Stewardship of Goods: Neighbors and Ours

Minister:
Date: AM
Text: I Timothy 6; Lord's Day 42
Psalters: 285, 35, 405, 59
  1. The idea.
    1. God is the sole Proprietor of all things (Ps. 24:1,2; 50:11,12).
      1. This is true because of His being Creator, Sustainer, and Governor of all things.
      2. While everything is His, He distributes without letting go, requiring an accounting and returns.
    2. These truths make man a steward, accountable to God.
      1. God created man as His friend and servant, who was given dominion over creation for God’s glory.
      2. Sin made man a thief, claiming creation for his purposes.
      3. In salvation God restored to the redeemed the ability to be proper stewards.
  2. The violation of our God-given relationship to possessions is called stealing.
    1. Important observations.
    2. First, we steal from God.
      1. God made work, but man sees it as a necessary evil (cf. II Thess. 3:10 and Eph. 4:28).
      2. We from steal from God when we refuse to acknowledge ourselves to be but stewards
      3. We steal from God by not giving first to the causes of His kingdom (Malachi 3:8-10).
      4. We steal from God when we misuse our abilities and our time.
    3. We steal from our neighbor when we take advantage of him so he has a loss.
  3. The importance of our showing our gratitude by keeping this command.
    1. Follow the example of Jesus Who was/is the perfect steward.
    2. Only those united to Christ by faith can live by faith as true stewards.
    3. To avoid the sin of stealing...