Stewardship Component 3 – Expectations
As we continue exploring the 5 components of Biblical stewardship, the third component to consider is ‘Expectations.’ I am continuing to pull on two parables Jesus taught for some illustrations in these posts. You can read the full text of both parables here…
What are expectations?
Expectations are all around us. They are put on us, and we place them on others. Unmet or miscommunicated expectations are a major source of conflict in relationships, workplaces, families, and communities.
The word “expect” is often defined as something that is considered reasonable, due, or necessary. Expectations extend these considerations. When what I expect is transferred to someone else, it becomes an expectation. A teacher may expect her student to work hard. The expectation is placed on the student, and the nature of the expectation is hard work. Similarly, the city you live in expects property owners to pay their property taxes. The expectation is placed on the property owner, and its nature is a paid tax bill.
Do we see expectations in our two parables?
In Luke 19, the expectation set by the nobleman is clear. He entrusts his minas to his servants and instructs them to “Do business with this money until I come back.” The instruction is clearly stated. It places the expectation on the servants, and the nature of the expectation is that his property was to be used in business transactions during his absence.
In Matthew 25, you need infer an expectation from the text. Prior to taking his journey, the man entrusts his talents to the servants, but no clear or direct instruction is given as in Luke’s parable. However, when the man returns it is recorded that he “…settled accounts with them.”
Regardless of whether the instruction was given, an expectation existed that these servants were being assessed against. The nature of that assessment reveals that the expectation that they have used what they received for their master for gain. This is evidenced in the servants’ presentations to the master, “See, I have earned…”. (v20, 22)
From each parable we could extrapolate other expectations. We can consider how, when the master returned, he expected to see that his instructions had been carried out. There would be a product of their work for him to assess. Similarly, the stewards could expect such an assessment of their efforts. This could be assumed when they were set this task.
Servants before stewards
Expectations exist in our stewardship too. Consider what Paul writes in these two verses:
1 Corinthians 4:1-2
1 This is the way any person is to regard us: as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God.
2 In this case, moreover, it is required of stewards that one be found trustworthy [faithful].
Paul wants onlookers to regard God’s servants as stewards. However, stewardship is linked with service first. We are servants first, and then stewards. Isn’t this what we observe in Jesus’ parables? The men who were summoned are referred to as “servants” and “slaves.” The task they were assigned turned them into stewards, but they were servants first.
As Christ-followers this is true of us too. Before we can ever be stewards, we must first be servants. This takes us back to the content in Unit 1 when we considered that not only does God own everything, but he also has rights of ownership to us as well. While redemption released us from our enslavement to sin we voluntarily placed ourselves in service to God, Romans 6:22.
We are servants. Servants of the almighty God, the Creator of Heaven and earth. The one who sits enthroned on high, to whom all power, and might belong, who is deserving of our praise, worship, and adoration. The one to whom, by his own mercy, we should “present [our] bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is [our] spiritual service of worship.” (Romans 12:1)
Stewards are to be faithful
As stewards we are first servants of Christ. Men and women in service to God who work to bring about his purposes and desires, for his glory. In 1 Corinthians 4:2 we get right to the heart of what is expects of us.
Stewards are expected to be trustworthy.
Or as some translations have it, “faithful”.
In the discharge of their duties, and the use of the property that is entrusted to them, they are to be faithful. It is a very reasonable expectation for a person entrusting their property to another to have.
The trustworthiness or faithfulness of the steward indicates how likely a property owner is to get their property returned to them. An unfaithful steward will think primarily about themselves. They will act in their own best interests and not those of the one whose property they are stewarding.
The Greek word pistos that Paul uses has a clear association. These individuals can be relied upon. Persons that demonstrate they are faithful in the transaction of business, the execution of commands, or the discharge of official duties.
If this is the expectation that God has of his stewards, we should all ask ourselves: “How do I measure up?”
Up Next:
Component 4 – Activity **Coming soon**
Explore Expectations more:
“The Danger of Unawareness” **Coming soon**
“My responsibility in light of Expectations” **Coming soon**
