Tying Up Loose Ends: Stewardship

Tying up Loose Ends: Stewardship

Introduction

Definition: “tie up loose ends” – (idiomatic) Tidy up, finish, or complete.
It can be Easy to Start Something, but difficult to finish.
God encourages us to complete the work we began in Christ (2 Corinthians 8:5-12).
Today, we’ll discuss the Loose End of Stewardship.

I. The Purpose of a Steward is be Found Faithful to His/Her Task (1 Corinthians 4:2; Luke 12:42-46; Deuteronomy 8:11, 17-18).

All We Have Belongs to God – He Has Entrusted us with It.

II. Stewardship is More than what we Give.

Areas of Stewardship:

Stewardship of the Body
Stewardship of our Talents / Gifts
Stewardship of our Possessions
Stewardship of the Earth
Stewardship of our Money

III. Stewardship Does Require that we Give

We Must Give to Support those in Need (Galatians 6:9-10; 2 Corinthians 9:7-12).
We Must Give to Support those Who Preach the Gospel (1 Corinthians 9:7-14).
We Must Give to Support the Maintenance of the Congregation.

Conclusion: How Much Does God Expect me to Give?

In Keeping with Your Income (1 Corinthians 16:1-2)
According to Your Means (2 Corinthians 8:11)
As Much as you Have Pre-Purposed (Decided) in your Heart (2 Corinthians 9:7)
As Much as You Want to be Blessed (2 Corinthians 9:6)
Generously (2 Corinthians 9:6)
What about the Tithe? (2 Corinthians 8:1-5)

Our sermon series is entitled, Tying Up Loose Ends. There are things that we know we need to do, but we put off. This may have little consequence in some areas of our lives, but with spiritual matters, your eternal destiny is in the balance. This morning we will be talking about our financial stewardship.

A steward is one who is entrusted with the possessions of another. The primary purpose of a steward is to faithfully carry out the business of the one who gave him that trust.

Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful (1 Corinthians 4:2).

The Lord answered, “Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom the master puts in charge of his servants to give them their food allowance at the proper time? ⁴³ It will be good for that servant whom the master finds doing so when he returns. ⁴⁴ I tell you the truth, he will put him in charge of all his possessions. ⁴⁵ But suppose the servant says to himself, ‘My master is taking a long time in coming,’ and he then begins to beat the menservants and maidservants and to eat and drink and get drunk. ⁴⁶ The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the unbelievers (Luke 12:42-46).

The Bible teaches that our money and possessions are not ours, but only entrusted to us by God to care for our needs, to be used in harmony with his will, and to accomplish his work on earth.

Be careful that you do not forget the LORD your God, failing to observe his commands, his laws and his decrees that I am giving you this day. …You may say to yourself, “My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me.” ¹⁸ But remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your forefathers, as it is today (Deuteronomy 8:11, 17-18).

The Bible says a lot about stewardship; I’ll say more in my lesson.

Joey