76 Sermon Illustrations on Stewardship

"Yes, I tithe," said John D. Rockefeller, Sr., "and I would like to tell you how it all came about. I had to begin work as a small boy to help support my mother. My first wages amounted to $1.50 per week. The first week after I went to work, I took the $1.50 home to my mother, and she held the money in her lap and explained to me that she would be happy if I would give a tenth to the Lord. "I did, and from that week until this day I have tithed every dollar God has entrusted to me. And I want to say, if I had not tithed the first dollar I made I would not have tithed the first million dollars I made. Train the children to tithe, and they will grow up to be faithful stewards of the Lord."

A tight-fisted Christian, annoyed by the appeals of his preacher for funds, burst out one day, "Pastor, doesn't the Bible declare that the water of life is free, that grace is without money?" "Yes," replied the preacher, "but it takes pipes to channel the water to the people, and pipes cost money."

Fred sat in his car, glaring angrily at the red traffic light-one minute, two minutes, three minutes! You would think for those little side roads they would have only a one-minute green light. There, only two cars went through all the time that he and the other motorists on the main road were waiting! How frustrating! Those lights always seem to turn red just as you drive up. Behind Fred, in another car, sits Tom. But he does not mind the light a bit. It just gives him a chance to learn another Bible verse. He has a new one in a little stand on the dashboard, and he is saying it over and over. By the time the light changes, he will have another verse to use in witnessing! It is estimated that the average motorist spends 26 hours a year waiting for traffic signals to change. And if Fred and Tom are average motorists, then Fred will spend 26 hours a year running his blood pressure up in angry frustration, and Tom will spend 26 hours a year memorizing God's Word so he will be a better servant of Jesus Christ.

If you had a bank that credited your account each morning with $86,400, that carried over no balance from day to day, and allowed you to keep no cash in your account, and every evening canceled whatever part of the amount you had failed to use during the day, what would you do? Draw out every cent, of course. Well, you have such a bank, and its name is "Time." Every morning it credits you with 86,400 seconds. Every night it rules off, as lost, whatever of this you have failed to invest to good purpose. It carries over no balances. It allows no overdrafts. Each day it opens a new account with you. Each night it burns the records of the day. If you fail to use the day's deposits, the loss is yours. There is no going back. There is no drawing against tomorrow. You must live in the present-on today's deposits. Invest it so as to get from it the utmost in health, happiness and success! Only one life 'Twill soon be past, Only what is done for the Lord Will last!

Talent is a strange word; it means a coin or one's capability or a gift. So when we are given children and we neglect to tell them the stories of faith, we are burying our talents. When we are given friends and we neglect to significantly touch their lives, we are burying our talents. And when we are given a song to sing and we sing it not, we are burying our talents. Whatever talent means-whatever it is we are burying-our money, our faith, our love or a song, the meaning of the story is clear: burying talents means not using God's gifts. Who Is Robbed in Unfaithfulness? An interesting fable is told of a rich man who wanted to help a poor man. The rich man hired the poor man to build a house on the hillside and went away on a long journey. The carpenter said to himself, "My boss is away and I can use cheap materials for the parts of the house which will not show. The house will be weak and undesirable but nobody will know except me." But when the rich man returned he said, "The house is not for me: it is for you!" The carpenter accepted the key in astonishment. Instead of a first class home he now had a fourth-class home. God gives us a job, a life to build. We have to live in the house we build. If we do a shoddy job, we cheat one person-ourself. On Being Honest Many stories are told of Paul Gerhardt whose hymns are still sung in Germany. John Wesley translated some of them into English. Gerhardt's family was very poor. He was the shepherd boy who cared for the small flock of sheep and goats on the edge of the forest. One day a hunter came out from among the trees and asked the lad how far it was to the nearest village. "Six miles, sire," he replied, "but the road is only a sheep track and can easily be missed." "I have lost my way, and I am very tired," returned the hunter. "Leave your sheep and show me the way. I will pay you well." "No, sire," said Gerhardt. "I cannot do that for they would stray into the forest and be stolen or eaten by the wolves." "Never mind; your master would never miss one or two, and I would pay you more than the price of one or two sheep. "But sire, my master trusts me with these sheep, and I have promised not to leave them." "Well," said the hunter, "let me take care of the sheep while you fetch me food from the village and a guide." "The sheep do not know your voice and would not obey you, sir." "Can you not trust me? Do I not look like an honest man?" asked the hunter with a frown. "Sir," said the boy slowly, "You tried to make me false to my trust, and break my word to my master. How do I know that you will keep your word to me?" The hunter could not help laughing. "I see you are an honest lad, and I will not forget you," said the hunter. "Which is the path? I must find my way for myself." But Gerhardt would not let the man depart hungry, so he gave him the humble contents of his scrip. Just at that moment several men came hurrying through the forest uttering shouts of delight as they caught sight of the two of them. Gerhardt had been talking to the Grand Duke, and these were his attendants who had been much alarmed at his disappearance. This was the beginning of Gerhardt's future career of honor and success. Pleased with the lad's honesty, the Duke had him well educated and thus gave him a good state in life. Yes, God wants us to be honest in His sight, and to our fellowman. You will find throughout your life that it pays to be honest.

