WHAT IS STEWARDSHIP? STEWARDSHIP August 17, 2012 Maryam Demian Stewardship: The position and duties of a steward, a person who acts as a surrogate of another or others, especially by managing property, financial affairs, an estate, etc. (www.dictionary.com) 2 Key Concepts So, what are we stewards of? What are we managing? PARABLE OF THE TALENTS Mat 25 (14-29) 14 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. 15 And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey. 16 Then he who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents. 17 And likewise he who had received two gained two more also. 18 But he who had received one went and dug in the ground, and hid his lord s money. 19 After a long time the lord of those servants came and SETTLED ACCOUNTS with them. 20 So he who had received five talents came and brought five other talents, saying, Lord, you delivered to me five talents; look, I have GAINED FIVE MORE talents besides them. 21 His lord said to him, Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord. 22 He also who had received two talents came and said, Lord, you delivered to me two talents; look, I have GAINED TWO MORE TALENTS besides them. 23 His lord said to him, Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord. PARABLE OF THE TALENTS CONT D 24 Then he who had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 25 And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground. Look, there you have what is yours. 26 But his lord answered and said to him, You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed. 27 So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest. 28 Therefore take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents. 29 For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away. 30 And cast the UNPROFITABLE servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 1
12-08- 22 5 PRINCIPALS OF STEWARDSHIP Is God fair in His distribution of talents? Ultimately, what is the goal of Him entrusting us with these talents? What reward does God give us if we use our talents according to His will? What measure does God use to reward us? What happens if we don t use our talents according to His will? What were the characteristics of the unprofitable servant? Christopher Sealey RELATIONSHIP OWNERSHIP In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. (Genesis 1:1) I will walk among you and be your God, and you shall be MY people. (Leviticus 26:12) The earth is the Lord s, and all its fullness, the world and those who dwell therein. (King David, Ps 24:1) And MY God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. (Philip 4:19) And not only as we had hoped, but they FIRST gave themselves to the Lord, and then to us by the will of God. (2 Corinth 8:11) For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. (1 Tim 6:7) For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. (Col 1:18) For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things. (St. Paul, Rom 11:36) 2
POSSESSIONS SACRIFICE And he Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers. (Ephesians 4:11) Having then gifts, differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness. (Rom 12: 6-8) And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey. (Mat 25:15) Sacrificial Giving in Stewardship What does He want us to do with these possessions? All things are for our sake, not we for theirs. St John Chrysostom I beseech you therefore that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. (Rom 12:1) Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name. (Heb 13:19) Give to everyone who asks of you, and whoever takes away what is yours, do not demand it back. (Luke 6:30) King David got it: "O LORD our God, all this abundance that we have prepared to build You a house for Your holy name is from Your hand, and is all Your own" (King David, 1 Chronicles 29:16). "But who am I, and who are my people that we should be able to give as generously as this? Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand. " (King David, 1 Chronicles 29: 14). LOVE As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. (John 15:16) If you keep my commandments you will abide in My love. (John 15:10) You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit These things I command you, that you love one another. (John 15:16-17) John 3:16 2 Corin 5:14 Insert anything and everything you re a steward of The more we grasp the value and complexity of this DIVINE GIFT and develop its potentialities, and thereby increase the talents that have been given to us, the more we praise God and give him joy, proving that we are ACTIVE partners in the dialogue of love between him and us. (Fr Dumitru Staniloae) 3
