The Five T's Of Stewardship
Introduction
Let a man regard us in this manner, as servants of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God. 2 In this case, moreover, it is required of stewards that one be found trustworthy. 3 But to me it is a very small thing that I should be examined by you, or by any human court; in fact, I do not even examine myself. 4 For I am conscious of nothing against myself, yet I am not by this acquitted; but the one who examines me is the Lord. 5 Therefore do not go on passing judgment before the time, but wait until the Lord comes who will both bring to light the things hidden in the darkness and disclose the motives of men's hearts; and then each man's (NAS)
The word Stewardship originally meant a "house manager" or one who manages for another. Christian Stewardship emphasizes our management of resources for our Lord.
We have been bought with a price. It cost Jesus his life for a person to become a Christian. When we acknowledge him as Lord and individually as Lord of our life we enter the realm of Christian Stewardship.
Today I want to call your attention to five areas for being a faithful steward. They are the areas of our Time, Talent, Treasure, Testimony and Temple for our Lord
I. The Stewardship Of Time
(Acts 18:20-21 NASB) And when they asked him to stay for a longer time, he did not consent, 21 but taking leave of them and saying, "I will return to you again if God wills," he set sail from Ephesus. (NAS)
A. Present Time
Romans 8:18, “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us.” (NAS) Note 2 Corinthians 8:14, “… at this present time your abundance {being a supply} for their want, that their abundance also may become {a supply} for your want, that there may be equality;…”
B. Past Time
2 Corinthians 12:21, “I am afraid that when I come again my God may humiliate me before you, and I may mourn over many of those who have sinned in the past and not repented of the impurity, immorality and sensuality which they have practiced.”
C. Future Time
Jeremiah 29:11, “`For I know the plans that I have for you,' declares the Lord, `plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.”
2 Timothy 4:8, “… in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing.”
One of my favorite people in the church I pastored in St. Louis gave me a plaque. It reads: "God wants our precious time
Not our spare time
God expects us to use the time he gives us wisely.
II. The Stewardship Of Talents
Romans 12:6, “And since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, {let each exercise them accordingly}: if prophecy, according to the proportion of his faith;…”
1 Corinthians 12:1, 4, “1 Now concerning spiritual {gifts,} brethren, I do not want you to be unaware. 4 Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit.”
Corinthians 12:30-31, “30 All do not have gifts of healings, do they? All do not speak with tongues, do they? All do not interpret, do they? 31 But earnestly desire the greater gifts. And I show you a still more excellent way.”
You have a gift, or gifts from God. Some times these are seen as talents. They were not given just for your pleasure. They will bring the most pleasure as you allow the Spirit of God to empower those gifts.
We have talents to give back to the Lord.
III. The Stewardship Of Testimony
Mark 6:11, "And any place that does not receive you or listen to you, as you go out from there, shake off the dust from the soles of your feet for a testimony against them."
Luke 21:13, "It will lead to an opportunity for your testimony.”
Timothy 1:8, “Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, or of me His prisoner; but join with {me} in suffering for the gospel according to the power of God,…”
John 1:12, “Demetrius has received a {good} testimony from everyone, and from the truth itself; and we also bear witness, and you know that our witness is true.”
Revelation 12:11, "And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even to death.”
In evangelism classes they teach you to give your salvation testimony within two minutes. They do this because they say some times that is all the time you have and some people will listen to a testimony; who will not listen to anything else.
Our walk with God gives us a testimony. We are to be good stewards of this testimony.
IV. The Stewardship Of Treasure
Matthew 6:21, “…for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”
Luke 11:42, “But woe to you Pharisees! For you pay tithe of mint and rue and every {kind of} garden herb, and {yet} disregard justice and the love of God; but these are the things you should have done without neglecting the others.”
Hebrews 7:5, “And those indeed of the sons of Levi who receive the priest's office have commandment in the Law to collect a tenth from the people, that is, from their brethren, although these are descended from Abraham.”
We have a treasure. The amount of treasure we have is not most important. What we do with our treasure is most important. Do you think God is impressed with our money? He is creator and sustainer of life. His wealth is greater than wealth itself.
Recently my grandson took the money he had saved and brought me a gift. It was not for a special occasion. He just wanted to give me a gift. He purchased for me a little flash light. I want you to know it is my favorite flash light. I have more expensive flash lights, and I have more powerful flash lights. This is my favorite because my grandson gave it out of love.
God wants us to love Him enough to obey His commands to pay the tithe.
V. The Stewardship Of Temple
It is interesting to note the term holy man is used 2 times in the (NAS) and `1 time in KJV. A holy person will always be a person who recognizes temples - One in the heart and one in their community.
A. The Temple In Your Spirit
1 Corinthians 3:16, “Do you not know that you are a temple of God, and {that} the Spirit of God dwells in you?”
1 Corinthians 6:19, “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own?”
B. The Temple In Your Community
Luke 4:16, “And He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up; and as was His custom, He entered the synagogue on the Sabbath, and stood up to read.”(NAS)
Hebrews 10:25, “… not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging {one another} and all the more, as you see the day drawing near.” (NAS)
Have you seen the article about a Mrs. Craig. She received a plaque to recognize her record of regular attendance in church. As I remember she has not missed a Sunday for over 60 years. The questions that come to mind when one thinks about perfect attendance in church for six decades are these:
Mrs. Craig didn't friends ever drop in and keep you from coming to church? Mrs. Craig didn't you ever get a cold and have to stay home?
Mrs. Craig didn't you ever have to take a week of because you were so busy all week?
The questions go on and on, but Mrs. Craig believed the benefits of faithfulness out weighed the so called pleasures of going else where.
We all need to check our selves to see about our stewardship in all 5 "Ts".