Message Summary
The Test of Stewardship – A Call to Faithfulness
This message unpacks four basic truths about stewardship from the Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14–30). It reminds us that everything we have—our life, time, money, relationships, and opportunities—is entrusted to us by God, and one day we will give an account of how we used them.
Stewardship is not just about money. It is about how we manage our entire life before God: our resources, our gifts, our work, our family, and our walk with Him. Our whole life is a test of faithfulness, and those who are faithful will one day hear Jesus say, “Well done, good and faithful servant… enter into the joy of your Lord.” (Matthew 25:21)
Four Key Stewardship Truths
1. God is the Source of Everything We Have
“For the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them.”
— Matthew 25:14
- Everything we have—our job, salary, health, opportunities, even our life in Canada—is ultimately from God, not from ourselves or our employers.
- We are not owners but stewards (managers). God has delivered His goods to us for a purpose.
- This mindset kills greed, covetousness, and anxiety. If God did not allow it, we don’t need it. If He gives it, we receive it with gratitude.
Key insight:
When we truly believe that everything comes from God, we stop chasing the world and start trusting His timing and provision.
2. Everyone Has Been Given Talents According to Their Ability
“And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability…”
— Matthew 25:15
- No one can say, “God didn’t give me anything.” Every believer has something entrusted by God—talents, money, opportunities, relationships, ministry, work.
- God gives different amounts (five, two, one) according to what we can handle. He is wise—not unfair.
- Knowing this truth removes insecurity and comparison. We don’t need to envy what others have; we only need to be faithful with what we have.
Key insight:
It’s not about how much you have, but how faithful you are with what God has given you.
3. God Expects Us to Use What He Has Entrusted to Us
“Do not neglect the gift that is in you…”
— 1 Timothy 4:14–15
- Stewardship is not passive; it is active faithfulness. God expects us to invest, not bury, what He has placed in our hands.
- The issue is not how big or small the gift is, but how well we use it.
- When we take our gifts, time, responsibilities, and resources lightly, we fall into mediocrity—doing the minimum instead of our best for God.
Key insight:
Every gift and opportunity unused for God is wasted potential. God is honored when we use what we have well and excellently for His glory.
4. There Will Be a Day of Reckoning
“After a long time the lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them.”
— Matthew 25:19
- One day, we will stand before God and give an account of how we used our time, money, gifts, and relationships.
- Faithful servants are called “good and faithful” and are promoted and welcomed into the joy of their Lord.
- Unfaithful servants are called “wicked and lazy” and lose even what they had. What we refuse to use for God, we are in danger of losing.
Key insight:
Eternity will reveal whether we lived as faithful stewards or lazy servants. Now is the time to live in such a way that we will hear, “Well done.”
Key Verses Highlighted
- Matthew 25:14–30 – The Parable of the Talents (main text)
- John 3:27 – “A man can receive nothing unless it has been given to him from heaven.”
- 1 Timothy 4:14–15 – Do not neglect the gift that is in you.
- Ephesians 5:15–17 – Make the best use of the time because the days are evil.
- Proverbs 3:9–10 – Honor the Lord with your possessions and firstfruits.
- Psalm 84:11 – God does not withhold any good thing from those who walk uprightly.
- Matthew 6:19–21 – Lay up treasures in heaven, not on earth.
Practical Applications for Members
You can present these as reflection points or discussion questions.
1. Finances & Material Blessings
- Review your spending from the past months:
- How much has gone to unnecessary or impulsive purchases?
- How much has been invested into your “eternal account”—giving, missions, helping those in need, supporting the church?
- Are you honoring God with your tithes and offerings (Proverbs 3:9–10)?
- Ask:
- “Am I a faithful steward of the money God has entrusted to me?”
- “If I added up what I spent carelessly, what kind of blessing could that have been in God’s hands?”
2. Time & Opportunities
- Outside of work and sleep, where does most of your time go? Social media, games, endless scrolling—or time with God and family?
- Are you redeeming the time (Ephesians 5:15–17), or letting opportunities pass by?
- Ask:
- “Have I missed God-given opportunities because of wrong priorities or laziness?”
- “How can I rearrange my schedule to seek God first and serve others more intentionally?”
3. Relationships (Family & Church)
- Every relationship—spouse, children, parents, siblings, church family—is a trust from God.
- Do you treasure moments with your family, or often regret not giving them time and attention?
- Within the church, do you value brothers and sisters enough to encourage, check in, and walk with them, especially as hard times increase?
- Ask:
- “Am I faithful to the people God has entrusted to me?”
- “Do I help guard the unity, peace, and spiritual growth of my family and church?”
4. Gifts, Ministry, and Service
- Are you using your talents to serve in the body of Christ, or are you hiding them in the ground?
- Are you reliable with assignments, or do others hesitate to trust you with responsibility?
- Ask:
- “Where can I start (or go deeper) in serving God with excellence?”
- “If God looked at how I serve today, would He call me faithful?”
Closing Challenge to Members
Our entire life is oikonomia—stewardship—managing what God has entrusted to us. As a church, we don’t just count people as numbers but as souls deeply loved by God. We want to be faithful stewards of each person God brings into our care.
The call of this message is simple but weighty:
Be faithful.
With your money.
With your time.
With your relationships.
With your gifts.
With your life.
May we all live in such a way that, on the day of reckoning, we will hear from our Lord:
“Well done, good and faithful servant. Enter into the joy of your Lord.”
— Matthew 25:21
