We are beginning a new sermon series here in the first service entitled, “Entrusted.” We are going to be looking at how we can be faithful with what God has placed in our hands. More specifically, we will be looking at 4 areas of our life that God has entrusted to us to be faithful with.
Word Study
What does the word “entrusted” mean?
Entrusted = To assign the responsibility of something valuable to someone in confidence
- • The word entrusted implies ownership by someone else, but a delegation of responsibility to another.
- • It also implies relationship: someone trusts you enough to place something important in your care.
Oikonomos = Steward, manager, one entrusted with the care of a household
1 Corinthians 4:1-2
“This is how one should regard us: as servants of Christ and stewards (οἰκονόμοι) of the mysteries of God. Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful.”
One day, we all want to hear those famous seven words, “Well done My good and faithful servant.” In order to hear those words, we have to be found faithful on this side of heaven.
Parable of the Talents
Matthew 25:14-19
“14 “For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property. 15 To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. 16 He who had received the five talents went at once and traded
with them, and he made five talents more. 17 So also he who had the two talents made two talents more. 18 But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master's money. 19 Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them.”
Summary of Matthew 25:20-30…
What we learn from this text:
- 1. The Master owns everything
v14 — “It will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property.”
The talents that were given to them didn’t belong to them—they belonged to the master.
The Master in this story is God. The servants are us. The talents represent the things that God has entrusted to us.
The first step in stewardship is understanding that everything belongs to God. He owns everything. That means the things we have do not belong to us. Nothing belongs to us, it all belongs to God. If we want to be faithful stewards, then this is the place we have to begin. - 2. We are stewards of what God has entrusted to us
v15 — “To one he gave five…to another two…to another one…each according to his ability.”
The master gave each of the servants talents. That means that they did not own them. The talents didn’t belong to them. Instead, they were given to them by their master.
In the same way, God has entrusted to us that which He considers valuable. Some may have more than others. However, it is less about how much you have and more about what you do with what you’ve been given.
Steward = Someone entrusted with managing what belongs to someone else
We are called to faithfully manage that which God has entrusted us with.- 3. God expects a return
v19 — “Now after a long time the master came and settled accounts…”
When the master returned, he received a report from each servant on what they did with what they were given. Each of them gave a report as to what they did with what they master gave them. The master was expecting a return.
One day, Jesus will return. We will all give an account to what we have done with what we have been given. God has entrusted you with what He considers valuable. However, He expects a return on what He has given you. Why? Because God is building His kingdom. The return that He is looking for is not carnal, but eternal. - 4. What you do with what you have been given matters to God
After hearing the report of each servant of what they did with what was entrusted to them, he responds accordingly. He rejoices with the first two servants and rewards them for their diligence and faithfulness. However, he was disappointed with the last servant for doing nothing with what he had been given. It is clear that the master cared about what was done with what he had given.
Similarly, God cares about what we do with what we have been given. It matters to Him what we do with what He has entrusted to us. What you do with what you have been given matters to God.
Why? Because stewardship is more than just about responsibility—it’s more about relationship. It reveals how we see God. The first two servants clearly trusted their master. What they had was not about themselves or about what they could get back. Instead, it was about their master. They wanted to give something back to him because the master was deserving.
What we do with what we have been given shows what we believe. It shows whether we truly trust God or not. If we love God, we will want to honor Him by being faithful with what He has given us.
Question: What are you doing with what God has given you?
God is not asking you to do what someone else can do. He is asking you to be faithful with what He gave you.
Four areas God has entrusted us with:
- • Influence
- • The Gospel
- • Resources
- • Relationships
Takeaways
- I. Everything Belongs to God
- II. We are called to be stewards
- III. What you do with what you have been given matters
