FAITHFUL STEWARDS

 

Today's sermon focuses on A Soul-Searching Journey

The theme Scripture Passages for reflection are:

Judges 4:1-7

1 Thessalonians 5:1-11

Matthew 25:14-30

In the tapestry of our spiritual journey, the theme of "Faithful Stewards" emerges as a profound call to introspection and commitment. The passages from Judges 4:1-7, 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11, and Matthew 25:14-30 intricately weave a narrative that beckons us to consider our roles as stewards entrusted with divine treasures.

In Christianity, "faithful" generally refers to individuals who are loyal, devoted, and obedient to their faith, particularly in their relationship with God. It implies a steadfast commitment to the beliefs and teachings of Christianity, living in accordance with religious principles, and maintaining trust and allegiance to God.

 A steward on the other hand is typically someone who is seen as a caretaker or manager of resources entrusted to them by God. This concept emphasizes responsible and ethical use of one's abilities, time, and material possessions for the greater good and in accordance with Christian teachings.

Let's now see who is a faithful Steward.

A faithful steward is someone who responsibly manages and takes care of resources, whether they be financial, natural, or otherwise, with integrity and a sense of accountability.

How to be a faithful Steward?

Being a faithful steward involves responsibly managing resources and fulfilling responsibilities. Prioritize ethical decision-making, practice transparency, and consider the long-term impact of your choices on both personal and communal well-being. Embrace accountability and continuous learning to enhance your stewardship skills.

Let's see Deborah's Leadership skills from Judges4:1-7

In this passage, we witness Deborah, a faithful steward of God's guidance and wisdom. She heeded the call to lead with courage, embodying the essence of stewardship by utilizing her gifts for the greater good of all. How are we also using our gifts for the greater good? Deborah's story challenges us to recognize the leadership roles assigned to us and to embrace them faithfully. Let's learn from the examples of Deborah.

Alert and Sober

The apostle Paul's words echo through time, urging us to be alert and sober. In 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 it encourages us as stewards of the Light, we are entrusted with the knowledge of the times. This passage compels us to live with a consciousness of our responsibilities, recognizing that faithfulness requires vigilance and readiness. Let's be alert and sober in discharging our duties in order to be a good and faithful stewards.

In Matthew 25:14-30, we shall be dealing with the Parable of the Talents

Jesus' parable of the talents vividly illustrates the concept of faithful stewardship. Each servant receives talents according to his ability, and the master's return reveals the varying degrees of stewardship. The call to faithful stewardship is not only a call to utilize our God-given talents but also to invest them boldly and multiply the Kingdom's riches. We are all given talents according to our abilities. How are we using them to help develop society?

Supporting Texts:

Luke 12:48 - "From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked." This verse reinforces the principle that stewardship involves accountability for the resources entrusted to us.

Proverbs 3:9 - "Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops." Stewardship extends beyond talents to include our material resources. The faithful steward acknowledges God's ownership and willingly offers the firstfruits of all blessings.

1 Corinthians 4:2 - "Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful." This succinctly encapsulates the essence of faithful stewardship—proving ourselves faithful in the trust bestowed upon us.

As we delve into the tapestry of "Faithful Stewards," the scriptures beckon us to embark on a soul-searching journey. Deborah's leadership, Paul's exhortation to be alert, and Jesus' parable of the talents converge to form a compelling narrative of responsibility, accountability, and faithful multiplication of God's gifts. May this exploration inspire us to become faithful stewards, honoring the divine trust placed upon us and embracing our roles with unwavering commitment. May God's blessings be upon us as we meditate on this sermon. Amen.

Rev. Sylvanus Kpodonu

EPCG

Tanyigbe District

Forgive: Fifteenth Sunday After Trinity

Texts: Exodus 14: 19-31, Romans 14:1-12, Matthew 18:21-35

"Please Have Mercy On Me"

The 22-year-old houseboy who allegedly killed his madam has been arrested by police in Kumasi and he's pleading for mercy. 

This young man who was employed barely two weeks ago by the businesswoman to help her keep her house ended up taking the life of his employer. What a world we live in. Hmmmmmm.

After killing her with a knife, he bolted with her cars but fortunately his actions was caught on phone as the madam was on call with a friend when he attacked her.

Following his arrest, he’s begged the police for mercy. Hmmmmmmm.

