Money Matters: Stewardship

As new testament believers, God has entrusted to us precious promises. He’s given us His Kingdom and we are stewards over everything. Everything that we have, we are literally managers of it.

The stewardship is a place of honor. Some people sold themselves to become somebody’s steward because it meant a place of status. It meant that they were the ones overseeing a large sum of money.

A steward was to be faithful, trustworthy, and loyal. A steward spoke to the person’s capability because you don’t entrust something to someone who doesn’t have the ability to do it.

“If you are stewards of God’s resources, He knows you are capable.”—Pastor Bill Johnson

 

The master commended the unjust steward because he had dealt shrewdly—he literally praised the unjust steward because he dealt shrewdly. Shrewdly means to be able to act with great practical intelligence. The steward was able to see an opportunity in unfavorable circumstances. At no point are you released from your stewardship. No circumstance releases you of your stewardship.

”No matter what’s going on—whether you caused it or somebody else caused it—you are still managing God’s stuff”—Pastor Bill Johnson

 

God’s saying, “If you are my steward, you have to make sure that you are always able see and seize the opportunity.” You can’t be ashamed to prosper in a bad situation. He’s not saying be unjust, lose your integrity or be illegal. He’s saying, I want you to able to make wise decisions—prudent decisions.

Principles to learn from Luke 16:1-8

Resources are to be used for Kingdom influence

If He can trust you, He’ll take you to the top; if you’ll give Him the glory. You’ll begin to realize that I’m here because God put me here. I am what I am by the grace of God. In the midst of it all—will you finally say, “God did this!” Go and give Him the honor, glory, and praise—then no good thing will He withhold from you. (Verse 9)

“Don’t you get there and start being ashamed.”—Pastor Bill Johnson

“If you give Him the glory—He’ll do exceedingly, abundantly, above all that you can ask, think, or imagine.”—Pastor Bill Johnson

Resources used faithfully will bring increase

God is looking at how you handle what you have right now and He’s saying, “I’m watching over it”. If you are faithful in the least, you’ll be faithful in much. When we start thinking we are waiting on a particular day, we undermine where we are now. If you are a scoundrel with the little—you’ll be a scoundrel with the large. If you are unfaithful with the little, you’ll be unfaithful with the large. God looks at what you have in your hand currently to determine if you’ll handle more (Verse 10). God looks at the way you manage money to determine if you can manage true riches (Verse 11). How are you managing the job? Some of us don’t realize that when we work, we work unto the Lord (Verse 12).

“Some of us are looking at where we are currently working for the promotion.”—Pastor Bill Johnson  (Ephesian 6:5)

Resources are never to become an idol

You cannot serve God and money! You don’t have to have money to love money. You can be broke and love money. Money is a terrible master but it is a wonderful servant. When you began to serve money, you are in a danger zone. We have to make sure that resources never become an idol. Money is not going to get you in heaven or make you happy. Money is simply a tool. Use it for God’s glory and your own enjoyment (Verse 13).