The Theology of Stewards

Question: What do we need to know about stewardship that will make us better stewards?

A Biblical Steward:

1. Recognizes God’s Sovereignty.

“He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For everything was created by him, in heaven and on earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and by him all things hold together.”
Colossians 1:15-17

2. Reflects God’s image.

“Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, according to our likeness. They will rule the fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, the livestock, the whole earth, and the creatures that crawl on the earth.”
Genesis 1:26-27

3. Serves as God’s manager.

“The earth and everything in it, the world and its inhabitants, belong to the Lord.”
Psalm 24:1

“A person should think of us in this way: as servants of Christ and managers of the mysteries of God. In this regard, it is required that managers be found faithful.”
1 Corinthians 4:1-2

4. Behaves responsibly with God’s resources.

“The man who had received five talents approached, presented five more talents, and said, ‘Master, you gave me five talents. See, I’ve earned five more talents.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You were faithful over a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Share your master’s joy.’”
Matthew 25:20-21

5. Shares generously God’s gifts.

“I can testify that, according to their ability and even beyond their ability, of their own accord, they begged us earnestly for the privilege of sharing in the ministry to the saints, and not just as we had hoped. Instead, they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us by God’s will.”
2 Corinthians 8:3-5