So what is Biblical stewardship?
It is essential to define Biblical stewardship. It is important that we understand it, as our understanding will directly impact our activity as stewards.
A quick recap
I have mentioned in previous articles that while we often do not use ‘stewardship’ as a label today, the activity still occurs frequently. In its simplest form it is caring for, or managing something that belongs to another. If we look carefully we see stewardship played out around us in many diverse situations and vocations.
The person who cares for your family’s pets while you are on vacation stewards your precious canines or felines. The GM of a sports team has a stewardship of that team on behalf of the owners. The manager of a fast food location running that restaurant for the franchise owner is that owner’s steward.
So how about a definition?
At Legacy Ministries Canada we define Biblical stewardship as follows:
“Stewardship is the care, management, and use
of God’s property, gifts and resources
by His people, for His glory.”
While this is fairly nice, compact definition, let’s break out its four important parts…
- Its foundation is that God owns everything.
The centre of this definition highlights what a Christian stewards but recognizes that each thing originates from God. Grasping ownership is crucial to the success of any stewardship activity. Embracing the fact that God is the true owner of everything we have – Psalm 24:1-2 – ensures our stewardship is built from a strong foundation. - Its expectation is activity.
As stewards we are expected to be active in our role. Whether that be in caring, managing, or using what God has entrusted to us we cannot be idle. - The stewards in view are Christians.
There are some things that Christians and non-Christians both steward. Environmental stewardship is an example of one such crossover category. Biblical stewardship includes those things which non-Christians may steward, but goes beyond it to those things God has specifically entrusted to believers. The gospel, spiritual gifts, the local church, etc. - Its focus is the glory of God.
Why do we do what we do? Why do we steward well? For God’s glory. If anything we do as stewards is motivated by self-promotion, we have it backwards. Everything we do must cause glory to be given to God so that he might be praised and magnified.
There is nothing overly complicated about this definition, but the impact of applying it to our lives and our stewardship could be immense. At Legacy Ministries Canada we have the privilege of seeing the impact Biblical stewardship has on peoples’ lives and on their service for God. My challenge to you is whether you are ready to have it impact your life too?
