Week 1 Introduction to Stewardship
“Time, health and talents presenting”
The Bible teaches that everything is God’s and we as people are stewards of all that he has provided. Some relevant Bible passages are Psalm 24:1 Genesis 1:28-31; 2:15
At the dawn of mankind Adam was appointed as a steward of the earth, to rule over it, tend it and care for it. We still have a responsibility to care for the earth and do our part to be good stewards.
Christians also have a responsibility to act as stewards of all that they possess. One of our well-known Salvation Army Songs includes the line “Time, health and talents presenting”. When we sing that line, or choruses such as “All there is of me, Lord” we are agreeing that we are stewards of what God has provided for us.
Time
Time is a precious gift from God. It is given to us a moment at a time, for none of us know the exact time of our death or the Second Coming of Jesus. It is ours to waste or use wisely.
We are to be good stewards of our time. “Carpe Diem” or “Seize the Day” has become a catch cry since the movie Dead Poets’ Society. The Bible echoed this when Paul wrote “Be very careful, then, how you live- not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.” Ephesians 5:15, 16
We also need to seize the day and make the most of our time.
David Wilkerson in his book “The Vision” wrote in 1973:
“I see the sin of the future as the misuse of leisure time. …I am talking about all the wasted time. The time that a man has for himself to choose what he will do with,time that could be spent in reading God’s Word, time that could be spent in the secret closet talking to the Heavenly Father.”
We could add time for service at the corps, or time for witnessing or time for encouraging others or…
How good a steward of time are we?
Talents
Talents are a precious gift from God. They also are not to be wasted. Talents are given for the good of all. What talents has God given you? Did I hear someone say none? Everyone has some talent. Use it for God!
Jesus told a story about three stewards who were each given varying amounts of money to care for in their master’s absence. Two of them increase their amounts. The one who was too frightened to do anything but hide his amount was punished rather than rewarded.
This parable shows the responsibility of being good stewards. We need to make the most of what we have been given. God expects us to use what he has given to us, not to waste it.
John Larsson in “The Man perfectly filled with the Spirit” wrote
“How sad if on the great judgement day God has to say to someone, ‘I intended you to be another Michelangelo- I gave you the gift, but you did nothing with it.’ Or to another, ‘I intended you to be another Beethoven- I gave you the gift, but you did nothing with it.’”
We might not have the talents to be Michelangelo or Beethoven, but we do need to use and develop the talents God has given us.
Treasure
Treasure is a precious gift from God. Again it is given to us to use wisely and share, rather than hoard or waste. In the story of the Rich Fool in Luke 12:13-21 we see that there is accountability for what we have been given. We need to see God as the giver of all and the owner of all. Christian Stewardship and
greed have nothing in common. There are many instances of Jesus talking about money and possessions.
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Mt 6:19-21)
Good stewards of treasure will seek to use what they have for God’s Kingdom, rather than for themselves.
“Stewardship is everything we do with everything we have. Stewardship begins with the idea that God owns all things – so we’re not giving to God what is ours, but releasing what is already his.” Rowland Croucher
From the parable of the unrighteous steward (Luke 16:1 -12) we can learn that honest, trustworthy stewardship is required of worldly possessions. This is important. Christians should set an example of integrity in their responsibilities. Spiritual responsibility will not come to those who can’t be trusted with responsibility on earth. It is a well-known principle of leadership that those who are faithful with their responsibility will be given more responsibility.
How are we measuring up as good stewards? Are we presenting all that we have and are to God or are we trying to keep it all for ourselves?
We sing “Time, health and talents presenting”.
Do we truly mean it?
Appeal Chorus 33 All there is of me, Lord
RESOURCE LIST
Songbook
Song474“All to Jesus I surrender
Song475“And is it so?”
Song477“Blessed Saviour, now behold me”
Song482“Dear Lord, I do surrender”
Song 514“Not my own, but saved by Jesus”
Song 522“Saviour if my feet have faltered”
Song 525“Take my life, and let it be”
Song 786“I would be thy holy temple”
Song 851“We are the hands of Christ”
Song 859“Jesus, with what gladness”
Song 865“Saviour while my heart”
Song 869“We find pleasure”
Song 920“Bring your tithes” Verses 2, 3
Song 917“My times are in thy hand”
Chorus 32“All my days and all my hours”
Chorus 33“All there is of me, Lord”
Chorus 249“Lay up treasure in Heaven”
Praise and Worship
Chorus 5“In my life Lord, be glorified
Chorus 201“Father I adore you
Chorus 245“Jehovah Jireh”
Chorus 280“Freely, Freely”
Chorus 445“As the deer panteth”
Chorus 478“Give thanks with a grateful heart”
Chorus 821“So you would come”
MEETING LEAD 1
WELCOME
Song859“Jesus with what gladness”
Tune 210“Song of the highway”
Chorus 32“All my days”
Prayer
Children’s Story
Chorus 249 “Lay up treasure”
BIBLE READING “Luke 16:1-12”
Announcements
Offering
Prayer
Musical Item/Drama/Testimony
Song 786“I would be thy”
Tune 456“Showers of Blessing”
The Word
Chorus 33“All there is of me”
Song 514“Not my own”
Tune 389“Not my own”
Prayer/Benediction
MEETING LEAD 2
WELCOME
Chorus245“Jehovah Jireh”
478“Give thanks”
280“Freely, Freely”
201“Father I adoreyou”
Prayer
Bible reading
Children’s story
Announcements
Offering
Chorus445“As the deer”
Music/Drama
Song 786“I would be thy”
Tune 456“Showers of Blessing”
THE WORD
Chorus 5“In my life, Lord”
Prayer/Benediction
MEETING LEAD 3
WELCOME
Song 859“Jesus with what gladness”
Tune 210“Song of the highway”
Chorus245“Jehovah Jireh” (P&W)
478“Give thanks” (P&W)
32“All my days” (SASB)
Prayer
Children’s Story
Announcements
Offering
Musical Item/Drama/Testimony
Song 786“I would be thy”
Tune 456“Showers of Blessing”
THE WORD
Chorus33“All there is of me” (SASB)
5“In my life, Lord” (P&W)
Prayer/Benediction