“The Faithful Steward”
In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy
Spirit. Amen. In today’s Epistle Reading, the Apostle Paul says, “Now it is required
of stewards that they be found faithful.” Another version translates,
“those who have been given a trust” must be found faithful. That’s what a
“steward” is: one who has “been given a trust,” to faithfully use on behalf of
someone else, in fulfillment of THEIR purposes. In ancient times a steward was a servant who was entrusted by his
master with caring for his property. The best example in the Bible is
Joseph. Genesis says that after he was sold into slavery in Egypt, his master
“left in Joseph’s care everything he had; with Joseph in charge, he did not
concern himself with anything.” In 2nd Corinthians, Paul explains the basis and motivation for
Christian stewardship, of all that God has entrusted to us: “For Christ’s love
compels us, because . . . he died for all, that those who live should live no
longer for themselves, but for him who died for them and rose again.” Because of our sins, we were separated from God and deserved only his
wrath, punishment, and damnation. But, for us men and our salvation, God’s
own Son came down from heaven and was made man, was crucified, dead and buried,
and rose again. As Paul says Ephesians, “Christ loved us and gave himself
up for us as an offering and sacrifice to God.” The life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ was an offering and
sacrifice for YOU, to pay for all your sins, on your behalf, in your place.
Because of his life, death, and resurrection for you, your sins are all
forgiven. As the book of Acts says, “Everyone who believes in him receives
forgiveness of sins through his name. . . believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and
you will be saved.” “For Christ’s love compels us, because . . . he died for all, that
those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for him who died for
them and rose again.” That is the basis and motivation for our Christian
stewardship: In response, out of gratitude for God’s amazing, forgiving love
toward you in Christ, you desire in your life to faithfully use all that he has
entrusted to you for the fulfillment of his purposes. It is unfortunate that when we hear the word “stewardship” the first
thing that comes to mind for most modern Christians is “money.” Biblically
speaking, money is only one part of a life of Christian stewardship. Paul begins today’s Epistle Reading, “So then, men ought to regard us
as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God.” Paul had many
blessings in his life of which to be a good steward. Paul was that super brilliant kid who gets a perfect score on both his
ACT and SAT, and was accepted to the best school. He is described in the
Bible as having “great learning” and was a graduate of the premier rabbinical
training school. He was a prodigy, who at a very young age already had the
equivalent of a doctorate degree. Paul was a rising star in the Jewish
religious hierarchy, destined for greatness. Most people don’t realize it was the same with Martin Luther. He
was the leading intellect of his day, and the story goes that once he was told
by a cardinal, “Many of us agree with you. If you’ll just keep quiet and
cooperate, when YOU’RE pope you can fix things.” Today there are several branches of Jewish rabbinic interpretation
named after their famous founders from thousands of years ago. Just like
Martin Luther could perhaps have become pope, if Christ had not intervened
dramatically in the life of Paul, appearing to him in a vision on the road to
Damascus and calling him to faith, he’d still be a famous historical figure.
But, instead of the world-famous Apostle, he’d be a world-famous rabbi, and one
of those schools of rabbinic interpretation today would surely be named after
the great Rabbi Paul. In addition to his great intellect and learning, Paul also had the
enormous advantage of being a Roman citizen, which was a rare privilege that few
in the Empire actually enjoyed. And in an era when most people in their
lives never traveled beyond their little village or valley, Paul traveled widely
and visited the great cities of Rome, Athens, and Jerusalem. He also had a
secular talent, a side occupation he used to support himself, as a tentmaker,
probably a family trade he learned from his father. For the rest of his life after that encounter on the road to Damascus,
all of this, everything Paul was, everything he had, he used to serve his Lord
and Master. “For Christ’s love compels us, because . . . he died for all,
that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for him who died
for them and rose again.” In today’s Epistle Reading, Paul is talking about a wonderful treasure
entrusted to him, and the other Apostles, and all those down to this day who
have been called into the Christian ministry: “So then, men ought to regard us
as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God.” The
“mysteries of God” refers to the Gospel and the Sacraments. Paul and the
other Apostles had been entrusted with this precious treasure, and they did not
bury it in the ground like the unfaithful servant in Jesus’ parable. The full name of the book of Acts is “The Acts of the Apostles,” which
along with their Epistles tells the astounding story of how these 12 mostly
former fishermen transformed the world for Christ. As one of their
opponents in Acts complains, “These men have turned the world upside down.”
