Stewardship - A New Lifestyle

 Stewardship - A New Lifestyle (Luke 12:13-48)

Collin Leong.   February 3, 2017

I. Introduction

When a pastor says "we ought to be good stewards", our immediate impression is that we should be prudent in managing our possessions and to ensure we are generous in giving to those in need.  That may be true, but stewardship is more than just what we do or how we do it. Stewardship is a unique, alternative lifestyle. 

Pastor Edmund Chan said real "success" is spelled "STEWARDSHIP."  What do we steward? Our whole life. What is the objective of stewarding our life? It is to "walk in the manner worthy of the Lord" (Col 1:10). In other words, stewardship is a new way in which we live in relation to the temporal world, after having been redeemed by the blood of Christ into an eternal kingdom. Pastor Edmund expounded on this concept basing on Colossians 1:9-14.  If you read this passage backwards, this is the flow of message: 

v14:   We received forgiveness of our sins and redemption through the sacrifice of Gods Son, 

v13:   which delivered us from domain of darkness into His Kingdom,

v12:   where we will have a share in the inheritance of the saints. 

v11:   (While on earth), we will be strengthen with power to endure with patience and joy,

v10b: to bear fruit in good works and to know Him more.

v10a: (Therefore) we ought to walk in a manner “worthy” of the Lord,    

v9:     by knowing his will for us with all spiritual wisdom and understanding

How do we know what is his will for us? By being grounded in His Word and to obey the Spirit.

Pastor Edmund's purpose was to explain the fundamental of stewardship. It goes back to who is the Lord of our life and who we are living for. You can either live a lifestyle where you control everything and horde possessions to serve you own desires, or you can live a lifestyle of stewardship where everything you have and everything you are belongs to God and controlled by God.  You can either serve mammon, or you can serve God, but not both. (Luke 16:13). 

Our study tonight is to take the concept of stewardship lifestyle one step beyond the fundamental idea that Pastor Edmund introduced, so that we can get a grasp of certain principles and begin to put them into practical application. We will also show that embracing these principles actually brings benefit to our lives and make us a happier person. But first, we will start with the definition of a "steward."

II.  Definition

And the Lord said, “Who then is the faithful and sensible steward, whom his master will put in charge of his servants, to give them their rations at the proper time? Blessed is that slave whom his master finds so doing when he comes." (Luke 12:42-43)

• “steward” = Greek “oikonomos” or “epitropos.”  Also translated to “manager”, “administrator” or “governor”. Verbs equivalent translated to: “dispensation, order, plan, or train.”

• Examples of stewards: Joseph at Potiphar’s house; Joseph’s steward at palace; Ziba steward of King Saul.

A steward is not a lowly slave, but a high ranking and trusted servant that the Master puts in charge of his large household. The steward's job is to manage, invest, and transact using the Master's wealth. The steward also manage the affairs and salaries of other servants and workers in the Master's estate. 

III. Three Key Principles of Stewardship

There are 3 key stewardship principles that will help us to get a proper perspective of the stewardship lifestyle. For simplicity, we will only use Luke 12 as reference. 

1. "Stewardship is being prudent in using my assets to serve God." - WRONG!

Principle #1: The steward owns no Assets, only Accountability  

• “The earth is the LORD’S, and all it contains, the world, and those who dwell in it.” (Psalms 24:1)

• Parable of the Rich Fool (Luke 12:13-21)
• “This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?” (v20) 
• “required”:  Gk. “apaiteo” – to demand back what is due. To give an account.
• Why struggle over possession ownership when we cannot even control our life span?
• What will you say to God when he asks you for an account of the things He put under your charge?

“Every faculty you have, your power of thinking or of moving your limbs from moment to moment, is given you by God. If you devoted every moment of your whole life exclusively to His service, you could not give Him anything that was not in a sense His own already. “  –  CS Lewis, Mere Christianity

2.  "I must protect my rights  in order  to protect & control my possessions"  - WRONG!

