it is with great
delight, pleasure, and cheerfulness, he enjoys them, and readily
communicates them to others; while the wicked man is full of anxiety,
distress, and sorrow; see Ecclesiastes 5:12. This is eminently true of
spiritual riches; there is no sorrow attending them; the fruit and
effect of them are peace, joy, and comfort. ~John Gill
Quoted verses:
1 Timothy 6:9
…where commentary speaks to sorrow coming with unjust riches.
But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into
many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and
perdition.
Matthew 6:33
…blessings coming to the firstfruits
But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all
these things shall be added unto you.
Ecclesiastes 5:12
…speaking to those who sleep and do not get much rest.
The sleep of a labouring man is sweet, whether he eat little or
much: but the abundance of the rich will not suffer him to sleep.
Who does God bless?
Zechariah 10:12
And I will strengthen them in the LORD; and they shall walk up and down
in his name, saith the LORD.
Proverbs 10:6
Blessings are upon the head of the just: but violence covereth the mouth
of the wicked.
Proverbs 28:20
A faithful man shall abound with blessings: but he that maketh haste to
be rich shall not be innocent.
Blessings come to the just, to those in the Lord and to those that are
faithful. Our stewardship is clear. We must be good stewards of all
things spiritual…all the elements of the Salvation Process if we are to
reap blessings. In addition, we are to count those blessings. Remember
them and ever be thankful for them.
This sermon has spoken to only three elements of physical stewardship.
Clearly there are many more. The elements may be many but the approach
is the same. All stewardship for the firstfruit is a partnership with
Almighty God.
Who is Steward? You are.
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