KidzPort January 25 – Stewardship

January 26, 2009

It is never too early to begin training a child in responsibility, and so a teaching on the concept of stewardship is appropriate at any age.  We began by defining what a “steward” is: a person who is responsible to care for someone else’s possessions. 

So what does this have to do with God?  Well, basically, if we believe (and we do!) that God is the rightful owner of all things, that makes us all stewards of everything in our possession: things, homes – even people we are responsible for caring for.

The main lesson came out of Matthew 25, verses 14-30: what is commonly known as the Parable of the Talents.  In this story, Jesus tells of a wealthy man who entrusted some of his money two three servants.  Two of the servants invested the money (at their own risk) and doubled the master’s money.  The third, fearing losing the money, buried his small allotment in the ground.

When the master returned, he was pleased with the servants who had risked and gained, and was angry with the servant who had feared his master’s wrath.  This story tells us how God expects us to invest our own “talents.”  While there might be a risk involved (noteably a risk of failure) God would be more upset if we simply “bury” our talents out of fear.

For Parents:

• Re-read the Parable of the Talents with your child.  Have them explain to you what each servant did right or wrong.
• Discuss with your child how they can be “Good Stewards” of the things they have been blessed with. 
• They have a homework assignment: to list five talents that they have, and tell how t hey can use them for God.

Memory Verse:  Matthew 25:21

His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’