What responsibilities has God entrusted to you as His servant? Grounding the Study Because God’s Word is entirely true and trustworthy, we take Jesus’ words at face value. Luke 12:42 lays the foundation: “Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom the master entrusts over his household to give them their portion of food at the proper time?” In this single sentence Jesus highlights both our identity (faithful, wise manager) and our assignment (distribute what the Master supplies). Faithful Stewardship: Core Responsibilities • Faithfulness—remaining consistently obedient, even when the Master is unseen (1 Corinthians 4:2). • Wisdom—applying scriptural truth skillfully to real-life situations (James 1:5). • Service—meeting the needs of fellow servants in the Master’s household (Galatians 6:10). Specific Areas of Entrusted Stewardship 1. The Gospel • “We have been entrusted with the gospel” (1 Thessalonians 2:4). • Responsibility: guard its purity, share it eagerly (Matthew 28:19-20). 2. Spiritual Gifts • “Each of you should use whatever gift he has received to serve one another” (1 Peter 4:10). • Responsibility: deploy gifts intentionally for the Church’s health. 3. Time and Opportunities • “Make the most of every opportunity” (Ephesians 5:16). • Responsibility: schedule life around Kingdom priorities rather than squeezing God into spare moments. 4. Material Resources • “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much” (Luke 16:10). • Responsibility: budget, give, and invest possessions so they advance God’s purposes. 5. People • Paul told Timothy, “Entrust these things to faithful men” (2 Timothy 2:2). • Responsibility: disciple, mentor, and encourage the believers God places near you. 6. Truth and Sound Doctrine • “Guard the good deposit” (2 Timothy 1:14). • Responsibility: defend Scripture’s accuracy, teach it clearly, refuse compromise. Motivation for Faithfulness • The Master will return and settle accounts (Luke 12:43-44). • Eternal reward accompanies faithfulness (2 Corinthians 5:10). • Love for Christ compels us (2 Corinthians 5:14). Practical Steps to Live It Out • Start each day acknowledging ownership: God owns everything; I manage. • Keep a written inventory—gifts, resources, relationships—and pray over how each can serve others. • Build accountability with a mature believer who will ask, “How are you stewarding what God gave?” • Look for “proper time” moments: coffee break conversations, family dinners, small group meetings—natural settings to “give their portion of food.” • Review regularly: at month’s end, ask, “Where did I act like a manager, and where did I act like an owner?” Encouraging Promise “Blessed is that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns” (Luke 12:43). Faithful stewardship today positions you for the Master’s commendation tomorrow—“Well done, good and faithful servant” (Matthew 25:21). |
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