The Stewardship of the Kingdom

He is the only owner and you are a responsible steward with the assets that he has given you. Dr. Tony Evans says we have what we have for a reason. Time, talents, and treasures are to be utilized in such a way that God's rule in history is advanced because of your stewardship of those three areas. Celebrating 40 years of faithfulness, this is the alternative with Dr. Tony Evans, author, speaker, senior pastor of Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship in Dallas, Texas, and president of the Urban Alternative. Ultimately, everything we have traces back to God as the source. But today, Dr. Evans goes further to explain that everything from our possessions to our pocket change was given to us for a purpose.

Let's join him. When you go to the doctor, they will often prod and poke you and ask you, does it hurt? If it does hurt, one of two things has happened. One, he could be pressing you too hard, or she could be pressing too hard, and so it hurts. But more than likely, it hurts because something is wrong.

They want to do tests after that to find out what's causing the pain. When we talk about the subject of stewardship, for many people that hurts, even because we're pressing it too hard or something's wrong, because it ought not be hurting you. Jesus tells a parable. It is an awesome story. A parable is a story laid beside a principle to help you to understand the principle the story is given, to give life and reality, like a reality show, to a principle God wants you to learn. So Jesus regularly taught in parables in order to teach principles. He wants to teach a principle about the Kingdom today and your stewardship. And in order to help you and me to understand the principle he gives the parable. That is the story to give life to the principle.

But it's all about the principle. The story is just to help you grab it, get it, understand it, feel it, and ultimately live it. In Matthew chapter 25, Jesus is talking about the Kingdom. In fact, verse 1 reads this way, then the Kingdom of Heaven will be comparable. He wants to explain various principles about the Kingdom, so he gives various stories to explain various principles. He begins the story in verse 14, for it is just like, that is the Kingdom of Heaven that he's already introduced, a man about to go on a journey who called his own slaves and entrusted his possessions to them. He talks about this man, referring to himself, who's getting ready to go on a long journey. Of course, Jesus is going to die. He's going to rise from the dead.

He's going to step on a cloud and ascend into heaven, and he's going to be gone from his followers, his disciples, and from you and me. So he's like a man that's gone on a journey. But when the man went on the journey, when Jesus left, he left behind his possessions. He left behind things that his servants were to use into making and advancing his Kingdom in history, called the Kingdom of Heaven. Now, the first thing I want to point out is that what the man left didn't belong to the servants. What the man left belonged to the man. The servant's job was to handle it on his behalf. And that principle of handling what belongs to another is known as stewardship. Stewardship may be defined as protecting and expanding the possessions of another.

He says that he left his resources to these three men according to their ability. God never wants you to lose sight of the fact he is the only owner and you are a responsible steward with the assets, time, talents, and treasures that he has given you. All the way back in the Garden of Eden, he told Adam, every tree of the garden you may freely eat, but the one in the middle don't eat it.

One of the main reasons he left, told him, leave one tree alone was every time they walked by that tree in the middle, they were to be reminded, you don't own this. You are a steward and you've been blessed and you've been highly favored and all that, but every time you see that tree, remind yourself you are a manager and you don't own this, God. You've been blessed with it, but you don't own it. The reason God instituted the tithe is to remind God's people you don't own this. And the first fruits of what you get, I want you to acknowledge I own it. And the way you acknowledge that, Deuteronomy 14, is through the tithe. You are acknowledging I'm owning this.

So it is an acknowledgement of ownership. So God wants you to acknowledge that you are a steward and his point in the parable is that the kingdom of heaven is like. So he's talking about the kingdom. Time, talents, and treasures are to be utilized in such a way that God's rule in history is advanced because of your stewardship of those three areas.

So now he then introduces us to these three men. The first gentleman, who he gave five talents to, verse 16, immediately went out and traded with them and gained five more talents. The same man, the one who had two talents, verse 17, gained two more. But the one who had one talent went away, dug a hole in the ground, and hid his master's money. After a long time, verse 19 says, the master of those slaves came and settled accounts with them. Jesus died 2,000 years ago.

