Scripture References

Deuteronomy 8:17-18

“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”

1 Peter 4:9

“As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace.”

1 Corinthians 9:17

“For if I do this of my own will, I have a reward, but if not of my own will, I am still entrusted with stewardship.”

Ephesians 3:2

“Assuming that you have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace that was given to me for you.”

Ephesians 3:9

“And to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things.”

Colossians 1:25

“Of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known.”

1 Timothy 1:4

“Nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies, which promote speculations rather than the stewardship from God that is by faith.”

1 Peter 4:9

“As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace.”

1 Corinthians 4:2

“Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful.”

• Am I going to steward my time, gifts and good fortune?
• Am I going to squander it?
• Am I going to leverage it effectively, employ it faithfully, and harness it strategically?
• Am I going to misuse it?

7 obstacles to faithful stewardship

In Matthew 25:15-28  we come across the ‘Parable of the Talents.’ From this chapter, allow me to share a few thoughts about what might hinder one from being a faithful steward. Here are my observations:

• A talent, first of all, was a monetary unit worth about twenty years’ wages for a laborer.”
• To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability.
• Each one of these guys had a certain level of potential. Two of the three were functioning at the highest level of their potential. The third, functioned below his potential.

There are several reasons for his poor performance:

Laziness  

Laziness presents itself in the form of procrastination. See Proverbs 6:9

If there is anything that separates the guys with 5 & 2 talents from the guy with 1, here is it: They immediate went to work. “At Once” v. 16.  Procrastination, a lacked a diligent pursuit, and a lack of discipline are toxic signs of laziness.  See Proverbs 19:15

Unfaithfulness 

The master returned with praise and compliments for 5 & 2 talents guys. In verse 21 He called them faithful. Interestingly, He adds that they were faithful over a “little.’ The master does not differentiate between 5, 2, and 1 talents – they are all equal in His eyes. Somebody once said, ” it is not how much you have that matters – it is whose it is.”

Uncleared Perspective

He failed to offer to the master the one thing the brought Him Joy – ‘faithful stewardship.’  “Enter into my joy.”

Lacking a plan and set goals

He didn’t know nor understand what the master’s will, goals and plans were. Instead of finding out, at least by asking his master – he assume to know.

Clarify the win

He didn’t know what the master was trying to accomplish in his life. The master’s desired to entrust him with something more, something bigger

Fear of failure  

The bible says he was afraid, and that led him to dig a whole and put his master’s talent in the ground. Fear always buries your talents and hinders you from reaching your full potential.

Give up easily

He allowed himself to be influenced by a set of misguided circumstances. This led him to a place of indecision and decreased motivation