The Stewardship of the Believer

 Temple Baptist Church - 8-20-2025

1 Corinthians 4:1-2

 

Introduction:

 

A.  Biblical stewardship is a comprehensive principle found throughout Scripture. It refers to the responsible management of everything God has entrusted to us, recognizing that He is the true owner and we are caretakers.

 

B.  Though we often consider that our time, finances, body, and otherwise belong to us, not to the Lord, what will change our minds is when we grasp the fact that God owns everything and everybody.  All that we have comes from God and should be seen in this light.

 

C.  Too often, God is completely forgotten in our decision-making or receives only the scraps of our lives after we are done with them.

 

D.  If God owns our lives and all that we have, then we need to walk in the light of that revelation.  I have listed some key areas of stewardship. 

 

1.  Stewardship of Treasure (Finances and Material Resources) – God owns our prosperity.  I placed this one first because of a statement that our Lord made concerning it.

 

Luke 16:10-11  He that is faithful in that which is least (reasonable service-Romans 12:1) is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.  (11)  If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?

 

a.  Jesus called the riches of this world as the LEAST!  We have been taught that money is the MOST important thing.  He also called it the UNRIGHTEOUS MAMMON!

 

b.  Jesus also said that if we are not faithful in our finances, He will NOT commit to our trust the true riches of this world.

 

c.  The stewardship of finances is both commanded and Christ-honoring. Everything we possess belongs to God; giving is an act of worship and trust.

 

 

Proverbs 3:9-10  Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase:  (10)  So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.

 

Malachi 3:8-11  Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings.  (9)  Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation.  (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.  (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.

 

2 Corinthians 9:6-7  But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.  (7)  Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.

 

2.  Stewardship of the Body and Health – God owns our bodies.  Brother Tom Holbrooks spent a lot of time on this subject.  God must have our bodies, which need to be holy and acceptable, to get done the spiritual works. 

 

1 Corinthians 6:19-20  What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?  (20)  For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.

 

Romans 12:1-2  I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.  (2)  And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

 

Our bodies belong to God and are to be used by us in purity, discipline, and service to God.

 

3.  Stewardship of Time – Ecclesiastes chapter 3 – God owns our time.  This is something so little spoken of because of these days of busyness.  From dawn to dusk, most of our days are so busy that they are gone before we know it.  The Bible says that we need to discipline our time to spend time with and for the LORD.

 

Psalms 90:12  So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.

 

Ephesians 5:15-16  See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,  (16)  Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

 

4.  Stewardship of Talents.  God has given to each of us talents to be used for Him and the work of the ministry.  We will give an account of our time spent or not spent in service.

 

Romans 12:5-8  So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.  (6)  Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;  (7)  Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching;  (8)  Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.

 

5. Stewardship of the Gospel and the Word of God.  To learn, to live, to teach, and to share the Word of God.  Believers are entrusted with the truth of the gospel and are responsible for sharing and preserving it.  Pass out tracts, witness, and walk, so that others will see Christ in us and have the Word of God in their hands.

 

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

 

2 Timothy 2:15  Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

 

Everything we are and have is from God and for God. Stewardship is not just a church program—it's a lifestyle of faithful responsibility under divine ownership.