He's been gone a long time. But according to the text, the master came back. He wants to discuss, because I'm settling accounts for what belongs to me, what you did with time, talent, and treasure that advanced my kingdom of heaven located in history for which you were made a steward. When you lose sight of the return of the master, when you lose sight of the fact that one day the master is going to have a conversation with you about how you used the time between your conversion and your death, the talents, the abilities, gifting that he left you with, and the treasures, the resources he put at your disposal, and that there is going to be a meeting, and he is going to discuss that with everybody in this room by name. The Bible calls it the judgment seat of Christ. 1 Corinthians chapter 3 talks about the fact that we're going to be before the judgment seat of Christ, verses 12 to 15. 2 Corinthians chapter 5, verse 10.

We will all appear before the judgment seat of Christ. You're going to have to, I'm going to have to, we're going to have to answer some questions about how we used time, talent, and treasures for the advancement of the kingdom of heaven, because the story, the principle is the kingdom of heaven is life. He's explaining the use of what doesn't belong to us, but belongs to him for the advancement of his cause in history. Now, God knows you've got to live, he knows you've got to work, he knows you've got to take care of family, but God views all that as part of your stewardship. He has not disconnected your everyday responsibilities from its attachment to his kingdom. The problem is we've detached it from his kingdom and made my stuff over here, God's stuff over there, and not understanding God wants to rule over all because he owns all. In fact, it's because we've detached it that we don't see God involved in it.

We do our thing over here and hope it works out because God has been detached from it because we have not understood the earth is the Lord, the fullness thereof, the world, and everything, everybody in it belongs to him. So, he now returns. He now shows back up. Now, if you don't take seriously that Jesus is going to show back up, then it won't be a big deal.

You're just going to live your life because you don't believe there's a bema. You don't believe there's coming a day when you will have to stand before God and give an account. You're going to have to explain yourself because he's going to ask, I gave you time, I gave you talents, and I gave you treasure, now let's see how my cause in history was advanced because of what I gave you. He's not going to ask you about what he gave your neighbor. He's only going to talk to you about what he gave you. That's why you don't want your neighbors, because if you get your neighbors, you've got to be asked about him and you. Okay?

You're going, I'm going, we're going to have enough to deal with on our own. He comes and he gives an account. The one, verse 20, who had received five talents came and brought five more talents, saying, Master, you entrusted me with five talents. See, I have gained five more.

I doubled what you started me off with. His master said to him, Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things. I will make you in charge of many things. Enter into the joy of your master. I'm going to share what I have with you, the joy of your master. The one who received two talents came and said, Master, you entrusted me with two talents. See, I've gained two more. His master said to him, Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things. I will put you in charge of many things. Enter into the joy of the master.

Watch this. Even though the one with five had more than the one with two, the one with five and the one with two received the same blessing, because God was only holding them accountable for what he gave them. But now he comes to our third friend. The one, verse 24, who had received one talent came up and said, Master, I know you to be a hard man, reaping where you do not sow, gathering where you scattered no seed. And I was afraid and went away and hid your talent in the ground.

See, you have what is yours. Now, Slick, call him Slick. Slick said, look, you scared me.

He says, you scared me. I was afraid. He says, because your expectations are high.

You're a hard man. You got high expectations. And I didn't want to risk losing what you gave me. I didn't want to risk that because I know you're going to wear me out if I lose what you gave me. So rather than take that risk, because you're a hard man, your expectations are lofty, I decided to dig a hole and put what you gave me, I decided to hide it. And see, you came back, and let me show you, I have what you gave me. Now, I don't have more than you gave me. I just had what you left behind.

But that plan didn't work out so well. Dr. Evans will come back in a moment with the rest of the story. Stay with us. There are so many ways that God has demonstrated His faithfulness to me and to this ministry over these 40 years. You know, there were times when we just weren't sure we were going to make it.

