How can we be "faithful and wise managers" in our daily lives today? Key Verse: Luke 12 : 42 “Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom the master will put in charge of his servants to give them their portion at the proper time?” Big Idea: Stewardship as a Lifestyle Faithful and wise management means treating everything in life as belonging to the Master and handling it in ways that please Him. Foundation: What Scripture Teaches About Stewardship - 1 Corinthians 4 : 1-2 — “men ought to regard us as servants of Christ and stewards… it is required of stewards that they be found faithful.” - Matthew 25 : 21 — “Well done, good and faithful servant… You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things.” - Colossians 3 : 17 — “whatever you do… do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus.” - 1 Peter 4 : 10 — “As good stewards of the manifold grace of God, each of you should use whatever gift he has received to serve one another.” - Luke 16 : 10 — “Whoever is faithful with very little will also be faithful with much.” Everyday Domains of Stewardship - Time — Ephesians 5 : 15-16 urges careful, wise use of every hour. - Talents & Gifts — deploy skills and spiritual gifts for service and witness. - Treasure & Possessions — Proverbs 3 : 9 calls for honoring the Lord with firstfruits; budgeting, saving, and giving reflect ownership by God. - Relationships — nurture family, church, neighbors with love that builds up the body of Christ. - Gospel & Doctrine — guard and share the truth entrusted to us, holding fast to Scripture. Practices That Keep Us Faithful and Wise - Begin each day acknowledging God’s ownership of everything. - Soak in Scripture for direction; let it shape goals and decisions. - Plan prayerfully, setting priorities that match eternal values. - Work with excellence and honesty, remembering Colossians 3 : 23-24. - Keep short accounts: regular confession, quick restitution, transparent accountability. - Live generously—percentage giving, spontaneous kindness, hospitality. - Use gifts actively in the local church, serving without spotlight-seeking. - Redeem downtime: limit idle scrolling, invest in learning, mentoring, discipling. - Cultivate gratitude, celebrating God’s provision and the successes of others. Motivation and Reward - Pleasing the Master now. - Increased trust and responsibility from Him (Luke 16 : 10). - Joyful commendation and eternal inheritance (Matthew 25 : 21; Colossians 3 : 24). Closing Snapshot: Living the Verse Today God owns the schedule, the paycheck, the skill set, the family, and the message. Stewardship simply means handling each of those trusts in ways that line up with His Word and His heart—faithfully, wisely, and at the proper time. |
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