Ownership is defined as the legal right to possess, use, control, and transfer of property.

The earth is the Lord’s, and EVERYTHING in it. The world and all its people belong to him. (Psalm 24:1 NLT)

The heavens are yours, and the earth is yours; EVERYTHING in the world is yours—you created it all. (Psalm 89:11 NLT)

• We have been given the roles of stewards.
• A steward is someone who manages the property of another person.
• From a biblical standpoint, God is the owner and we are His stewards.

Fill the earth and GOVERN it. REIGN over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, and all the animals that scurry along the ground.” (Genesis 1:28 NLT)

You GAVE THEM CHARGE (STEWARDSHIP) of everything you made, putting all things under their authority. (Psalm 8: 4-6 NLT)

• Our responsibility is to faithfully manage, protect, expand, multiply or increase the property of the owner, God. Everything belongs to Him.
• In the Kingdom of God, stewardship is measured by servanthood.
• Our level of stewardship is measured by your ability to serve God and others.
• When the owner returns, our stewardship will be evaluated.

“For the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country, who called HIS OWN SERVANTS and delivered HIS GOODS TO THEM. And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, TO EACH ACCORDING TO HIS OWN ABILITY (CAPACITY); and immediately he went on a journey.  (Matthew 25: 14-15 NKJ)

• God is fair because He gives to each of us based on our capacity.
• God gives each in each in equal measure: Faith and the opportunity to use our faith to succeed.
• They were given different talents but the same opportunity to succeed.
• They were also given the same expectation by the owner: Be productive!
• Stewardship is an expectation to be productive: Productive with our time, our finances, our talents, our resources that he as the owner has entrusted with.

Then he who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents. And likewise he who had received two gained two more also. (Matthew 25: 16-17 NKJ)

They both were productive and received the same rewards regardless of the amount they started with.

‘Well done, good and FAITHFUL servant; you have been FAITHFUL over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’ (Matthew 25:23 NKJ)

• Key word:

“Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be. (Matthew 6:19-21 NLT)

Faithfulness in investing into the Kingdom of God is a condition of the heart.

Servant #3

But he who had received one went and dug in the ground, and hid his lord’s money. (Matthew 25:18 NKJ)

‘Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed. And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground. Look, there you have what is yours.’ (Matthew 25:24-25 NKJ)

• He perceived God, the owner as a hard man instead of a loving Father.
• He did not waste the owner’s money. He wasted the opportunity to maximize his full potential.

“But his lord answered and said to him, ‘You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed. So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest. So take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents. (Matthew 25: 26-28 NKJ)

• Have you ever wondered why he chose a hole instead of a bank? Accountability
• When you put the money in the bank, there is a record, and account, there is a check and balance. But when you put something in a hole in the ground, there is no record…there is no account…and when there is no account…there is no accountability.
• He wanted no accountability! He did not want to be accountable to the owner.

Main Takeaway: You are God’s bank account. God has deposited in you His talent. Everything you need to accomplish the assignment he has designated for you.

CONCLUSION

• What is the Holy Spirit saying to you through this message?