We got down to our last paycheck. After that, there was no money to pay anyone, and I remember us having a special prayer time and asking God to intervene. And then, out of nowhere, a donor's heart was touched, and they wrote us a note and said, God placed it on my heart to send you this gift, and it was able to sustain us until we were able to rebuild. So I am not a doubter about the greatness of God nor His faithfulness, and I'm certainly grateful for all the friends He's given us who have been faithful, too. And I'm very grateful that for 40 years, we've seen His kind hand of favor on this ministry. This radio program, Tony's television ministry, our work with pastors and congregations all around the world, none of it would be possible without the faithful contributions of people like you. And that's why I want to remind you about a special package we've been offering as our way of saying thanks when you make a donation to keep this ministry going. It starts with Tony's current series, The Kingdom Life, focusing on the power God's given us to live in victory, along with the impact we can make and the blessings we experience when we put it to use.

It'll give you the encouragement and perspective you need to stand strong in the face of a culture that seems committed to tearing us down. Along with it, we'll send you his popular booklet, The Grace of God. This special double resource offer is only available until Wednesday, so be sure to contact us right away to request it. You can do that by visiting tonyevans.org, where you can also browse our huge collection of resources and sign up for Tony's free weekly email devotional. Or call our resource center at 1-800-800-3222, where team members are standing by around the clock to help you.

Again, that's 1-800-800-3222. Well right now, Dr. Evans is back with more of today's message. Jesus' response to this third guy is very interesting.

Pay close attention. Jesus says, you wicked, verse 26, lazy slave. Wicked and lazy? Wait a minute, Jesus, the man just gave you back what you got. At least he ain't lose anything. Wicked means you did something that was evil. But what did the guy do? The guy just dug a hole in the ground.

Now you see, if you put it in the bank, the bank keeps a record. He was too busy taking care of himself. The other two were taking care of the kingdom. That's why he's called lazy.

You were lazy when it came to me. Now you got your back covered. Let me tell you why else he was wicked. He's playing the end against the middle. If the master comes back, I can give the master what he gave me. If the master doesn't come back, I got me some more money hidden in a hole in the ground.

I'm playing the end against the middle, and so are a lot of God's children. Some of you, when you go to a stewardship ministry or you may have your own financial planner, you know when he's going to talk to you about 20, 30, and 40 years from now? He's going to say, save now so when it's time to retire, you have some money to live on when you can no longer work.

He's going to make you future-oriented. Saving comes before spending to force you to be future-oriented, to not just think about now. A lot of us have children who only want now, and you know they only want now because they only want to get it to spend it.

When's the last time your child came to you and said, Mama, Daddy, give me some money to save? But God wants you to be future-oriented, so you have a financial planner, and he's planning, helping you to plan for your retirement 20, 30, depending on your age, 40 years from now. Guess what Jesus is trying to get you to do?

Plan on your retirement. That from the day you die and you meet him, you have something that you have forwarded ahead that has eternal value attached to it. He's trying to get you future-oriented, not just now, now, now, now, now. Now you have to live now, but you live now with a future orientation on the day when you will stand before him, he will call you by name, and you will have to settle accounts. Because on that day, he's going to ask you about time, about talents, and about treasures.

He's going to ask you what you did that was future-oriented, that is, what you did in history to advance his kingdom, because that is what will carry over into your retirement years in his presence. Now, one other thing. He says, verse 29, For to him who has, that is, to him who takes what I've given him and does something with it, more will be given to him, and he will have an abundance, he will have extra, more than enough. But from the one who does not have, who doesn't do anything with what I've given him for my kingdom, even what he has shall be taken away.

And then he throws in a zinger. Throw out the worthless slave into outer darkness in the place where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth. Let me read that last verse again. Throw out the worthless slave into outer darkness in the place where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth. The issue was what he did what the master gave him.

And because he did nothing, he didn't try to expand God's presence in history when the time came for an accounting and his accounting fell way short. He says, remove that man into outer darkness where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth. That phrase, weeping and gnashing of teeth, refers to profound regret. There is profound regret. Do you know in the Bible, God says that He's going to have to wipe tears from our eyes? One of the reasons He's going to have to wipe tears is because of profound regret.