“So then, men ought to regard us as servants of Christ and stewards of the
mysteries of God.” The Apostles were faithful stewards of the treasure,
the precious Gospel and Sacraments, entrusted to them. In the same way, after Martin Luther had his own “Damascus road
“experience, rediscovering the Gospel, which the Church in the Middle Ages had
largely forgotten, he too was a faithful steward, devoting his whole life,
everything he was and had, to spreading that Good News, and in the process he
too transformed the world for Christ. You and I are no Paul or Peter or Martin Luther. But, Paul says
in Ephesians, “To each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it.”
And Peter says in his 1st Epistle, “Each one should use whatever gift he has
received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various
forms.” Like Peter and Paul and the rest of the Apostles, like Martin Luther
and other heroes of the faith, you too have been given gracious gifts from your
heavenly Father, entrusted to you for the fulfillment of his purposes. As
Paul says in Romans, “We have different gifts, according to the grace given us.” “So then, men ought to regard us as servants of Christ and stewards . .
.” You have your own unique, special gifts, to use in service to
Christ. Paul puts it this way in 1st Corinthians: “There are different
kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of service, but
the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all
of them in all men. Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for
the common good.” “Now it is required of stewards that they be found faithful.”
What has God entrusted to you, for you to be a faithful steward for him in your
life? There is his gift to you of time, talents, and abilities. Maybe
you have a gift for working with children and could use that gift by being a
Scout leader, coaching a team, teaching Sunday School. Maybe you have the
gift of musical abilities and could sing in the choir, play the tone chimes,
piano, organ, or other instrument. Maybe you have a knack for figures and
could be the treasurer for a civic group or in the church. Maybe you’re a
good cook and could help with church dinners. Maybe you’re artistic and
could make a banner or help with crafts for Sunday School. Maybe you’re a
good listener and have a sympathetic personality and can help people by showing
loving Christian concern for them. The possibilities are limitless for
service to Christ, not only in the church but also in the world. There is also of course your earthly occupation, in which you are
serving both Christ and the world. Recently, a hospital patient was
describing to me a very intricate surgery, and I said, “I’m just thankful
there’s people who are able to do that, because I know I couldn’t.” Every honest occupation, from doctor to construction worker to farmer
to engineer to office worker to homemaker, is in some way vital for the welfare
of others. The different value that we place on various occupations is
reflected in the salaries they receive, but in God’s eyes they are all equally
important, and equally a highly esteemed service to him. Because, whatever
kind of work you do, God needs people like you in this world to do that work, on
his behalf for the welfare of others. Paul puts it this way in Colossians:
“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not
for men. . . It is the Lord Christ you are serving.” Finally, good stewardship does also include what we usually think of
when we hear the word “stewardship,” your earthly possessions, including money.
Paul says in 1st Corinthians, “Each of you should set aside a sum of money, in
keeping with his income, saving it up for the collection.” And in 2nd
Corinthians, “Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not
reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” “So then, men ought to regard us as servants of Christ and stewards . .
.” Stewardship does indeed include money and other material possessions,
which is an important part of being a good steward of God’s gifts. But,
Biblically speaking, money is only one part of a life of Christian stewardship.
“Now it is required of stewards that they be found faithful.” What has God
entrusted to you, for you to be a faithful steward for him in your life? Return to Top | Return to Sermons | Home | Email Church Office
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