Today most people think of Stewardship as budgets and requests for money. But for Christians, the idea of stewardship is much more. We believe that stewardship starts with our faith and trust in Christ. The following are the five basic ideas that guide us in a lifestyle of Stewardship.
Ownership – Psalm 24:1 “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it.” This is biblical stewardship. We own nothing and God owns everything. Stewardship is an outward expression of our obedience to God in managing what He has graciously given us.
Responsibility – “Although God gives us ‘all things richly to enjoy,’ nothing is ours. Nothing really belongs to us. God owns everything; we’re responsible for how we treat it and what we do with it. While we complain about our rights here on earth, the Bible constantly asks, ‘What about your responsibilities?’ Owners have rights; stewards have responsibilities.” – Bill Peel. Stewards are expected to manage assets according to the desires and goals of the owners. Just as we are responsible for using “our” assets to further God’s work, desires, and goals not our own.
Accountability – Just as a financial advisor is accountable to their client for the management of the client’s assets, so too are we accountable for our management of God’s assets. In Matthew, Jesus teaches us that we will all give account of how well we have managed the assets we have been entrusted with through the Parable of the Talents. We are all accountable for how we manage what God has given us including our abilities, time, knowledge, and money.
Gratitude – Colossians 3:23-24 says, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.” The Parable of the Talents tells us those that are faithful stewards of God’s resources will be fully rewarded in heaven if not on earth.
Joy—Just think of Zacchaeus in Luke 19. What is it that prompts him to divest himself of all his wealth? It’s his discovery of the One who loves him and provides him with all that he’s ever desired. He’s a living example of the one who finds treasure hidden in a field. In his joy he goes and sells all he has and buys that field! (Matthew 13:44)
Stewardship goes beyond the monetary, it ties every aspect of our life to God’s will and how we show Him to the world. It is our responsibility to be faithful stewards of everything we have been given to further His kingdom.
