Stewards of God's Resources

(Developing The Mind of Christ study #4)

I. The requirements of the Old Covenant

Mal:3:8: Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings.

Mal:3:9: Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation.

Mal:3:10: Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.

Mal:3:11: And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the LORD of hosts.

II. The requirements of the New Covenant

Matt. 23:11: But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant.

Matt. 24:45: Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season?

Matt. 24:46: Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.

Matt. 24:48: But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming;

Matt. 24:49: And shall begin to smite his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken;

Matt. 24:50: The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of,

M'r:13:34: For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch.

Question: If God gives us authority, and resources, and a command, what should we be doing?

Luke 12:43: Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.

Luke 17:7: But which of you, having a servant plowing or feeding cattle, will say unto him by and by, when he is come from the field, Go and sit down to meat?

Luke 17:8: And will not rather say unto him, Make ready wherewith I may sup, and gird thyself, and serve me, till I have eaten and drunken; and afterward thou shalt eat and drink?

Luke 17:9: Doth he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I trow not.

Luke 17:10: So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.

Question: What is meant by "unprofitable servant" ? Was Jesus "unprofitable?

Luke 19:15: And it came to pass, that when he was returned, having received the kingdom, then he commanded these servants to be called unto him, to whom he had given the money, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading.

Question: Are we called to account for everything we receive or gain by "our" efforts?

Luke 19:17: And he said unto him, Well, thou good servant: because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities.

Question: Are "rewards" related to our faithful service? Is there a difference between Salvation and Rewards?

Luke 19:22: And he saith unto him, Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee, thou wicked servant. Thou knewest that I was an austere man, taking up that I laid not down, and reaping that I did not sow:

John 13:16: Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him.

John 15:15: Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.

Question: What are some of the ways we are called upon to manage and share the resources God provides?

1 Cor. 4:1: Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God.

1 Cor. 4:2: Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.

1 Peter 4:10: As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.