Christian Stewardship
1 Corinthians 4:2
“Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful.”
Stewardship is the practice of responsible administration and apportionment of all time, abilities and material possessions based upon the conviction and acknowledgement that they are owned and provided by God and entrusted to our oversight.
1- Stewardship is delegated oversight.
Here are some examples:
Abraham and Eliezee (Genesis 24)
Potiphar and Joseph (Genesis 39:4)
Pharaoh and Joseph (Genesis 41:39-45)
God the Father and Jesus the Son (Matthew 28:18, 1Corinthians 15:24-28)
The responsibilities involved in stewardship are determined by the owner rather that the stewards – note Abraham, Potiphar and Pharaoh.
Genesis 41:39
“Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Inasmuch as God has shown you all this, there is no one as discerning and wise as you.”
The steward’s wisdom, ability and faithfulness will ultimately determine the measure of his responsibility.
2- Basic areas for which we are responsible as stewards.
a. Life – What you have received
Genesis 1:27-28
“So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. 28 Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”
Acts 17:25
“Nor is He worshipped with men’s hands, as though He needed anything, since He gives to all life, breath, and all things.”
James 1:17
“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.”
Our very lives belong to Christ, live for Him and His purposes. Don’t make rash decisions on important things, such as marriage, jobs, where you will live. Consider them carefully through prayer and with apostolic counsel, the pastors the Lord put over you (not random people even if they are pastors or leaders). Learn to be accountable, accountability is a safe way to live our lives. So many Christians live with regret because they didn’t seek godly counsel.
b. Time – what you are allotted.
Proverbs 24:30-34
“I went by the field of the lazy man, and by the vineyard of the man devoid of understanding; 31 And there it was, all overgrown with thorns; its surface was covered with nettles; its stone wall was broken down. 32 When I saw it, I considered it well; I looked on it and received instruction: 33 A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest; 34 So shall your poverty come like a prowler, and your need like an armed man.
Psalm 90:12 So teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.”
Everyone gets the same amount of time, 24 hours a day and what we do with those hours, months and years of our lives will have to give an account. Don’t waste time and live for Christ in His grace.
c. Talents – what you have been given to use.
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. 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. Therefore 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.’”
We will have to give an account for the talents God has given us and how we used them for God’s glory. Don’t hide your talent but use it in the Kingdom for Christ.
d. Possessions – what is entrusted to you.
Matthew 6:19-21
“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
Colossians 3:1-2
“If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. 2 Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.”
People can easily get attached to things such as a car or a house, etc. But we must set our hearts on Christ and eternity, not on temporary things of this earth. Look after them and be good stewards yet don’t set your hearts on them.
e. Finances – what you labour for
1 Corinthians 16:1-2
“Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given orders to the Churches of Galatia, so you must do also: 2 On the first day of the week let each one of you lay something aside, storing up as he may prosper, that there be no collections when I come.”
Deuteronomy 8:18
“And you shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth, that He may establish His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day.”
The Lord gives the power to create wealth, therefore we must be good stewards of it.
f. Earth – where we live presently.
Through sin a curse came to man but in Christ the curse is broken, now we are stewards of it.
Genesis 3:17-19
“Then to Adam He said, “Because you have heeded the voice of your wife, and have eaten from the tree of which I commanded you, saying, ‘You shall not eat of it’: “Cursed is the ground for your sake; in toil you shall eat of it all the days of your life. 18 Both thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you, and you shall eat the herb of the field. 19In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for dust you are, and to dust you shall return.”
Romans 5:18-19
“Therefore, as through one man’s offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man’s righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life. For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous.”
g. Family
Proverbs 18:22
“He who finds a wife finds a good thing, and obtains favour from the Lord.”
Matthew 19:14
“But Jesus said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven.”
Even the people the Lord joins us to such as a wife/ husband and the children the Lord gives us we are to steward them. Treat them well because they belong to the Lord. Be responsible in training your children for the ministry God has for them.
Karina Maile