LEADERSHIP CAPSULE
Committed to raising, mentoring and equipping leaders to ultimately fulfill the Great Commission.
Tuesday, December 13, 2016

TITLE : LEADERSHIP IS STEWARDSHIP 7

Matthew 25:14-30 "For it is just like a man about to go on a journey, who called his own steward and entrusted his resources to them. "To one he gave five talent, to another, two, and to another, one, each according to his own ability; and he went on his journey. "Immediately the one who had received the five talents went and traded with them..........." emphasis added mine

UNDERSTANDING & MANAGING RESOURCES

Stewardship means to manage resources in such a way that you increase or maximize them for the master's purpose. It is the effective use or management of resources towards a worthy objective. The word manage means the ability to coordinate and keep control.

The Parable of the Talents tells a story and gives many truths about the Stewardship of Life. Each of us are but God's steward. Everything we have is on loan from God, entrusted to us for a while to use in serving His purpose. We are all accountable for whatever we do with the resources God has entrusted to us.

God has invested talent in each and everyone one of us. God looks our abilities and sees not just who we are, but who we can become and what we can accomplish for His glory.  The servants in this parable were each given talents according to their abilities. Each servant had potential. The stewards in this parable were all responsible for the talents that they had been given. God has entrusted us with the talents that He has invested in us. We have an obligation to to manage and develop these resources.

The talents that are spoken of in this parable are symbolic of more than just money. The talents also seem to be a metaphor for gifts, grace and abilities, potential or rather resources. The master who was issuing the talents to his servants was giving to each one according to his ability. The master who was giving these talents expected his servants to invest,, increase, be fruitful-and--multiply. what they had been entrusted with. The only way that they could succeed was to use what they had been given.  Ephesians 4:7 says "unto every one of is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ". An empty purposeless life is one that has not employed the gifts that God has given.
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When God gives you resources, He wants you to manage them, care for them, cultivate them, increase and work them. God gives you resources so you can accomplish what He put you on earth to do.Thus, leaders are are those who have learned and use their resources.

There are eleven types of resources you must understand and manage if you're going to become a successful steward leader

1. Spiritual resources : These resources include the gifts of the spirit. God does not want you ignorant of the gifts that He is placed inside you. It is to build or edify the church (1 Cor 12:1-11).

2. Physical resources : God created you and put your spirit into your body. Your body is a gift from God that needs to managed. Like any of God's resources, improper care and appropriate attitudes toward your body can result in abuse. We don't own our body. it is God's. It was entrusted to you to manage. 1 Cor 6:12-15)

3. Material resources.

4. The Resources of the soul. God had given you a soul to express who you are. Your spirit depends on your soul, as does your body. Your soul includes your mind, intellect, will, emotions, Think for a moment what life would be without these resources.

5. The Resource of Time. Time is God's gift- one of his precious resources. Be a good steward of time. Make the hours of your day count.

6. The Resource of Life. Life itself is a gift from God and we are accountable to him how we use our life. Stewardship involves our whole lives.

7. The Resource of Talents or giftings. This include your special innate ability e.g singing, teaching e.t.c.

8. The Resource of treasury. This include money, gold e.t.c

9. The Resources of Energy. Your energy is a resource to serve the master's purpose. This include passion, physical strength, emotional strength and spiritual strength.

10. The Resource of Relationship. Your marriage is a resource you must manage. If you are a parent your children are not yours. They are entrusted to you by God. God owns them all!!

11. The Resource of the Anointing. God has placed different kinds of his anointing on people especially the ministry gift. You are responsible to manage and use it for blessing others.

Think what life would be without all these resources. God provides many resources beyond all I have mentioned to challenge your potential. Are you a good steward of these resources? Or are you even aware that you have these assets?
Do you serve others with these resources?
The wealth of your resources is limitless. View your gifts, life, time, money - everything you have as a resource to be used in God's service instead of property to be hoarded for your benefit.

Finally beloved I challenge you now to use to the fullest all that God has given to you. Learn to use wisely and effectively the wealth of resources entrusted to you by God. (Mathew 25:29)

To be continued....... Thanks for reading
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