In this case, moreover, it is required [as essential and demanded] of stewards that one be found faithful and trustworthy.
1 Corinthians 4:2 (AMP)
Stewardship. Is it a good idea, a mandate, a Biblical principle? Yes. But maybe the best way to think about stewardship is in terms of our responsibility. According to 1 Corinthians 4:2, that responsibility is embodied in a life being found faithful and trustworthy.
These two traits cannot be relegated to an old fashioned mentality. As a born again believer, stewardship has to be an attribute of our faith that we live out.
Stewardship comes in all forms. We most likely hear about stewardship in terms of the environment or the financial aspect. And though these are two areas God has placed us in a stewardship position over, there are other responsibilities we cannot overlook.
Number one on our list should always be our own faith. Did you know you are to be a steward of your own Christian walk? In other words, we need to be found faithful and trustworthy in our relationship with Jesus and our closeness to the Holy Spirit. Too often I hear people say, “I’m just not hearing from God.” Or, “I’m just not being fed.” In other words, they are relying on others to steward their faith. How then can they be found faithful and trustworthy? How will their faith be strengthened so they can stand against sin? Honestly, we have no one else to blame when we fall into temptation except ourselves.
Stewardship, by definition, is the responsible oversight and management of something entrusted to one’s care. God entrusts us with so many things here on earth, especially our own faith. We should never underestimate the importance of taking care of ourselves in a spiritual aspect. In a spiritual sense, we are literally obligated to be a steward with what has been entrusted to us.
How might that look?
First we must understand that everything we have is a gift from God. Gifts that He has entrusted us with. This includes the environment and our finances as well as all our material things that we can use to glorify the Father. But it goes much deeper. It is also our abilities. Those things that God uses to make us unique. It’s our talents, those things we are naturally good at. How might our faith be strengthened when we are good stewards of our talents?
And then there’s our time. A commodity we all share equally. We are all given the same 24 hours in a day. How we choose to steward our time though can be very different.
We are also stewarded with our love and compassion to others, especially our families. Have we been found faithful and trustworthy here?
Remember, when we are adopted into the Kingdom through Christ, we become a steward of the Kingdom. That responsibility needs to be taken with the utmost seriousness while understanding how much of an honor stewardship actually is.
Jason Metz, lead Pastor
