PART 3

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Be Sure You’re Faithful With What You Have!

“Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.” 1 Corinthians 4:1-2

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

As I speak to young people who want to find God’s will for their lives, sometimes it strikes me as odd that they aren’t taking advantages of opportunities they have at the moment. Sometimes we think the Will of God is some distant, far off thing. However, we should understand that the Will of God is for TODAY. Be faithful with what you have TODAY and, if you’re faithful in that, God may see fit to give you more responsibility and opportunities tomorrow.

In Matthew 25:14-29 Jesus gives the parable of some stewards that were entrusted by their boss with large portions of his money, called “talents” while he went on a trip. Each talent was said to be worth about 20 years wages. Some had more than others, but they were all expected to be faithful, and even to invest, that which had been given to them while their master was away. As the story goes, one had 5 talents (The US equivalent to $2,669,500!), another 2 ($1,067,800!), and another 1 ($533,900!). But one of the stewards wasn’t faithful with what he had, and it was taken away from him and given to another who was faithful. He didn’t take advantage of current opportunities, whether because of fear or misunderstanding, and he missed out on further opportunities that could have been.

What can we learn from this?

1. Be a good steward of the TIME God has given you!

“See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.” Ephesians 5:15-17

Are you a waster of time? When you have extra time, what do you find yourself doing? Do you find time to read your Bible, pray, witness, be at church, serve others, or is it hard to squeeze those things into your busy schedule? Each minute that passes is another minute that we can never get back. Where are we investing our time?

2. Be a good steward of the TREASURES God has given you!

“He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much. If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches? And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another man’s, who shall give you that which is your own? No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.” Luke 16:10-13

Mammon, in this passage, is just another word for material wealth. Are you a good steward of the earthly “treasure” God has given to you? Do you regularly give to your church, to world missions, and to the poor and needy? These are the three classifications of giving in the Bible. Or, do you waste your money on things that don’t matter. Do you pay your bills on time? Are you a good steward of your money? This is all part of knowing the Will of God! How can he trust you with much, if you’re not faithful in the little?

3. Be a good steward of the TALENTS God has given you!

“For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.” Luke 12:48b

“Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church.” 1 Corinthians 14:12

God has given each person certain abilities and talents that others may not possess, but it is all for a purpose. It’s for the edifying (building up) of the body, the church! If you aren’t using your ability for God, what are you using it for? Are you faithful in applying your gifts to serve others, to help others, to lift others up, and ultimately to Glorify Christ? Do you seek to grow in your abilities to further minister with them? If not, I challenge you to look for areas in which you can serve and apply the talents that God has entrusted to you!

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How do we know God’s will for our lives? First, we looked at the fact that we must be in the Family of God. Second, that we must be in Fellowship with God. Third, that we be Faithful to God in even the smallest things. Stay tuned for the last, part 4, of this series.