MAN AS PRIEST AND KING OF CREATION Man can do TWO things that animals can t do consciously or voluntarily: 1. OFFER the world back to God (PRIESTLY FUNCTION) 2. RESHAPE and CHANGE the world (ROYAL FUNCTION) MAN AS PRIEST We were created to bless and praise the world. The world is God s gift to us and we must use it to remain in communion with Him. The least we can do is offer it back in thanksgiving. Need to offer our talents back to God. for the creation does not venerate the Maker directly and by itself, but it is through me that the heavens declare the glory of God, through me the moon worships God, through me the stars glorify him, through me the waters and showers of rain, the dews and all creation, venerate God and give him glory (St Leontius of Cyprus) all creatures and plans and animals bring and offer themselves to man, but through man they are all brought and offered to God. (Hasidic Master Abraham Yaakov of Sadagora) After He created man: MAN AS KING 28 Then God blessed them, and God said to them, Be fruitful and multiply; FILL the earth and SUBDUE it; have DOMINION over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth. (Genesis 1:28) 15 Then the Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to tend and keep it. (Genesis 2:15) For we are God s fellow workers. (1 Cor 3:9) WE ARE MANAGERS or STEWARDS of Creation. EVERYTHING BECOMES A TASK God is Creator! Let s admit it; He s CREATIVE. We were created in the image and likeness of God. (Gen 1:26) That means each of has the POTENTIAL to be creative. We ve been given talents. REFASHION and NURTURE them! Create a personal mission statement. 4
EVERYTHING BECOMES A TASK WHY BE A STEWARD? 1. SETTLING ACCOUNTS After a long time the lord of those servants came and SETTLED ACCOUNTS with them. (Mat 25:19) 2. LOVE Created in His image. He is LOVE. He is a greatest giver. We need to become like HIM. When you love someone, you GIVE. 3. WORSHIP I am full, having received from Epaphroditus the things sent from you, a sweet-smelling aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well pleasing to God. (Philip 4: 18) WHY BE A STEWARD? CONT D 4. SPIRITUAL GROWTH Makes us less self-centered, less selfish, and more focused on the Giver. 5. INVESTMENT "There is one who scatters, yet increases more; and there is one who withholds more than is right, but it leads to poverty. The generous soul will be made rich, and he who waters will also be watered himself" (Proverbs 11:24-25). "Not because I desire a gift, but a fruit that may abound to your account. (Philippians 4:17) "where your treasure is, there your heart will be also" (Matthew 6:21). "Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house, and try Me now in this, says the LORD of hosts, 'If I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it." (Malachi 3:10-11). IN LOVE HOW TO GIVE BACK? "And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give myself to be burned, and I have no love, it profits me nothing." (1 Corin 13:13) CHEERFULLY "So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver." (2 Corin 9:7) And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to man, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ. (Col 3: 23-24) CONSISTENTLY "On the first day of the week that there be no collections when I come" (1 Corinthians 16:2). 5
HOW TO GIVE BACK? CONT D PERSONALLY "Let EACH one of you lay SOMETHING aside, storing up as he may prosper" (1 Corinthians 16:2) ABUNDANTLY/NO LIMITS "Give to everyone who asks of you. And from him who takes away your goods do not ask them back" (Luke 6:30) "And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two" (Matthew 5:41) OUT OF NEED 'Assuredly, I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all those who have given to the treasury; for they all put in out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all that she had, her whole livelihood'" (Mark 12:41-44) Do we give out of our ABUNDANCE or POVERTY? OBSTACLES FEAR/FEELING OF INADEQUACY 25 And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground. Look, there you have what is yours. (Mat 25:24) LAZINESS If anyone does not work, neither does he eat. (2 THES 3:10) IGNORANCE SELFISHNESS/SELF-CENTERDNESS MESSED UP PRIORITIES NO CLEAR VISION OF GOALS BUSYNESS Time is also a gift which we are stewards of and will be asked to give account of IN SUMMARY Everything is God s gift to man, a sign of his love. All things bear witness to the sap of God s love, his good will or grace, and communicate it to us. Consequently everything is a vehicle of his divine gift of love, just as every gift that we make to one another is a sign and vehicle of love for each other. But a gift calls for a responding gift, so that the reciprocity of love may be realized. To God, however, man can give nothing but what has been given to him for his needs; his gift, therefore, is sacrifice and he offers it in thanksgiving to God. Man s gift to God is sacrifice and Eucharistic in the widest sense. Yet in offering the world to God as a gift or sacrifice, we set on it the seal of our own work, of our understanding, of our spirit of sacrifice, of our own movement towards God. The more we grasp the value and complexity of this divine gift and develop its potentialities, and thereby increase the talents that have been given to us, the more we praise God and give him joy, proving that we are active partners in the dialogue of love between him and us. Fr Dumitru Staniloae Christopher Sealey 6