TITLE: Stewardship - 1

TEXT: 1 Peter 4:10-11

PROPOSITION: The Bible has much to say about stewardship.

QUESTION: Why?

KEY WORD:

Introduction:

1. Today – we will study the subject of STEWARDSHIP.

2. What is it? Why is it important? How does it affect my life?

3. Is this a subject for preachers or financial advisers?

Why study this subject?

1. God commands it – 1 Peter 4:10-11

2. It is taught in the Bible

   1. 40 verses – Baptism

   2. 275 verses – prayer

   3. 350 verses – faith

   4. 2,350 verses – finances, stewardship, material possessions

3. We can not separate our obedience to God and our possessions – James 1:17

What does this word mean?

1. Stewards – (greek – oikonomos) – oikos = house, estate; nemo = arrange, manage – to manage the estate or affairs

   1. Used of preachers – 1 Corinthians 4:1

   2. Elders (bishops) – Titus 1:7

   3. Christians – 1 Peter 4:10

   4. From this Greek word comes the English word – economy

Application for today – status quo - “The mess we's in.”

1. Financial problems – largest contributing factor in marital stress and divorce.

2. Average credit card debt - $8,400 – 70% carry $6K - $7K

3. 5 billion credit card solicitations (mail, telemarketers)

4. 20% of Americans have items stored in US's 40,000 storage facilities – This does not count – attics, basements, garages, storage buildings at our home

5. 1.78 million bankruptcies per year.

6. 81% of college students carry 4 credit cards (balances of $4,134 each)

7. 50% of college graduates are in debt up to $40,000 – 1/3 can't make the first payment on their student loans

8. Americans spend MORE on legal gambling than on groceries.

9. 90% of preachers have no retirement funds – some even choose to opt out of Social Security (bad mistake)

God owns everything

1. Genesis 1:1 – God created it all

2. Psalm 50:10-12 – animals, birds

3. Haggai 2:8 – silver, gold (money)

4. Leviticus 25:23 – land

5. 1 Chronicles 29:14-16 – Everything

6. Psalm 24:1 – the earth, world, all people

7. 1 Corinthians 3:21-4:2 – yours, Christ's, God's – we are faithful stewards