WHAT IS STEWARDSHIP IN CHRISTIANITY

WHAT IS STEWARDSHIP IN CHRISTIANITY (CHRISTIAN STEWARDSHIP)?

What is Stewardship

The idea of scriptural stewardship is continually raised in the Christian setting. At any point yet, do we truly stop to contemplate what being a decent steward really implies?

Truly, have you at any point dialed back and thought about how being a steward influences your life beyond the contribution plate and providing for chapel pledge drives?

Actually, stewardship has next to no to do with real money. Certainly, we apply inborn worth to those paper-ish bills in our wallets, however assuming that you demolished the monetary framework today, stewardship would in any case exist tomorrow.

The following are a couple of considerations on stewardship, what it is, the means by which it explicitly applies to the Holy book, and what models we can see of this colossally significant movement both in the sacred writings and in our own lives.

WHAT IS STEWARDSHIP

I need to begin with an exceptionally fundamental clarification of stewardship as an idea. At its root, stewardship will in general reduce to the act of watching, overseeing, or managing something on the behalf of another.

Merriam Webster makes sense of it as "“the careful and responsible management of something entrusted to one's care.”

Dictionary.com's stewardship definition utilizes the expression "a person who acts as the surrogate of another” adding that they are responsible for “overseeing and protection of something considered worth caring for and preserving.”

Indeed, even Wikipedia reveals some helpful insight into the subject by making sense that stewardship includes the "planning and management of resources.”

I needed to dive into these "shallow" mainstream definitions first since even in quite a while of the world the demonstration of being a steward is truly significant. It includes liability and responsibility. It takes work and consideration.

The term proxy especially stands apart to me here. In numerous ways, as Christians, we are God's proxies in, to, and for his creation. All in all, we are following up for the benefit of another person when we connect with our general surroundings.

This is critical to understand, as it lays out the way that we are plainly in an important, influential place that is, all by itself, dependent upon a more significant position.

Christianity and stewardship

BIBLICAL STEWARDSHIP

Interestingly, the New Testament word for stewardship comes from the Greek word oikonomos, which basically means the manager of the affairs of a household or in other words, work. This guardianship position is clearly shown throughout the Bible from beginning to end (more on those examples in a minute.)

When it comes to being good stewards through the lens of a Biblical mindset, in particular, it turns out that one of the primary factors that make us good Stewards is a life intimately spent with Christ. No, that’s not a cop-out answer. It is the answer. A life spent with the master naturally makes the servant a better manager of their affairs.

In a sense Biblical stewardship is a responsibility, a duty, dare I saw an obligation of Christians. We’re required to impact, care for, utilize, and manage the affairs of creation in whatever way God brings us into contact with it.

This isn’t a silent partnership with God, either. Biblical stewardship involves going “all in” with our time, effort, sacrifice, talents, and resources — and when I say “our,” the truth is, they’re all His anyway. That’s why being good stewards is such a crucial part of the Christian lifestyle.

THE FRUITS OF GOOD STEWARDSHIP

There are countless fruits that come with good stewardship. Matthew Henry said, “God’s good stewards have something to show for their diligence.”

While many of the results of being good stewards are tangible, human beings, thus, helping the helpless, tithing, caring for the Earth, etc. — there are also instances where the act of Christian stewardship creates results on the inside. For instance:

Help us shed the idea that we own things.
Mold us into better people.
Increase our willingness and ability to help others.
Point us to God.

Christian stewardship

Here are a few questions we can ask ourselves to better gauge how well we’re operating as stewards:

How does being good stewards make us better people?

Is being a good steward making you a more responsible individual? Is it increasing your sense of accountability? Do you find yourself more willing or even eager to serve others?

Does our stewardship let us help others in need?

John Wesley answered this one best when he said, “Do you not know that God entrusted you with that money (all above what buys necessities for your families) to feed the hungry, to clothe the naked, to help the stranger, the widow, the fatherless; and, indeed, as far as it will go, to relieve the wants of all mankind? How can you, how dare you, defraud the Lord, by applying it to any other purpose?”

Is your stewardship disconnecting you from your possessions and making it easier to help those in need?

Does our stewardship constantly points us to Jesus Christ?

Being a steward doesn’t have to look like Denethor leading Gondor without a king in The Lord of the Rings. Biblical stewardship is an intimate activity that should push us closer to a God that is very present and active in his Creation.

Is our behavior as stewards making us more Christ-like?

Again, I’ll turn to the theologians on this one. R.C. Sproul hit this on the head when he said, “Fundamentally, stewardship is about exercising our God-given dominion over His creation, reflecting the image of our creator God in His care, responsibility, maintenance, protection, and beautification of His creation.”

Are you reflecting the image of your Creator as a steward of his creation?

Meaning of Christian stewardship

Examples of stewardship in the bible

Alright, while we’ve discussed meanings, benefits, and concepts so far, I always like to drive these home with examples. Let’s take a minute to consider just a handful of times that we see stewardship in the Bible.

