Faithful Management of God’s Blessings

Everything we have—our time, talents, treasures, even the breath in our lungs—belongs to God. It’s not ours to claim, but His to entrust. How we manage these resources isn’t just a practical matter; it’s a mirror reflecting our relationship with Him through Jesus. Every choice we make with what He’s given us either deepens our faith or reveals where we need to grow. In The Stewardship of Life, Kirk Nowery writes, “Vision, influence, commitment, time, opportunity, resources—all of these are assets to manage for His purposes, loaned to us to invest for the greatest return and His greatest glory.” This isn’t about hoarding; it’s about handling God’s gifts with care, knowing they’re meant for a purpose beyond ourselves.

Consider Joshua’s story in Joshua 6 and 7. God instructed him to destroy Jericho, sparing only the precious metals for His treasury. Yet Achan, one of Joshua’s men, stole gold and silver, hiding them for himself. The consequence? Defeat at Ai and a stern lesson: mishandling God’s resources disrupts His plans. When Joshua sought God in prayer, the sin was exposed, and justice followed. The takeaway is clear—when we falter, prayer is our first step to realign with God’s will. Now, let’s turn to Jesus’ teaching in the Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14-30) to uncover five truths about stewarding what’s His.

In the parable, a master entrusts his wealth to three servants before a long journey. They know it’s his, not theirs, and they’re expected to manage it well. Scripture echoes this: “The earth is the Lord’s, and the fullness thereof” (Psalm 24:1), and “The silver is mine, and the gold is mine” (Haggai 2:8). Our money, homes, skills—every possession—is God’s, loaned to us for His glory. This shifts our view:

• He has the rights; we have the responsibility.
• He’s the Master; we’re the managers.
• He’s Sovereign; we’re the stewards.

This truth reframes our perspective. That paycheck? His. That talent? His. We’re not owners clutching “mine,” but caretakers honoring “His.” How does that change the way you see your stuff?

The master doesn’t distribute equally—he gives five talents to one servant, two to another, and one to the third, “to each according to his ability” (Matthew 25:15). A talent, a massive sum—perhaps $300,000 today—shows God’s generosity varies by what we can handle. The first gets $1.5 million, the second $600,000, the third $300,000. Even the smallest share is abundant, reflecting God’s lavish grace. But it’s not about fairness—it’s about what’s best, tailored to our capacity (1 Corinthians 12:11).

Want more responsibility? Grow your ability through learning, serving, or giving (Proverbs 12:24). God entrusts according to what we can manage now, but faithfulness opens doors to more. Are you stretching your capacity to receive what He might give next?

The first two servants act swiftly, trading their talents to double their master’s wealth (Matthew 25:16-17). The third? He buries his, producing nothing. Jesus ties this to the harvest (Matthew 9:36-38; John 4:35)—we’re to trade our resources for souls:

• Time spent praying for the lost.
• Talents used to serve others.
• Treasure sown for salvation.

We’re co-laborers with God (1 Corinthians 3:9), not hoarders. The third servant had ability but chose safety over service, hiding his talent out of laziness or fear. Zig Ziglar said, “You are the only person who can use your ability.” Someone else noted, “Our potential is God’s gift to us; what we do with it is our gift to Him.” Are you trading your stuff for God’s kingdom, or burying it?

“After a long time, the master returned to settle accounts” (Matthew 25:19). Jesus is coming again, and we’ll answer for what we’ve done with His resources (Romans 14:12). No matter the size of our assignment—one talent or five—we’re shaped to fulfill it. Faithfulness now prepares us for that day (1 John 2:28). The first two servants doubled their share, earning praise. The third, idle and unfruitful, faced loss. We’re not judged by what we’re given, but by what we do with it. Will you be ready when He calls?

The productive servants greeted their master with joy, rewarded with affirmation and promotion (Matthew 25:21, 23). The one-talent servant dreaded his return, accusing him of harshness (Matthew 25:24). His view—selfish and skewed—bred excuses and paralysis. Jesus calls him “wicked and lazy” (Matthew 25:26), stripping him of everything. What we don’t use, we lose.

How we handle God’s stuff reflects how we see Him. View Him as a tyrant, and fear will freeze you. See Him as a gracious Master, and you’ll invest boldly. The fruitful stewards trusted His goodness, eager for His coming. A right view of God fuels faithful stewardship; a faulty one stalls it. What does your management say about your trust in Him?

In Mark 12:41-44, Jesus praises a widow’s two coins—not for their size, but their sacrifice. It’s not the amount, but the heart behind it. Matthew 24-25 warns us to live ready—Jesus will return unexpectedly. Kirk Nowery writes, “Stewardship is serious business; God’s will is that we give it serious attention, possible only with the right focus on our Source.” God supplies; we manage. Achan’s theft cost him dearly, but prayer restored Joshua’s path. When we falter, we seek God first.

So, decide today: don’t hide God’s gifts. Trade them for souls—through service, generosity, prayer. The fields are ripe (John 4:35). Whether it’s time mentoring, skills teaching, or treasure giving, invest in God’s kingdom. Jesus has entrusted His business to us—let’s be about our Father’s work, ready to hear, “Well done.”

For more on this topic, listen to our sermon The Stewardship of Life, Part 2: