Biblical Stewardship
When people think of good stewardship, they usually think of managing finances and being faithful in paying tithes and offerings. And that is true but the word means more than that. Stewardship is the management of time, talents, possessions, all that a person may have. Consciousness of this fact keeps a man faithful and enables him to view all that he has in its true perspective.
Regarding Biblical Stewardship the Scriptures say, “The earth is the Lord’s, and all its fullness, the world and those who dwell therein” (Psalm 24:1). God being the Creator, He has a right to the earth, to all that it contains, and to all its inhabitants. Stewardship shows God as the owner and man as the manager (Acts 17:25). “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” (Deuteronomy 8:18).
C. S. Lewis in Mere Christianity says about stewardship that, “Every faculty you have, your power of thinking or of moving your limbs from moment to moment, is given you by God. If you devoted every moment of your whole life exclusively to His service, you could not give Him anything that was not in a sense His own already.”
In the parable of the Talents we are called to be accountable for what the Lord gives us in accordance with the principles He has established. “And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ” (Colossians 3:23, 24). Therefore, stewardship includes also our service to God “For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, God’s building” (1 Corinthians 3:9).
In summary, stewardship shows our practical obedience in the management of all that have been entrusted to us. It is the consecration of one’s self and possessions to God and His service. And the Lord promises a reward for the good stewardship: “For if I do this willingly, I have a reward” (1 Corinthians 9:17).
Check out our Bible Answers page for more information on a variety of topics.
In His service,
BibleAsk Team