Principle #2: The steward has no Rights, only Responsibilities 

• “What right do you have here, … that you have hewn a tomb for yourself here, you who hew a tomb on the height, you who carve a resting place for yourself in the rock?” (The Lord to Shebna, steward of the palace. Isa 22:15-16)

• Parable of the Wise Manager (Luke 12:42-48)
• “that servant who knew his master’s will but did not get ready or act according to his will, will receive a severe beating…”
• The Wise Manager focuses on his responsibilities to carry out God's will, not fight over his "rights" of what he deserves from other people or from God 

• Because our citizenship is now in heaven, thus we have no rights on earth. God will protect our rights reserved in heaven, and ensure justice for those who treat us wrongly or unfairly on earth.  

• Our Master expects us to know His will and ways and to do them, and not our own will. “‘You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed. Then you should have deposited my money with the bankers, and on my return I would have received it back with interest.” (Mat 25:26-27).

Note that not fighting for our rights does not mean not fighting for what is right. Daniel was submissive to his pagan masters no matter how they may have treated him, but he would not compromise on what was sin to him (eating of food offered to idols). Daniel did not "fight" but made a reasonable appeal to the king. 

3. "God wants to bless His children. Hence He will multiply my wealth (or bless me) if I am a good       steward." - WRONG!

Principle #3: The steward has no guarantee of earthly rewards, only eternal inheritance.

• "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.“ (Colossians 3:23-24)

• Promise of eternal rewards (Luke 12:32-34).  
• “where no thief approaches and no moth destroys” (v33)
• Since earthly rewards are temporal, God would rather reward our good works with eternal treasures. 

• "Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!" (Matt 25:21)

III. How the 3 Principles Benefits Us

It is not easy to ask anyone to change from a worldly, materialistic lifestyle to the lifestyle of stewardship where you own nothing, give up your "eartly rights" , and expects no rewards for doing good! This concept is contrary to everything our schools, parents, peers and government taught us - to put yourself first, to put security in money and possessions, and to compete for number one!  "My way is not your way, says the Lord!" 

However, the stewardship perspective and lifestyle actually have benefits that money literally cannot buy. The world does not know what it is missing. 

Here are the benefits of the three principles:

1. Principle #1: The steward owns no Assets, only Accountability

• Parable of the ravens and lilies.  (Read Luke 12: 22-31)
• “how much more value are you than the birds! And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?” (v24)

• When we understand that God owns everything AND cares for us, it removes worry, anxiety, and fear from out lives. 

• As Jim Elliot said: "He loses nothing to give away what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose." 

• How to have a life that has no fear of the future: Surrender all our “possessions” and insecurities to Him, knowing He cares for you. 

2. Principle #2: The steward has no Rights, only Responsibilities 

• Stay Dressed For Action.  (Read Luke 12:35-40)
• “You must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” (v40)

• If we fight for our rights and win something, we may be losing out on God's intention to give us more than what we fought for. For example, if we bring someone to court over a dispute, we may lose the opportunity to share the gospel. If we fight over an unfair salary increment, we may sabotage God's plan to give us a promotion because we made an enemy of our bosses.  We miss out on God's miracles in our lives!

• When we focus on our God-given responsibilities rather than our earthly rights, it removes frustration, anger and bitterness of “unfairness” in our lives. Releasing our rights enable God to show us His power and miracles. 

• How to have a life free of agitation and conflict, and witness God's miracles in our lives: Yield our rights to God.

3. Principles #3: The steward has no guarantee of earthly rewards, only eternal inheritance.

• “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” (Luke 12:34)

• “Fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” (2Cor 4:18)

• When our hearts are focused on heaven and stop looking for earthly rewards, our motivations will be pure, our works will be genuine, and it removes disappointment, disillusionment, and weariness.

• How to have a life without disappointment and full of energy: Have an eternal perspective in the will of God.

IV. Discussion

1. List down the key areas, things, activities or people that God has asked you to steward after.  (Be specific by using names where applicable)

2. Share your failures/ success in stewarding any of these areas in your life, the cause of the failure/success, and what changes you wish to make?

3. Would you pray now to embrace the 3 principles, by:

a) Surrender your possessions to God, allow Him to have control over how they are to be used. 

b) Yield your rights to God, allow Him to fight (or not fight) for you, and to show you His miracles

c) Change your focus from temporal gains to eternal rewards.

Note: Do note that God will test us for what we said we surrendered or yielded. If we get anxious, angry or disappointed when God withhold something, then we have not really completely surrendered it to God. When this happens, we can immediately pray and re-surrender/re-yield them to God again.