Yass Community Baptist Church
Part I of our series #faithful
Matthew 25:14-21 NIV
Today, we begin a new series exploring faithfulness, and what it means to be truly faithful with that which has been entrusted to us.
But what does it truly look like to be faithful?
- With our time and energy?
- With our gifts and abilities?
- With our money and possessions?
Most of us start by asking 'How much of what I have do I have to give to be faithful'.
But in asking that question, we begin entirely in the wrong place...
Psalms 24:1 NIV
The earth is the LORD's, and everything in it
Faithfulness has to begin somewhere. And where better?
All that we see, all that we are, all that exists; it all belongs to God. And not only does it all belong to Him; it is a gift that has been entrusted to us.
If we take on this truth as central to our lives, how much will this influence our understanding of what it truly means to be faithful?
James 1:17 NIV
Psalms 24:1-2 NIV
Whose is it?
If you create something, does it belong to you? You can gift it, entrust it, throw it away, and more; but in the end, you have that ability because it is your creation.
In the same way, everything belongs to God, because everything is made by Him.
This foundational truth affects not only our understanding of the universe we live in, but also our understanding of what it must mean to be faithful. It is reinforced from the first line of the bible, all throughout scripture.
What happens when we stop thinking of how to be faithful with our own things, and realise that we are but stewards of God's creation?
Genesis 1:1 NIV
John 1:3 NIV
Colossians 1:16 NIV
Genesis 2:8-9, 15 NIV
But what were we made for?
God created the garden of eden. A beautiful place full of blessings and provision.
But it wasn't all lazing around in the sun, eating fruit. Adam and Eve (the first man and woman), were placed in the garden not just to consume, but to take care of it.
We are all given blessings in our lives from God. How faithful are you with that which God has created as a blessing for us?
Matthew 25:14, 21 NIV
Hide or seek?
Jesus describes this age as one in which the resources of His Kingdom are entrusted to His people to be used for His purposes.
Since all that we have belongs to God, shouldn't we use these things for the purposes of God, rather than our own selfish ambition?
The servants that used what they had been trusted with to further advance their master's purpose were commended.
What are you investing in?
My life is the LORD's, and everything within it
In the coming weeks, we will explore what it means to be truly faithful;
- With our time and energy,
- With our gifts and abilities,
- With our money and posessions
True faithfulness starts with the understanding that not only all that we have belongs to God, but also all that we are.
Who are you?
As our life groups gather this week, we have attached our reference verse and some questions to prompt a deeper discussion and search into this week's topic.
If you are not currently part of a life group, and would like to join a small group of like minded people in fellowship and connection during the week, please contact Nick on 0417472474 to register your interest.
Matthew 25:14-30 NIV
1. What do you believe it means to be a faithful steward of what you have been given? Is this something you have thought much about?
2. Read Psalm 24:1-2 and Colossians 1:16. How do these verses impact our understanding of faithful stewardship?
3. Read Genesis 2:8-9 and 15. What role were Adam and Eve to play in creation at the beginning?
4. Adam and Eve were provided a garden. What resources has God entrusted to us to steward today?
5. What might it mean to be a faithful stewardship of these gifts from God in your own life?
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