"Into Outer Darkness"

Introduction to ‘Stewardship’

Consider this, God OWNS all the wealth in World... He created it, and in the end, He will destroy it. (2 Peter 3:10)

Do we really believe God is omniscient (knows everything past, present and future)? If we believe that, we have to accept that God knows specifically what our abilities, (He gave them to us) and our limitations are. (How else could He Promise not to let us ‘be tempted beyond our strength’ in 1 Corinthians 10:13?)

What does that have to do with stewardship? What is stewardship anyway?

Merriam-Webster online dictionary: LINK
Defines ‘Stewardship’ as: “the careful and responsible management of something entrusted to one’s care”

Stewardship is taking care of EVERYTHING God entrusts to our care, including money!

The ‘classic’ Biblical example of stewardship is called ‘The Parable of the Talents’. Matthew 25:14-30 “"For the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them. (15)And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey. Then he who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents. And likewise he who had received two gained two more also. But he who had received one went and dug in the ground, and hid his lord’s money. After a long time the lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them.”
“So he who had received five talents came and brought five other talents, saying, ‘Lord, you delivered to me five talents; look, I have gained five more talents besides them.’ 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.’ He also who had received two talents came and said, ‘Lord, you delivered to me two talents; look, I have gained two more talents besides them.’ His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’”
“Then he who had received the one talent came and said, ‘Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed. And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground. Look, there you have what is yours.’”
“But his lord answered and said to him, ‘You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed. So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest. So take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents.’”
“'For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away. And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'” [all emphasis added is mine]

Pastors frequently preach about this parable, but often overlook a significant point. Take a close look at verse 15, "to each according to his own ability". ‘Own Ability’ - we are not competing with someone else’s ability.

God knows each of our abilities and limitations. He has entrusted to us, ‘each according to his own ability’, exactly as much wealth as we are able to manage! Whenever we go into debt, we are being bad stewards, and taking on more than we are able.

Previously, I stated that I was not ready to receive the gifts He promised. I had to ‘prove’ my abilities, by being a good steward with what little I had, before receiving more. The parable illustrates that specifically. The first two stewards ‘proved’ their abilities, and received an increase. The third proved he was NOT able to handle what he was given. When he failed, he lost all, and then was put 'into the outer darkness'.
While this parable is allegorical ('the kingdom of Heaven is like'), these principles of stewardship are repeated often in the Bible.
I can tell you from personal experience, that there is very little in this world that compares to the depression, despair and ‘outer darkness’ of being homeless, in debt slavery, and hungry. Even with a place to live, and food on the table, the constant nagging anxiety of debt slavery, and the ‘threat’ of losing all because the bills keep piling up is ‘outer darkness’.

Stewardship is taking care of what you are given! Giving it away to debt is bad stewardship and leads to ‘outer darkness’. The ‘outer darkness’ of depression, anxiety, resentment, and because it is sin, interrupted fellowship with God.