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Sermon for Sunday, October 25, 2009


“Poured Out Blessings - Stewards”

Malachi 3:10; Luke 16:1-14

Dr. Carl Bates was pastor the First Baptist Church of Charlotte, N.C. many years ago. He once told a story of a lesson he learned about stewardship. He was a passenger on a train and was eating in the dining car. He started a conversation with the man who was waiting his table. “What are you called on the train?” he asked. “A waiter.”  Dr. Bates pointed to another man dressed in a pretty impressive uniform. “What is he called?” “A steward” was the reply. “What does a steward do on a train?” “Then came the answer that was unforgettable, “A steward takes care of the boss’s business till we get to the end of the line.”  Isn’t that a grand statement?

That is a pretty good statement on what it means to be a Christian steward.

On a few occasions when our family leaves home, we have someone to take care of our animals. They do better at home than in a kennel. We want someone reliable, trustworthy to take care of what are valuable possessions to us. You don’t just ask anyone to take care of your animals or even to be in your home. You trust your animals and your home with someone who is reliable. Stewards are people who take care of precious property that is not their own.

We have a Child Development Center at our church. Starting early in the morning parents drop their children off. They are dropping off precious cargo. They trust that their children will be loved, cared for in every detail whether it might be because of a bruised knee or just a sad day. They want that love to come through in a caring touch and even in the tone of a voice. And when the parent picks up the child, they expect that child being well cared for. Stewards are people who take care of precious property that is not their own.

When our children come to Sunday school we want them to have a good experience. We want them to learn about Jesus. They do that through various means of teaching Sunday school literature and through the preparation of a teacher. They will learn about Jesus from the love and care of a teacher. In our Preschool Department we are being very careful to make sure our children are loved and protected. Children are precious gifts. Stewards are people who take care of precious property that is not their own.

Scripture says a great deal about what it means to be a steward. Jesus did not mince words when he taught stewardship and he did that often. He had as much to say about our stewardship than practically anything else.

What we learn from scripture is that stewardship is not about that narrow slice of life that we call offerings to the church or even that narrow slice of time, talent and treasure that we give to the church. Stewardship is taking care of the precious property, people that God has entrusted to us.

Steward comes from a Greek word, “oikos,” which means house. Stewardship is taking care of household matters. A related word is “oikonomics” from which we get the word, “economics.” Stewardship is taking care of money matters that God has entrusted to us. Still another related word is “oicology” from which we get the word ecology. Stewardship is taking care of the earth that God has entrusted to us. 

In the 16th chapter of Luke the parable has a rich man asking his manager “Give me an accounting of your management.”  (v.2) Give me a record of how you are taking care of things. How are you taking care of the house, the animals, and the garden? He had exceptionally large responsibilities, extending to taking care of his boss business affairs. He was in charge of property that did not belong to him. We discover that he wasn’t do a good job and he lost his job. The point is clear, “Tell me how you are caring for that precious property and people that have been entrusted to you.” The question is one of accountability.

Something a steward needs to always remember is that none of it belongs to us… our clothes, our house, our furniture, our pets, our bank accounts, our toys, our plants, our family.  None of it belongs to us, forever. We will not take it with you when die. Of course not, it’s not ours. Everything in life belongs to God who entrusts you and me to care for precious possessions.

“Oiconomics,” Jesus said. “Give me an account of your household finances. Give me a record of how you are managing what you have. It is so important that we learn to manage money and all that we have instead of having money and possessions dominate our lives.

In the biblical text from Luke, Jesus hit the nail on the head, “If you can’t manage the little stuff, how are you going to do the big stuff?

Pharisees always seem to be listening to what conversations Jesus was having with his disciples. The Pharisees were lovers of money and laughed at Jesus (v.14). It is interesting as you read verse 14, that Jesus considered money part of the small stuff.

The Pharisees were people who couldn’t handle money. They were tithers, they gave ten percent to God and I certainly will take a few more Pharisees in our church, but they were not good stewards. They loved money and used God. God’s plan is just the opposite. We are to love God and love people, but use money.  There is no greater wealth than that.

And why do we seek to become that kind of steward?  II Corinthians 9:15 says it...”for the indescribable gift of Jesus Christ.” The first and foremost reason that I, we are to be the stewards who take care of the precious possessions that God has given us is because of  what God has done through Jesus Christ. He gave us his most Precious Gift.

Payne Stewart understood that relationship. You know the name Payne Stewart don’t you? Most of you golfers know the name. It has been about ten years ago when he died in an airplane crash.

Following one of his golf victories he shared his testimony: “I’m proud of the fact that my faith in God is so much stronger and I’m so much more at peace than I’ve even been in my life.” An active member of FBC Orlando, Stewart gave his testimony in a worship service ten days prior to his death. His faith had become a vital part of his life.

Through Payne Stewart’s life the world has been offered a testimony of how life is to be lived as a Christian steward, to be lived as God designed it, confessing Christ as Savior,

                     taking care of what God has entrusted.

Payne Stewart knew how to build on the poured out blessings that God provided for him. His life is a reminder that we are stewards of all that God has given.

I wonder how Payne Stewart answered God when He said to him, “Payne, give me an account of your stewardship. Tell me, Payne, how have you cared for your household, the precious possessions and people that I entrusted to your care? Tell me, I want to know.”

Wonder what God will say to you when the time comes?

Contact Us

Address
First Baptist Church, Ashland
800 Thompson Street
Ashland, VA 23005

Phone
(804) 798-9014

Fax
(804) 798-9043

E-mail
fbcashland@verizon.net

Sunday Worship

  8:30 a.m. –  Worship Service
  9:45 a.m. –  Sunday School
11:00 a.m. –  Worship Service