Un$trapped: Biblical Wisdom on Money
Part 2: Stewardship not Ownership

Matthew 25:14-15, 19 (NIV) – “Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his wealth to them. 15 To one he gave five bags of gold, to another two bags, and to another one bag, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey….19 “After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them.


Three Truths about Stewardship:

1. Stewardship is a Trust not a Possession

Matthew 25:14 (NIV) – “Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his wealth to them.

Deuteronomy 8:17-18 (NIV) – You may say to yourself, “My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me.” But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your ancestors, as it is today.


2. Stewardship is Management not Ownership
The MASTER was the OWNER.
The SERVANTS were the STEWARDS.

Psalm 24:1 (NLT) – The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it. The world and all its people belong to him.


Matthew 25:16-18 (NIV) – The man who had received five bags of gold went at once and put his money to work and gained five bags more. 17 So also, the one with two bags of gold gained two more.18 But the man who had received one bag went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.


MAKE ALL YOU CAN. SAVE ALL YOU CAN. GIVE ALL YOU CAN.
—John Wesley


Wise Money Management:
• Give 10%
• Save 10%
• Live on 80%

Foolish Money Management:
• Give 0%
• Save 0%
• Live on 110%


3. Stewardship is Faithfulness not Recklessness
Matthew 25:19 (NIV) – “After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them.


Matthew 25:20-21 (NIV) – The man who had received five bags of gold brought the other five. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with five bags of gold. See, I have gained five more.’ 21 “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’

Matthew 25:24-25 (NIV) – “Then the man who had received one bag of gold came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 25 So I was afraid and went out and hid your gold in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.’


Matthew 25:26-30 (NIV) – “His master replied, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? 27 Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest. 28 “‘So take the bag of gold from him and give it to the one who has ten bags. 29 For whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. 30 And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’


“Apart from faith in Christ, there is no explanation for such a life.”
—William Borden

Stewardship is a trust managed faithfully,
not a possession owned recklessly.