Here is a parable of a nail that teaches a great lesson: A new place of worship had just been completed. People came from near and far to see it. They admired the beauty of its windows, the walls, the carpet on the floors. Preachers were carried away with the handsome pulpit Bible. On the roof a little two-penny nail held down a shingle. This little nail heard the people praise everything else, but none mentioned the shingle nail or seemed to be conscious of its existence. The little nail became very angry and said, "If I am that insignificant, nobody will miss me if I quit.'So, the little nail pulled out, raced down the steep roof and fell on the soft ground below. That night a big rain came and the shingle nail was buried in the mud. The difference between being buried in the mud and holding down the shingle is this: before the nail was obscure but useful. Furthermore, it was protected under the shingle. Now it will soon be eaten up by rust. The worst of the story is yet to come. The shingle that the nail held down was now loose, and without the cooperation from the nail, it blew away, leaving a hole in the roof. The same big rain that buried the nail leaked in through the vacant spot where the shingle was, running into the beautiful auditorium. The water ran down the walls, leaving them all marred. It leaked upon the Bible and stained its pages. It leaked upon the carpet and the beautiful rug was stained. All because one little nail failed to do its job. Paul says in Romans 12:4-5 that we are "many members in one body, and all members do not have the same function, so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another" (NAS). We have a world to win to the Savior and each of us has a responsibility to that task. What kind of nail are you? One that does his part and is essential to the glory of the Lord or one that fails to do what he is capable of and has the ability to do? Every nail is important and essential.

What the Treasury Department requires in financial matters, the Word of God requires in spiritual matters. The apostle Paul tells us that Christians must regard themselves as "stewards of the mysteries of God" (1 Corinthians 4:1). We are not originators of these mysteries, we are simply the recipients of them, holding them in trust under God. Paul wants to remind us by this expression that we are accountable. He has just finished speaking of that day when the work of each one will be made manifest. Just imagine how careless a treasurer might be if he knew that he would never have to give an accounting of the funds entrusted to him. As Christians we are to live constantly in view of the day of accounting that is coming. We will have to give an accounting for everything God has given us.

Would you call the farmer faithful who didn't care enough to cultivate, weed, and spray his fields after the seed was planted? He should change his methods if he's not getting an adequate yield of produce. The purpose of farming is to raise a good crop, and the purpose of stewardship is to multiply the investment entrusted to a manager by his employer. Christian stewardship entails the responsibility of investing whatever time, talents, and possessions God has given us to yield the best returns to Him.

