Eight Facts About Good Stewardship

God’s people in the New Testament are called Christians, saints, disciples, brethren, and more. But one often-forgotten name for the children of God appears in 1 Peter 4:10: “As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace.”

What Is a Steward?

In the Old Testament, a steward was a man “over a house”—a manager of household affairs. We see this idea in Genesis 43:19; Genesis 44:4; Genesis 15:2; Isaiah 22:15; and 1 Chronicles 28:1. Joseph gives us one of the clearest examples when he manages Potiphar’s household in Genesis 39.

In the New Testament, two Greek words are translated as “steward.” The first is epitropos, which carries the idea of something being turned over or entrusted to another. The second is oikonomos, a compound word from oikos, meaning “house,” and nemo, meaning “to distribute, disperse, or arrange.” Thayer defines it as the manager of a household or household affairs. In simple terms, a Christian is a servant in God’s house, entrusted with God’s work on earth.

Scripture gives us many examples of stewardship. Adam and Eve cared for the garden. Noah built the ark and preserved animal life and human life. Solomon built the temple. Mary and Joseph were entrusted with Jesus, the Son of God.

1. God Owns Everything

God is the Creator of all things, and everything belongs to Him. Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 10:26, “For ‘the earth is the Lord’s, and the fullness thereof.’” God created all things, sustains all things, and rules over all things. We cannot call anything “mine” in the fullest and final sense of ownership. When we understand that God is the Owner, we begin to see ourselves as stewards.

2. We Temporarily Use What Belongs to God

The second stewardship fact reminds us that we only use, for a little while, what God has made and given. We came into the world with nothing, and we will leave with nothing. Paul writes in 1 Timothy 6:7, “for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world.”

The land we “own” will remain after we are gone. Our money will pass to others. Our bodies will return to dust. Solomon observed in Ecclesiastes 5:15-16, “As he came from his mother’s womb he shall go again, naked as he came, and shall take nothing for his toil that he may carry away in his hand. This also is a grievous evil: just as he came, so shall he go, and what gain is there to him who toils for the wind?” We have what we have only while we are here.

3. All Good Things Are Gifts from God

Every good thing in your life comes from God. James 1:17 says, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.”

Believe it or not, this includes mosquitoes, chiggers, and even poison ivy. They are all part of God’s creation. Sinful people do not deserve all the good things God has given us. By grace, we have what we have and are what we are.

The way we treat God’s gifts reveals our attitude toward the Giver. If a wife receives flowers from her husband and immediately throws them in the trash, her actions say something about how she values both the gift and the giver. But if she cares for and cherishes the flowers, she shows appreciation. Human life is the first and greatest earthly gift, and it carries great responsibility.

4. Every Person Has a Stewardship

In the Parable of the Talents, Jesus teaches that God gives each person opportunities to use according to ability. Matthew 25:15 says, “To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away.”

Life itself is a stewardship. Life is made up of time, and each of us has 168 hours in a week. How we invest that time says a great deal about the quality of our stewardship.

5. Christians Are Stewards of Their Souls and Bodies

God created man in His own image (Genesis 1:26-27). Man has a body that houses his soul, and both body and soul belong to God. Peter writes in 1 Peter 1:18-19, “knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.”

Concerning our bodies, Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.”

All people, whether they believe in God or not, have a God-given stewardship over their bodies and spirits. But Christians have a special stewardship because of our relationship with God. Christ redeemed us from sin by His blood. Our whole life is a partnership with God. Paul expressed that partnership in 1 Corinthians 3:6: “I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth.”

6. Faithfulness in Stewardship Is Required

Some responsibilities cannot be delegated or handled by a proxy. In the Parable of the Talents, each servant received an amount to invest and later had to answer for it. Matthew 25:19 says, “Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them.”

The servants were expected to be faithful with what they had received. Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 4:1-2, “This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful.”

Some people say, “It is my life! I will do what I please with my time, my money, my body, my children, and everything else.” But regardless of what we feel or what we think is fair, each of us will give account for how we use our stewardship.

7. Good Stewardship Leads to Greater Responsibility

Servants who demonstrate good stewardship receive greater opportunities. Jesus said in Luke 12:42-44, “Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom his master will set over his household, to give them their portion of food at the proper time? Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions.”

In Titus 1:7, Paul says, “For an overseer, as God’s steward, must be above reproach. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain.” The qualifications for elders are demanding because God wants leaders to first demonstrate faithful stewardship over their souls and families before He entrusts them with the church.

8. Stewardship Brings Reward or Judgment

Finally, God rewards faithful stewards and judges unfaithful ones. In the Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14-30), the one-talent man was fearful (Matthew 25:25), wicked and slothful (Matthew 25:26), negligent (Matthew 25:27), and failed to use the opportunity given to him. His master took the talent from him (Matthew 25:28) and cast him into outer darkness (Matthew 25:30).

In contrast, the five-talent and two-talent servants were counted faithful, entrusted with more opportunities, and welcomed into the joy of their master. As Matthew 25:21 says, “Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.” Luke 19:16-19 also shows faithful servants receiving greater responsibility.

A Closing Question About Faithful Stewardship

When the Lord returns, will He reward you as a good and faithful steward of your soul? Or will He cast you out of His presence into outer darkness?

by Daniel R. Vess