That is, that feeling that you and I will have that day when James Doe and Jane Doe hear, well done, my good and faithful servant, these are your rewards, come into the presence of the Lord, and then we hear, you lazy, wicked, worthless slave, your excuse to outer darkness. In hockey, I'm not a big hockey fan, but there is a penalty box. The penalty box is there because you've done some infraction on the ice, and because of what you did wrong on the ice, you are excused to the penalty box. The penalty box doesn't take you off the team. You're still one of the team members. You're just no longer participating on the ice.

You have been excused from participation while you watch what's happening on the ice. These people who are excused get to see what they missed out on, and profound regret, because even though they're still a servant, they have been excused from participation. Jesus didn't die on the cross and rise from the dead so he could be forgotten during the rest of your Christian life. Jesus didn't give you eternal life for free so that he could be passed over as you lived your daily life for this world order and nothing to advance his kingdom. He didn't give you a free ticket to heaven so you and I could spend all of our lives not witnessing to anybody, not sharing God's love with anybody, not using time, talent, and treasure for the advantage. He didn't do all of that just so you could come to church on Sunday morning. He did that for the advancement of the kingdom, for the kingdom of heaven is like. Use our time for ourselves, our talents for ourselves, our treasures for ourselves.

We've got the nicest of this, the finest of that. Don't get me wrong. There's nothing wrong with that unless it has caused you to lose sight of the kingdom. There's time for the TV, not time for the Bible. There's time for talking to friends, not time for prayer. There's time for having fun out there, but not promoting the kingdom in here.

There is time for your life and your world and your priorities and my priorities, but not time for the kingdom. He says there's coming a day when they will be called for an account. And He is going to ask you the questions, and He's going to show the tape. When you stand before God, He's going to edit out everything that has no connection with the kingdom of heaven. He's going to edit out everything that has no connection with His name, His glory, His purpose, His kingdom.

He's going to edit out those things that were detached from you. So the question on the floor is how much tape is left? How much tape is left of the life He's given you and me that is of use to Him? This has nothing to do with you going to heaven. This has everything to do with how much heaven you get.

He will look at the tape and say, I can't use that. That was all about you. Click, click.

There's nothing there about me. Click, click. And will 20 years of Christian life be edited down to one month, one week, one year even?

This has nothing to do with perfection, but it has everything to do with pattern. The question is, is it worth it? Is it worth it? When you see what God has prepared, the banquet that He has laid out, you will know it is worth it. I will tell you what is not worth it.

It's not worth it to gain here and lose there. I would like to suggest to you that even though there may be things about this that don't hit your fancy, maybe things about this that you don't prefer, if you look at it in light of what God has in store, you will be able to prioritize the kingdom of God as a way of life and not as an event. Dr. Evans will come back with a final comment to wrap up today's program in just a moment, so don't go away. Today's lesson on kingdom stewardship is part of Tony's series, The Kingdom Life. Now is the time to get in touch with us and request the full-length version of all six messages in this collection, including material we won't have time to present on the air. They're available only until Wednesday as our thank-you gift when you make a contribution to help us keep Tony's teaching on this station. Along with it, we'll include a copy of The Grace of God. In a world that talks a lot about different ways to reach God, this booklet explains why life is really about what God did to reach us.

If you're tired of feeling like you just don't measure up, you're in for some good news that can change your life. So be sure to take advantage of this special double offer before time runs out. Again, all the details are waiting for you at TonyEvans.org, or call us at 1-800-800-3222 and let one of our resource team members help you.

1-800-800-3222. Meekness is a godly quality. Weakness isn't. Tomorrow, Dr. Evans reveals ways we can connect with and use the strength God wants to give us.

Right now, though, he's back with this closing thought for us. Life is like a coin. You can spend it any way you want.

You just need to know you can only spend it once. The Alternative with Dr. Tony Evans is brought to you by the Urban Alternative and is celebrating 40 years of faithfulness thanks to the generous contributions of listeners like you.