ILAGAN BAPTIST CHURCH SERMON OUTLINES
The Danger Of Questionable Stewardship
Text: I Samuel 25:36-38 IBCWPM June 21, 2006
Preacher: Pastor Jose B. Cabajar
Good stewardship of the things which God has given us is surely delightful to Him. It’s an excellent indication of reverence and true partnership with the Living God. God created all things for His glory and it’s a fact that we own nothing, but we are merely stewards of God’s properties.
In I Timothy 6:7, it is written, For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. (KJV) Any man who seems rich in this earthly life should consider this passage from the Bible because acknowledging this eye-opening truth will make him humble before God.
God wants us to be His faithful stewards, and through good stewardship, we could fulfill His blessed will concerning the things He has entrusted to us. In I Timothy 6:17-19, it is written, Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate; Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life. (KJV) These verses remind us that we should not let our earthly riches elevate us to pride, neither cause us to deviate from the true object of faith. We are also encouraged to fix our eyes of faith on the Living God and stay focused on our God-given purpose so we may not go in the way of vanity and pride.
In I Corinthians 4:2, it is written, Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful. (KJV) We really need to stay faithful to the Lord and to follow His Word unquestionably.
The Bible account of Nabal’s life warns us of the danger of questionable stewardship. As we get to know more about his questionable stewardship, may we also examine ourselves so we may know if we really have the kind of stewardship God wants us to have.
(I) The Indications Of Questionable Stewardship
I Samuel 25:2-36
-Bad manners vs2-10
Bad manners led many people to their own destruction and the life of Nabal was an undeniable illustration of such heart-breaking result of behavioral problem.
It is written in I Samuel 25:2-3, And there was a man in Maon, whose possessions were in Carmel; and the man was very great, and he had three thousand sheep, and a thousand goats: and he was shearing his sheep in Carmel. Now the name of the man was Nabal; and the name of his wife Abigail: and she was a woman of good understanding, and of a beautiful countenance: but the man was churlish and evil in his doings; and he was of the house of Caleb. (KJV) These verses not only describe the kind of man Nabal was, but also serves as a warning to godly ladies to be careful not to marry bad-mannered men.
-Selfish mindset vs11-17
One notable indication of questionable stewardship is selfishness. A selfish person can never please God and can never be a blessing to others. Selfishness threatens good stewardship and that’s exactly what happened to Nabal’s life.
In I Samuel 25:10-11, it is written, And Nabal answered David's servants, and said, Who is David? and who is the son of Jesse? there be many servants now a days that break away every man from his master. Shall I then take my bread, and my water, and my flesh that I have killed for my shearers, and give it unto men, whom I know not whence they be? (KJV) The words of Nabal revealed his pride and selfish philosophy in life. Keep in mind that we could easily define ourselves through the words that come out from our lips. If we really desire to be a blessing to others, the first step to do is to live selflessly for the glory of God. Be aware that a selfish believer can never be a strong supporter of the spreading of the Gospel.
-Evil dealing with God’s anointed vs18-21, 22-35
Someone had said, “I will pay more for the ability to deal with people than for any other ability under the sun.” Truly, good dealing is so important in our every day life. We confidently believe that good dealing is an important key to an exciting and interminable relationship. On the other hand, evil dealing, especially toward God’s servants, is a sign of questionable stewardship.
In I Samuel 25:21, it is written, Now David had said, Surely in vain have I kept all that this fellow hath in the wilderness, so that nothing was missed of all that pertained unto him: and he hath requited me evil for good. (KJV) What a sharp picture of Nabal’s bad dealing with David. He truly made a big blunder because he overlooked the true identity of David as God’s anointed king of Israel. (See I Samuel 16:1-13) How we deal with other people, especially the servants of God, uncovers the kind of dealing we have toward God, and the way we deal with Him regarding our God-given possessions reveals the kind of steward we are. Good dealing leads us to good stewardship.
-Fleshly activities v36
Fleshly activities keep a person from being a blessing to others. How sad that professing Christians who are deeply involved in fleshly pleasures miss the blessings of God because they oftentimes neglect their commitment to support the Ministry of God. In I Samuel 25:36, it is written, And Abigail came to Nabal; and, behold, he held a feast in his house, like the feast of a king; and Nabal's heart was merry within him, for he was very drunken: wherefore she told him nothing, less or more, until the morning light. (KJV) Through this verse, we could see a glimpse of Nabal’s worldly lifestyle. He made a kingly feast, but he missed the reward of being a channel of blessings to the future king of Israel, which was David. True Christians must closely guard themselves from fleshly lusts and must consider the will of God for their lives and possessions so they may become good stewards of the things God has given them.
(II) The Judgment Of God
I Samuel 25:38-39 Luke 12:13-21
-The heavy hand of God
David planned to take Nabal’s life, but the Lord hindered him through Abigail’s pacifying words. The Bible says, “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God”. The judgment of God upon Nabal’s life serves as a warning to those who do not consider the importance of good stewardship.
In I Samuel 25:37-39, it is written, But it came to pass in the morning, when the wine was gone out of Nabal, and his wife had told him these things, that his heart died within him, and he became as a stone. And it came to pass about ten days after, that the LORD smote Nabal, that he died. And when David heard that Nabal was dead, he said, Blessed be the LORD, that hath pleaded the cause of my reproach from the hand of Nabal, and hath kept his servant from evil: for the LORD hath returned the wickedness of Nabal upon his own head, And David sent and communed with Abigail, to take her to him to wife. (KJV) What a heart-breaking consequences of Nabal’s questionable lifestyle and stewardship. Surely, God returned the wickedness of Nabal upon his own head.
People should not wait for the heavy hand of God to be upon them before realizing their questionable stewardship. Good stewardship is a rewarding task, but foolish stewardship will be judged by the Living and Righteous God.
God wants us to be a trustworthy steward of the things He gave us to enjoy. The Bible tells us that we are accountable to God for the way we manage our possessions: the way we use our physical bodies; spend our time; handle our earthly possessions; use our God-given gifts and abilities; use our opportunity to serve the Lord; and the way we share our hope in Christ to others will surely be weighed and judged by the Righteous Judge, the Lord Jesus Christ. Be sure we have the needed confidence to face the Lord unashamed while we hear Him say, “Well-done my faithful servant”.
ILAGAN BAPTIST CHURCH
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