When I was living in Khartoum, Sudan, a kind man named Stelios Costantinidies used to test me in a very interesting way. I will never forget it for it made a man of me. He would give me sufficient money and a little over to buy a small treat, and then wait to see whether I would return the change. He never asked how much the soda or ice cream cone cost-just how much I had spent. I had to be truthful, so I took the money out and gave him the right change. If you don't think this is a good test of character, try it on your own children.

A man gave several thousand dollars to help build a church. Then came the 1929 Stock Market crash. He lost everything. Someone said, "If you had that money you gave to start the church, you would have had enough to set yourself up in business again." He replied, "I would have lost that money, too, in the crash. As it is, it is the only money I saved. It is now in the bank of heaven, yielding interest which will accumulate until eternity." Hundreds have come to Christ through the church he helped build.

"Certainly the best of our hours should be taken up about the best business, and not in recreations. Those are to be blamed who as soon as they rise think about amusements, knit pleasure to pleasure, and wear away the scythe in whetting, not in working." This is a specially wise hint. Doubtless many occupy the chief of their thoughts upon mere sport and pastime, and wear out their minds by anxiously considering that which can only be allowable as a relief from anxious consideration. To expend more pains upon their pleasures than upon their duties is the mark of ungodly men, and the sign of folly. That which should be a rest from thought is made to be the theme of thought, and so a second wear and tear is created by the very process which ought to have prevented it: the scythe is not only worn away by its cutting, but by its whetting. Christian man, remember this. Let not allowable diversions become occasions for transgression. This they will be if they cause waste of time; for in such a case you will be reported to your Master as a steward who has wasted his goods. Nor will you be blameless if your recreations weary the brain and heart, and cause a new and unremunerative expenditure of force. Above all, you will be greatly censurable if there is the slightest tinge of sin about the amusement: "Abstain from all appearance of evil." "Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that which he alloweth."

A Christian who had made heavy losses asked his pastor about the missionary collection. He said, "I have made it already; but, knowing that you had been a great loser this year, I did not think it proper to call upon you for your usual donation."—"My dear sir," replied the gentleman, "it is very true that I have suffered great losses, and must be prudent in my expenditures; but retrenchment must not begin at the house of God."

Mr. Thornton of Clapham was a noble-hearted Christian merchant. One morning, when he had received news of a failure that involved him in the loss of no less than a hundred thousand dollars, a minister from the country called at his counting-house to ask a subscription for an important object. Hearing that Mr. Thornton had suffered that loss, he apologized for having called. But Mr. Thornton took him kindly by the hand: "My dear sir, the wealth I have is not mine, but the Lord's. It may be he is going to take it out of my hands, and give it to another; and, if so, this is a good reason why I should make good use of what is left." He then doubled the subscription he had formerly intended to give.

Lying rides upon Debt's back. The second vice is lying, the first is running in debt. Creditors have better memories than debtors; and creditors are a superstitious sect, great observers of set days and times. Those have a short Lent who owe money to be paid at Easter. Franklin.

Economy is the parent of integrity, of liberty, and of ease, and the beauteous sister of temperance, of cheerfulness, and health; and profuseness is a cruel and crafty demon, that gradually involves her followers in dependence and debts; that is, fetters them with "irons that enter their souls."

— Hawksworth

A close-fisted church-goer paid his pew-rent reluctantly, saying that he should waste no more money in that way. Nothing could change his resolution. He staid away from church, and his sons followed his example. They soon formed bad habits. The old man saved his pew-rent; but his boys squandered all his property, which they managed to get into their hands: and in his old age he was turned out into the world houseless and penniless. His five dollars had cost him over eight thousand dollars, and who can estimate all the other losses?