My brothers and sisters in the Lord, today, we gather under the grace of the Almighty to delve into the profound message of forgiveness, as revealed in the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 18, verses 21-35. Our theme is "Forgive," a concept central to our Christian faith. Let us open our hearts and minds to the Word of God as we explore this timeless teaching.

Forgive means to stop feeling anger, resentment, or the desire for revenge toward someone who has wronged you. It involves letting go of negative emotions and granting pardon for their actions. It can be a process of healing and reconciliation.

Our Lord Jesus Christ deals with a deeply important subject, - the forgiveness of injuries. We live in a wicked world, and it is vain to expect that we can escape ill-treatment, however carefully we may behave. To know how to conduct ourselves, when we are ill- treated, is of great moment to our souls.

Let's be aware that in the first place, the Lord Jesus lays it down as a general rule, that we ought to forgive others to the outermost. 

In the quest to understand this, Peter came to Jesus and asked, "Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?" Jesus answered, "I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times."

Brothers and Sisters, we need to interpret this rule with sober-mind. Jesus is not saying that, offences against the law of the land and the good order of society, the constitution of the Nation and the Church, code of ethics at our work places etc are to be passed over in silence; He does not mean that, we are to allow poeple to commit thefts, manslaughter, and assaults with impunity:  all that He means is, that we are to study a general spirit of mercy and forgiveness towards our neighbours.

We are to bear much, and to put up with much, rather than quarrel, strife, we are to lay aside everything like malice, strife, revenge, and retaliation. Such feelings are only fit for heathens: they are utterly unworthy of a disciple of Christ . Let us resolve to return good for evil, and blessings for cursing and so to melt down enmity and change our foes into friends. Romans 12:20.

To further answer the question well, Jesus gave the following illustration.

Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand bags of gold was brought to him. Since he was not able to pay at the  time of reckoning, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt.

At this, the servant fell on his knees before him. "Be patient with me," he begged, "and I will pay back everything." The servant's master took pity on him, canceled the debt, and let him go.

But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred silver coins. He grabbed him and began to choke him. "Pay back what you owe me!" he demanded.

His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, "Be patient with me, and I will pay it back." But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt.

When the other servants saw what had happened, they were outraged and went and told their master everything that had happened. Then the master called the servant in. "You wicked servant," he said, "I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. Shouldn't you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?" In anger, his master handed him over to the jailers to be tortured until he should pay back all he owed.

According to Jesus, this is how God will treat each of us unless we forgive our brothers or sisters from our heart.

In this powerful parable, Jesus illuminates the depth and breadth of forgiveness.

We all need forgiveness at God's hands ourselves. We sin all the time, we pray everyday and ask for forgiveness of sin : sins of ommission, commission and erro etc. Jesus died on our behalf and for us on the Cross and we are forgiven and saved. 1  John 1:8,9

Our neighbours offences against us are mere trifles, compared with our offences against God.

The day of judgement is coming. We shall all stand one by one to be judged by God. There will be no forgiveness in that day for unforgiven poeple. It is very sad to see how much bitterness, unmercifullness, spite, hardness, and unkindness etc there among us in the Church. God is coming very soon. Do you want to be at peace with God?

Do you want your cloths to be washed in the Blood of Jesus Christ? Do you want to be called the child of God? Then let us forgive and be merciful.

Here are some supporting texts to reinforce this teaching:

• Ephesians 4:32 (NIV) - "Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you."
• Colossians 3:13 (NIV) - "Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you."
• Luke 6:37 (NIV) - "Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven."

As followers of Christ, forgiveness is not optional; it is a divine mandate. Let us learn from the merciful king who canceled an insurmountable debt and the unmerciful servant who refused to forgive a small one. The Lord's forgiveness towards us should inspire us to extend that same grace to others.

Let's remember, forgiveness is not weakness; it is a manifestation of God's strength working within us. When we forgive, we release the burden of anger, resentment, and bitterness, allowing healing and reconciliation to flourish.

In conclusion, my dear brothers and sisters, let us heed the words of Jesus, who tells us that forgiveness is not limited by numbers but should flow endlessly from our hearts. May we be a people known for our forgiveness, a living testament to God's boundless love and grace. Amen.

By: Rev. Sylvanus Kpodonu || EPCG || Tanyigbe District || Tel: +233242238736