How Our View of God Shapes Our Stewardship
Faith & Finance with Rob West
A.W. Tozer once wrote in The Knowledge of the Holy, “What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.” Our understanding of God influences everything—including how we handle what He has entrusted to us. In the Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14-30), Jesus tells a story that reveals how our perception of God directly affects our stewardship. Three servants are given different amounts of money while their master is away. Two invest what they receive and are rewarded for their faithfulness. The third, however, buries his portion out of fear. His failure wasn’t just financial—it was a failure of understanding his master’s character.
Show Notes
In the Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14-30), Jesus tells a story that reveals how our perception of God directly affects our stewardship. Three servants are given different amounts of money while their master is away. Two invest what they receive and are rewarded for their faithfulness. The third, however, buries his portion out of fear. His failure wasn’t just financial—it was a failure of understanding his master’s character.
A Misunderstanding That Led to Fear
At first glance, the punishment of the third servant might seem extreme. After all, he didn’t lose the money—he simply didn’t invest it. But Jesus’ parable isn’t just about financial stewardship; it’s about how we see God.
The third servant viewed his master as “a hard man” (Matthew 25:24), someone to be feared rather than trusted. His words reveal the issue of his heart:“Master, I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. So I was afraid and went out and hid your gold in the ground.” - Matthew 25:24-25His fear of failure led him to inaction. Instead of seeing an opportunity, he saw a trap. Instead of seeing generosity, he saw harshness. And because of that, he did nothing.
This is the danger of a wrong view of God. When we perceive Him as an unrelenting taskmaster, we shrink back—afraid to fail, hesitant to step out, reluctant to engage with what He has given us. We bury our talents—whether our time, resources, or gifts—assuming He is more interested in punishment than partnership. But Scripture reminds us:
“There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment.” - 1 John 4:18Faith and Trust Lead to Fruitfulness
In contrast, the first two servants acted in faith. They saw their master as someone worth serving, embracing their responsibility with joy. They took risks, multiplied what they had been given, and were met with their master’s praise:
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