Principles of Biblical Stewardship

Gary DeLashmutt
Matthew 6:19-34

We are stewards of God's resources, even though we often view ourselves as owners. We should pursue contentment, taking our identity in Christ. As we give generously and live simply we should strive to be responsible stewards of what God has given us.

Overcoming Material Anxiety

Gary DeLashmutt
Matthew 6:25-34

Jesus addresses not only our relationship with material wealth but also the effect of material anxiety. We should be responsible, but we also need to place our faith in God who will never let us down. We can address our anxiety and pursue God's priorities instead.

God or Mammon?

Gary DeLashmutt
Matthew 6:19-24

Jesus teaches on the subject of material possessions and wealth. We cannot serve God and at the same time be controlled by money. We can live our lives storing up things here on this earth, or we can focus on storing up treasure in the next life.

Two Different Forms of Spirituality

Gary DeLashmutt
Matthew 6:1-18

Next in the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus speaks to the religious elite. Addressing things commonly viewed as giving piety, and turning them upside down. Instead of doing things to gain peoples' admiration and favor, we should live for an audience of one. God wants a real relationship with us, not for us to merely go through the motions.

Accountability and Stewardship

Dennis McCallum
Matthew 25:14-30

In the parallel accounts of Matthew and Luke, Jesus tells the parable of three servants who were entrusted with money while their master was away. He teaches the principle of stewardship, that we do not own what we have been given. We will be held accountable to God at the end of our lives for what we chose to do with the things given to us. Two servants act wisely and make smart investments for the master with the stewarded money while the third servant buries it in the ground and receives the master's wrath for being irresponsible and lazy. With the stewardship God has given to us, we have the opportunity to achieve something lasting with our lives that will affect eternity.

How to be Rich and Successful

Dennis McCallum
Luke 12:33-48

Living for Jesus gives us the opportunity to invest in spiritual rewards in the next life. When Christ returns, each person will be assessed with how they used the resources God gave them and rewarded for their work. In light of his return, we should seek ways to build up the Body of Christ and invest our lives into the eternal work God has for each of us. This teaching includes interviews asking people about heaven.

The Rich Fool

Dennis McCallum
Luke 12:13-21

Jesus' interaction with the rich fool highlights the perils of materialism. Those entranced by wealth are oblivious to what God says about how to use His resources and look to selfishly accumulate more and more for themselves. Often, those who seek after wealth and riches encounter worry and anxiety, as they are unable to fully control everything they are trying to keep hold of. God's way includes trusting Him to meet our needs, and acting as stewards with His resources to accomplish His purposes. This type of lifestyle leads to real fulfillment in a way that riches and wealth is incapable of.

Christ Centered Relating

Gary DeLashmutt
Philippians 4:10-20

We can draw several principles about Christ-centered relating with each other from this passage. Paul the apostle implies that when we are following Christ, we are deeply involved in one another's lives. We are called to trust God to meet our needs and we demonstrate this trust in Him in a couple of ways: we can allow God to provide for us through other people (for example, Paul was receiving financial provision from the Lord through the church in Philippi); we can choose to give to others, especially in areas where we do not feel competent.

The Parable of the Talents

Dennis McCallum
1 Corinthians 2:7

In Jesus' parable of the talents we are given God's perspective on stewardship and reward. All people have been given stewardship responsibility over what God has revealed and gifted them. All people have a choice in how they respond to God's gifts.