Consumer to Steward

• September 1, 2011 09:51 am
• by: Pastor Sherrie Hittler

Matthew 25:14-30 Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his property to them. 15 To one he gave five talents of money, to another two talents, and to another one talent, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. 16 The man who had received the five talents went at once and put his money to work and gained five more. 17 So also, the one with the two talents gained two more. 18 But the man who had received the one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money. 19 “After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. 20 The man who had received the five talents brought the other five. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with five talents. 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!’ 22 “The man with the two talents also came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with two talents; see, I have gained two more.’ 23 “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!’ 24 “Then the man who had received the one talent 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 talent in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.’ 26 “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 ”’Take the talent from him and give it to the one who has the ten talents. 29 For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. 30 And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

(from SoulShift pp. 73 – 88)

Consumer: one who acquires, uses, and/or expends material or immaterial things. Steward: one who manages someone else’s property, finances or household.

How we live – as a consumer or as a steward has much to do with our relationship with God. How we live in relationship to others is an example of whether we consume or steward that which has been given to us.

For our consideration: (Matthew 25:14-30)
• Are possessions earned or are they given? When we believe possessions are earned, we compare them to what others have. When we believe that even possessions we work for are given to us as a steward, we become free from their tyranny. Stewardship is not about what we have, but about how we use it.
• To live missionally requires me to be a steward rather than a consumer. As a consumer I am not free to reach out to others.
• Where are you in the continuum of acquiring – spending—saving – giving – sharing – blessing others through that which you steward?