By Pastor Willie L. Hinton, Sr.
1st Corinthians 4:1-2-(1) Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God. (2) Moreover, it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.
Introduction: It is said in our oral tradition that church membership allows us to sail on seven other ships: the worship, the discipleship, the stewardship, the friendship, the fellowship, the partnership, and the leadership. As the late Pastor Clay Evans, founder of the Fellowship Baptist Church of Chicago, often said, “Sometimes we cruise the most on the fellowship and the least on the stewardship.” (This is a verbal play on words that loses some of its linguistic cuteness when confined to pen and paper.)
A steward is someone who manages the property of another person. He or she does not own the property, but is expected to manage it well. During the time of the writing of the New Testament, stewards managed household of wealthy people, even kings and potentates. They were charged with investing the family fortune. They were required to be faithful, trustworthy, reliable, and consistent. In many cases, the steward knew more about the family business than the owner. When there were civil legal court cases involving financial disputes, the testimonies of the stewards had more weight than the testimonies of the owners. Many of the stewards had what is now called the “power of attorney.” They could make legal transactions in the name of the owners. It was a position of honor and prestige.
Before I go any further, let me say that we are all stewards. We do not really own anything. “The earth is the Lord’s, and the fullness thereof; and they that dwell therein.” Let me say it again: we are stewards. We do not have the option of deciding to be a steward or not. Our choice is whether we are a good steward or a poor one. When God gave us life, we became stewards of our earthly existence. It is not a birth right; it is a “birth responsibility.”
Paul makes it clear in verse one that a steward is held accountable. He states that all Christian are held accountable. He further states a few verses down that holding each other accountable is not the same as judging. The word for judging in the Greek is to make premature harsh criticism without all of the pertinent facts. God is the final judge because He has all of the facts.
Paul was saying, “We are all stewards. You hold me accountable and I will hold you accountable. In my objectivity, you all are not good stewards because of all the division in the congregation.” (This is not to imply that our church is divided; I am just revealing the context of the text.)
Part of being a good steward is to give back to God a portion of what He has given us. Let’s look at the three aspects of stewardship in the light of giving back to God.
Exposition
1. Stewardship Of Time.
(Spend Time Worshipping God- Public and Private.)
(Spend Time Studying and Meditating on God’s Word.)
(Spend Time Working.)
(Spend Time Serving Others.)
(Spend Time Resting.)
2. Stewardship Of Talent.
(Use Your Gifts and Talents to Worship, Work, And Witness.)
(We Have Different Gifts.)
(We Have Different Measures of The Same Gifts.)
(Each Gift and Each Talent Comes with A Responsibility.)
(To Whom Much Is Given Much Is Required.)
3. Stewardship Of Treasure.
(Tithe & Offering.)
(Matthew 23:23.)
(God Has Never Raised His Rates.)
(God Loves A Cheerful Giver.)
Closing Thoughts
Bankers must be honest; soldiers must be brave; watchmen must be vigilant; runners must be swift; weightlifters must be strong; teachers must be knowledgeable; stewards must be faithful.
How do stewards achieve and maintain faithfulness? The psalmist asked that same question in a different way when he penned these words: “What shall I unto the Lord for all His benefits toward me?” When I read this Scripture, five action items immediately come to mind:
1. Give God the first part of each day.
2. Give God the first day of each week.
3. Give God the first portion of each paycheck.
4. Give God the first consideration of each decision.
5. Give God the first place in our hearts.
The abundant life is within reach of each of us if we be good, responsible stewards of all that God has placed in our care.
Give God Glory! Give God All the Glory!