A heartless, miserly old man died at an advanced age, possessed of considerable property, no portion of which could he be prevailed on, during life, to part with to the pressing necessities of those around him. His stewardship closed. At once niggardly and ostentatious, he left in his will, that "one thousand pounds should be expended on his funeral." To a benevolent lady of the neighborhood, whose earliest and latest thought had reference to the welfare of the necessitous, this happy suggestion occurred: "Why not benefit the poor by this strange injunction? Why not invite all the needy, infirm, and aged of the neighborhood to this rich man's funeral, and give them clothing suited to the ceremony?" The idea was adopted and carried out. It was a delightful funeral, — the most cheerful scene that had been witnessed there for years. No tears, no groans, no sighs, not a mourner visible; everybody smiling, and in tip-top spirits. The old women came trotting along, each in a warm comfortable cloak, new gown and bonnet; the old men in a full suit of decent black. None thought it necessary to look lugubrious and lachrymose, or other than they really felt, — heart-glad. Right joyous was the spectacle! and pleasant to many was the thought, that the old miser who had taken special care to aid no poor creatures when alive should have made so many aged hearts light and happy when he died. Yes; that was a funeral worth attending.

— Rev. Erskine Neale

If, instead of serving mammon, a man compels it to serve him; if, instead of making it his master, he uses it as his slave; if, instead of looking up to it, he places it beneath him, makes it look up towards himself, to know his will and do his bidding; if he thus regards it as an instrument, and employs it, as it may be employed, for the promotion of great and good objects, — why, then, its very nature will change: it will be faithful and devoted, pure and upright, tender and true; for it will partake the character and be filled with the spirit of its Master and Lord. The great brazen idol, when deposed from its unrighteous pre-eminence, broken to fragments, and stamped to dust under the foot of the man who stands over it, will be found to have become most precious. Its dust then turns into living seed, which can be scattered abroad by the strong hand, and sown beside all waters, and which will spring up, and be abundantly productive, — productive of that golden grain which is worthy of being gathered into the garner of God. Binney.

It is foolish to allow our hearts to lean upon any earthly good, which must soon perish. It is like putting all one's money into the coat-pocket, which a clever thief may cut off and steal. A great man once told a youth to empty his purse into his head, if he wished to keep his money safely; meaning that a good education would be the best and surest investment for his little capital.

A charity was solicited of a prosperous merchant; but he said, "I shall not give you a dollar. I am done giving." Soon after, his great warehouse, the product of years of labor, was burned down. This was followed by news of the loss of his only ship at sea, and this by the breaking of the bank, by which all his means were swept away, and his family beggared. Then he learned that he was but a steward of God, and never again said that he was "done giving."

A beggar upon the way asked something of an honorable lady. She gave him sixpence, saying, "This is more than ever God gave me."—"O madam!" says the beggar, "madam! you have abundance, and God hath given all that you have: say not so, good madam."—"Well," says she, "I speak the truth; for God hath not given, but lent unto me what I have, that I may bestow it upon such as thou art." Spencer.

A man went to the bank in Middletown, Conn., asking and receiving specie for bills to the amount of a thousand dollars. He had kept these bills just as he had received them more than twenty years. If he had deposited them in a savings bank, and allowed them to remain on interest, he might have drawn almost three times the amount at the end of this long interval. How many men will appear at the judgment to give an account of their stewardship, with their talents as little improved by wise and diligent use!

What is not needed is dear at a farthing. — Latin. — A fat kitchen has poverty for a neighbor. Saving is the first gain. — Italian. — Keep a thing seven years, and you'll find use for it. A fool may make money; but it needs a wise man to spend it. A good bargain is a pick purse. — English. — One cannot have a good pennyworth of bad ware. — French.

We all complain of the shortness of time; and yet we have more than we know what to do with. Our lives are spent either in doing nothing at all, or in doing nothing to the purpose, or in doing nothing that we ought to do. We are always complaining that our days are few, and acting as though there would be no end of them. Seneca.

The learned Grotius had for his motto Hora ruit. By it he lived, improving every moment; yet so great was his sense of non-improvement, that at his death he cried, "I have wasted my life in incessant toil, and have done nothing."