Stewardship starts with Adam and Eve

The first few chapters of Genesis revolve around stewardship — and not just the fact that humanity is called to be stewards of Creation, either. They also establish the absolute truth that God created everything.

Why does that matter in this context? Because it makes it crystal clear that any righteous authority within creation is rooted in the Creator. In other words, everything in creation is under God, and therefore any authority you have comes to you via the position of a steward.

Then, of course, there’s the most iconic form of stewardship in all of Christianity. God makes man in His own image and then He “let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.” (Gen 1:26b King James Version — used throughout).

Joseph was a steward more than once

The most practical version of God-given guardianship that we see in the Bible comes from Joseph. The man serves as a steward both in Potiphar’s house and as the Pharaoh’s right hand over the entire nation of Egypt.

Throughout his life, this man consistently shows what it takes to care for a master’s possessions. He helps Potiphar’s household thrive and even protects his master’s wife from himself. When he’s promoted to second in command in the whole nation, he does his best to protect the Pharaoh’s threatened resources, literally saving countless lives while doing so.

King David has a faith relapse as a steward

King David, the man, was an awesome king, and most of his time in leadership provides us with examples of good stewards that look to God for guidance. However, I’m going to pick on him a little bit here.

In 1 Chronicle chapter 21, David insists on taking a census of the nation of Israel even though he knows God doesn’t want him to. Eventually, God punishes him for his lack of faith and nearly destroys Jerusalem.

While David repents, the episode shows us that even the best stewards can act out of their own fear of failure. David was afraid that Israel wasn’t strong enough to protect itself, and ultimately he let that fear drive his actions — even when they didn’t line up with the Lord’s.

Stewardship in Christianity defined

Jesus Christ’s parable of the talents

In Matthew 25 Jesus gives us one of the most classic examples of being a good steward in the form of the parable of the talents. The lesson shows three servants that are entrusted with the wealth of their master.

In this case, the failure doesn’t come from failing to protect and preserve, but rather a lack of motivation to build on what was given.

The Church is one collective steward

In Matthew 28:18-20 Jesus Christ tells his disciples that “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations.” He also instructs them to baptize and teach these new disciples.

While Genesis feels like a big deal, in truth, this spiritual transference of authority is one of the biggest moments of Christian stewardship in the entire Bible. It literally assigns the entire Church the task of continuing the work of Jesus Christ himself.

Of course, the Holy Spirit is sent to help us with the work (God really doesn’t leave any loose ends, God doesn't make mistakes, does he?). This concept of God-given stewardship comes up multiple times after this, too. One example that comes to mind is when Paul refers to himself and Apollos as God’s workers in 1 Cor 3:9.

Needless to say, there are countless examples of being a Christian and a good steward throughout the Bible. Some are positive. Others are negative. All of them are worthy of our attention.

God calls us to be stewards

Now, before you stop reading and sign off, I want to address one more thing. Sure, there are great examples of being good stewards in the Bible, but how can we apply it to our own lives? Here are some thoughts I have on areas where stewardship can be expressed in the modern Christian life:

It can be expressed in every breath that we breathe

Any number of CCM lyrics have stated it, and I’ll do it again. Your life isn’t your own — it’s on loan from God. This naturally fills your entire life with the purpose of stewardship. Everything you do is an action rooted in your role as a steward in your life.

Stewardship is servitude

It can be expressed in how we run the Church

The church is a huge area where the call of stewardship endures — even two thousand years after Christ gave us the Great Commission. Much like our personal lives, expressing stewardship here is a multi-faceted affair that includes caring for congregants, the local community, and even the church building and so on.

It can be expressed in our personal and professional lives

Stewardship is very present in family life, whether you’re talking about caring for marriage, raising children, or even organizing and overseeing a house.

In addition, it can be seen in the workplace. It doesn’t matter if you’re a manager, a team leader, or you’re just caring for company property. Stewardship is an integral part of professional life.

It can be expressed in how we treat the Earth

Regardless of your views on climate change and the environment, being a good steward is part and parcel of the Christian lifestyle. It’s literally one of the first things that God entrusts mankind to care for.

If you aren’t making smart choices that keep God’s entire creation in mind, you may need to reconsider your motives.

It can be expressed in our finances and other resources

Now, before you take stewardship as a call to be rich, let me say that the goal here isn’t to amass wealth.

Good stewardship requires making wise choices that don’t tie your own emotions into each decision — i.e. you’re managing God’s resources, not your own. Do this faithfully and without attaching your own hopes and dreams to the success or failure of those resources.

Living a life of stewardship

At the end of the day, taking on stewardship responsibilities isn’t just important. It’s an essential part of our walk as Christians.

So take some time to reevaluate your own actions. Seriously, do it right now if you can. Are you being a good steward? What can you do to improve? Pray, consider, and reorient yourself if necessary. The fruits of your stewardship will follow in time.