FAITHFULWORD.ORG | TEACHINGS

Psalm 34:10; 37:3; I Corinthians 29:12-14; Matthew 6:8-11; II Corinthians 9:6-10; Matthew 14:14-21; John 6:3-13: [I Kings 17:91-6]; Proverbs 24:30-34; Luke 16:10, 11; Matthew 25:14-28

An important vital message today, as it ever was, is the old adage, “Waste not, want not.” We must first begin by looking at how God provides whatever His people need. Psalm 34:10 says they that seek the Lord shall not want any good thing. Psalm 37:3 promises us that we shall be fed as we trust in the Lord and do good. The first key is to trust in the Lord.

Everything in this earth is God’s. Anything with which we are blessed in the physical realm are things over which we are just stewards. The more faithful we are with physical things, the more God can entrust us with. God will provide our daily bread and whatever we need to sustain ourselves, physically and spiritually.

In considering stewardship of physical things, we realize we must plant seeds to grow plants. God’s Word exhorts us to give not grudgingly or of necessity but out of a cheerful heart. Everything we have came from God. It is His prerogative to allow us to lose it or to no longer bless us in a certain area if we are being poor stewards. Parents understand this as they raise their children. If the child is not being responsible, then he or she will lose the privileges extended by the parents.

The records regarding the feeding of the multitude are wonderful examples of good stewardship. When the people needed to eat, Jesus first asked what was available. There were five barley loves and two fishes to feed a multitude of five thousand men, plus women and children. Jesus’ response was to look to heaven, bless and brake the loaves. All were filled. There were also twelve baskets full of loaves remaining. Jesus’ instructions to “gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost” is a great example of good stewardship. He knew that God had blessed them and did not want to waste the blessing. “Waste not, want not” is a Biblical principle.

Proverbs speaks of the vineyard of the man void of understanding. It was grown over with thorns, and the stone wall was broken down. This was not good stewardship. God’s Word teaches us we are not to be lazy regarding the things He gives us to steward.

The account of the men with the talents is another great lesson on stewardship. The master decided how much each would receive because he understood how much each could handle.

Those who used well what the master had given were rewarded with more blessings. The man who did not use his talent lost his privilege.

If we waste not, we will want not. Some principles to apply in good stewardship are to (1) budget; (2) save money; (3) pray for our belongings (4) speak with others who have found ways to be good stewards and make lists of how to take care of things properly and (5) acknowledge the source of our supply.

In the days ahead, God will bless us if we steward what we have now and what He will give us. If we prove faithful in these matters, we will be counted among those whom God calls upon in the days ahead to help others in times of need.