How can we apply the principle of stewardship in our community service? \The Heartbeat of Stewardship in Matthew 25:21\ “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Enter into the joy of your master!’ ” (Matthew 25:21) The words are clear and literal: faithfulness over “a few things” leads to greater trust and deeper joy. Community service becomes one of those “few things” by which we prove faithful. \Recognizing God’s Ownership\ • Psalm 24:1 reminds us, “The earth is the LORD’s, and the fullness thereof.” • When everything belongs to Him, our role in the neighborhood is caretaker, not proprietor. • Attitude shift: we don’t “give Him our time”; He entrusts His time to us for others. \Daily Faithfulness Before Big Platforms\ • Luke 16:10: “Whoever is faithful with very little will also be faithful with much.” • Faithfulness is measured in ordinary acts—showing up on time to serve food, returning tools we borrow, keeping ministry records accurate. • Consistent reliability gives credibility to the gospel we share. \Stewardship Principles Applied to Community Service\ • Time – Schedule blocks for service first, entertainment later. – Guard punctuality; it communicates respect. • Talents – 1 Peter 4:10: “Each of you should use whatever gift he has received to serve others.” – Identify skills—carpentry, tutoring, cooking—and match them to local needs. • Treasures – Proverbs 3:9 speaks of honoring the Lord with wealth; budget generosity for community projects. – Transparent accounting protects testimony. • Testimony – Colossians 3:23: “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as for the Lord.” – Excellence in service opens doors for gospel conversations. \Multiplication Through Delegation\ • Matthew 25:21 links faithfulness with expanded responsibility. • Train replacements; mentor youth volunteers so the ministry outlives you. • Share leadership, mirroring Exodus 18:21 where capable men were appointed over groups. \Joy as the Reward\ • The master’s commendation ends with, “Enter into the joy of your master.” • Joy is both future (eternal reward) and present (Acts 20:35: “It is more blessed to give than to receive”). • Serve with gladness; joy validates stewardship. \Practical Next Steps\ • Conduct a personal inventory of time, talents, and treasures this week. • Choose one local ministry and commit to a small, regular role. • Set up accountability—invite a fellow believer to check your faithfulness monthly. Faithful stewardship in community service is simply living Matthew 25:21 each day until we hear those same words from our Lord face-to-face. |
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