Faithful Stewards Before God
By Pastor Joel – Open Heaven Christian Church – Fisher, Arkansas
In this study we will look at what the scriptures teach about stewardship. The dictionary definition of “stewards” is to manage or look after (another’s property).
1 Corinthians 4:2 (KJV)
“Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.”
The Bible clearly teaches believers are required to be faithful stewards in all that the Lord has given us. This includes every area of our lives and with everything we have been given or entrusted with by the Lord, our talents, our time, and yes including our money or possessions that God has blessed us all with.
INTRODUCTION: WHAT IS BIBLICAL STEWARDSHIP?
Stewardship, according to Scripture, is the understanding that everything belongs to God, and man is entrusted as a caretaker—not an owner. Our time, money, abilities, influence, relationships, and spiritual gifts are on loan from God, and we will give an account for how we use them.
Psalm 24:1 (KJV)
“The earth is the LORD’S, and the fullness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.”
From Genesis to Revelation, God evaluates people not by how much they had, but how faithfully they managed what they were given.
I. GOD IS THE OWNER — MAN IS THE STEWARD
Genesis 1:28 (KJV)
“And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.”
Adam was given authority, but not ownership. Dominion does not mean exploitation; it means responsible management under God’s authority.
Luke 16:12 (KJV)
“And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another man’s, who shall give you that which is your own?”
II. EXAMPLES OF GOOD STEWARDSHIP IN THE BIBLE
1. JOSEPH — FAITHFUL OVER RESPONSIBILITY
Joseph was entrusted with Potiphar’s house, then God expanded his responsibility to Egypt itself.
Genesis 39:4–6 (KJV)
“And Joseph found grace in his sight, and he served him: and he made him overseer over his house, and all that he had he put into his hand.
And it came to pass from the time that he had made him overseer in his house, and over all that he had, that the LORD blessed the Egyptian’s house for Joseph’s sake; and the blessing of the LORD was upon all that he had in the house, and in the field.
And he left all that he had in Joseph’s hand; and he knew not ought he had, save the bread which he did eat.”
Joseph’s stewardship brought blessing not only to himself, but to everyone connected to him. His faithfulness caused the LORD to bless the Egyptian’s house for Joseph’s sake.
2. THE FAITHFUL SERVANTS — MULTIPLYING WHAT GOD GAVE
Matthew 25:20–21 (KJV)
“And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more.
His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.”
Faithful stewardship leads to increase, trust, and joy in the Lord. The “faithful servant” increased because of his stewardship and said “I have gained beside them five talents more” and the Lord said to him “ I will make thee ruler over many things” – A promise of increase because God saw he was faithful and responsible laboring in his kingdom!
3. THE MACEDONIAN CHURCH — FAITHFUL IN GIVING
2 Corinthians 8:2–3 (KJV)
“How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality.
For to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their power they were willing of themselves.”
They did not give out of abundance—but out of faith.
III. EXAMPLES OF BAD STEWARDSHIP IN THE BIBLE
1. THE WICKED SERVANT — FEAR AND NEGLECT
Matthew 25:24–26 (KJV)
“Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed:
And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine.
His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed:”
God condemns inaction, fear, and wasted opportunity. An unfaithful servant will only look to their own needs and never consider the needs of others, because of this the Lord will not increase them because they will waist the blessings that God gives them on their selves.
2. THE RICH FOOL — SELFISH STEWARDSHIP
Luke 12:19–21 (KJV)
“And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”
Possessions without purpose lead to judgment, not security.
3. JUDAS ISCARIOT — UNFAITHFUL WITH MONEY AND TRUST
John 12:6 (KJV)
“This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein.”
Bad stewardship often begins with small compromises and ends in spiritual ruin.
IV. AREAS WHERE GOD EXPECTS STEWARDSHIP
1. TIME
Ephesians 5:16 (KJV)
“Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.”
The Lord expects believers to dedicate time to laboring in His kingdom.
2. MONEY
Proverbs 3:9 (KJV)
“Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the first-fruits of all thine increase:”
The Lord expects believers to give of their “increase” of all that the Lord has blessed them with. This is how believers are to honor the Lord.
3. SPIRITUAL GIFTS
1 Peter 4:10 (KJV)
“As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.”
All spiritual gives that God gives to a believer are held to accountability by the Lord.
V. THE FINAL ACCOUNT — STEWARDS MUST ANSWER TO GOD
Romans 14:12 (KJV)
“So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.”
This includes what believers do with everything God has entrusted to them.
Luke 16:2 (KJV)
“And he called him, and said unto him, How is it that I hear this of thee? give an account of thy stewardship; for thou mayest be no longer steward.”
Matthew 25:28-28 (KJV)
“His lord answered and said unto him, Thou
wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed: Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then
at my coming I should have received mine own with usury. Take therefore the talent from him, and give it
unto him which hath ten talents.
”
When the Lord increases believers and a believer does not return to God what the Lord expects from them, God may taken away even what he has and will give it to another who will use all that was entrusted to them in the kingdom of God.
CONCLUSION: A CALL TO FAITHFUL STEWARDSHIP
God is not looking for perfect people—He is looking for faithful stewards.
Giving back to God is not because the Lord needs anything from any of us, but it changes our character to the character of Christ who gave his life for us!
1 Corinthians 4:1–2 (KJV)
“Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.”
Let us all be found a faithful stewards in the eyes of the Lord!
FINAL QUESTION FOR THE CHURCH:
If God required an account of your stewardship today—
Would He say, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant”?
