STEWARDSHIP OF LIFE

(Sermon outline by David L. Oxley, Sr., pastor of Calvary Christian Fellowship, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.)

Introduction:

What is stewardship?

• It is the office or position of a steward

What is a steward?

• Manager or management of “another’s” property
• Steward does not own
• Steward manages

What about the “stewardship of life?”

• What you do, with what you’ve got
• Not what you don’t have
• What are you going to do with what you have?
• What are we going to do with what we have, while we are living?

Text: II Chronicles 34th Chapter
Located within this O.T. chapter are some very interesting examples of individuals who “practiced” the “Stewardship of Life.” Some we will examine are:

• King Josiah
• Hilkiah the High Priest
• Shaphan the Temple Secretary/Scribe
• Huldah the Prophetess

1. King Josiah practiced the “Stewardship of Life”. Becoming King as a “mere” boy at age 8. This godly king, ruled in righteousness for 31 years.

• Did what was right in the sight of the Lord
• Walked (followed) in the ways of his father David
• Was consistent; did not turn aside to the right or the left
• While young, began to “seek the God” of his father David
• At age 20 began to “purge” the land of idolatry
• When THE BOOK was discovered/recovered, as King, he repented, responded, and restored righteousness
• V.33 Josiah removed all the abominations, made of Israel “diligently” serve the Lord “their” God. All of King Josiah’s days they did not depart from following the Lord God of their fathers!
• Note! Because Josiah “practiced the stewardship of Life” his stewardship opened the door and influenced the other leadership’s stewardship we will discuss!

2. Hilkiah the High Priest practiced the “Stewardship of Life” in his priestly role.

• Received and responsibly stewarded the money funded to repair the Temple and restore true worship
• Hilkiah “found” THE BOOK of the Law of the Lord given by Moses
• Hilkiah was the key hinge between King Josiah and the Huldah the prophetess (Big doors swing on little hinges)

3. Shaphan the Temple Secretary/Scribe practiced the “Stewardship of Life”

• Was entrusted to repair the house of the Lord his God v.8
• Hilkiah entrusted THE BOOK to Shaphan who carried it to King Josiah
• Shaphan read THE BOOK to King Josiah
• King Josiah trusted Shaphan as one of the “inquiry party” to Huldah the prophetess

4. Huldah the Prophetess practiced the “Stewardship of Life”

• Her name means “the world” and “prophetess”
• Was married to the keeper of the wardrobe (deducing that she practiced a “balanced” life as wife and prophetess
• Was faithful to give “the word of the Lord” to and for King Josiah and the people

Conclusion:
As King, Josiah the leader mentored and modeled, by and through his personal practice the “Stewardship of Life.” As a result, other leadership in his realm practiced the “Stewardship of Life” in their respective roles of leadership and ministry. Ultimately, the people practiced personally a lifestyle of stewardship that pleased the Lord!