Stewardship
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Definition and Concept
Stewardship in the biblical context refers to the responsible management and care of resources, talents, and possessions that God has entrusted to individuals. It encompasses the idea that everything belongs to God, and humans are merely caretakers of His creation. This concept is rooted in the understanding that God is the ultimate owner of all things, as expressed in Psalm 24:1 : "The earth is the LORD’s, and the fullness thereof, the world and all who dwell therein."

Biblical Foundations
The principle of stewardship is woven throughout Scripture, beginning with the creation narrative. In Genesis 1:28 , God commands Adam and Eve to "fill the earth and subdue it; rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and every creature that crawls upon the earth." This mandate establishes humanity's role as stewards of God's creation, tasked with its care and management.

The parable of the talents in Matthew 25:14-30 further illustrates the concept of stewardship. In this parable, a master entrusts his servants with varying amounts of money before leaving on a journey. Upon his return, he evaluates their management of these resources. The servants who wisely invested and multiplied their master's wealth are commended, while the one who buried his talent out of fear is rebuked. This parable underscores the expectation that stewards are to actively and wisely manage what has been entrusted to them.

Stewardship of Resources
Financial stewardship is a significant aspect of biblical teaching. Proverbs 3:9 instructs, "Honor the LORD with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your harvest." This verse highlights the importance of prioritizing God in the management of one's financial resources. The practice of tithing, as seen in Malachi 3:10 , where God invites His people to "bring the full tithe into the storehouse," is a tangible expression of acknowledging God's ownership and provision.

Stewardship of Time and Talents
In addition to material resources, stewardship extends to the use of time and talents. Ephesians 5:15-16 advises believers to "be very careful how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil." This passage encourages the wise and purposeful use of time, recognizing it as a gift from God.

Similarly, 1 Peter 4:10 emphasizes the stewardship of spiritual gifts: "As good stewards of the manifold grace of God, each of you should use whatever gift he has received to serve one another." This directive calls believers to employ their God-given abilities in service to others, reflecting God's grace and furthering His kingdom.

Stewardship of Creation
The biblical mandate for stewardship also includes the care of the environment. Genesis 2:15 states, "Then the LORD God took the man and placed him in the Garden of Eden to cultivate and keep it." This verse highlights humanity's responsibility to tend to and preserve the natural world, reflecting God's creative order and sustaining His creation.

Accountability and Reward
Scripture teaches that stewards are accountable to God for their management of His resources. Romans 14:12 reminds believers, "So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God." This accountability underscores the seriousness of the stewardship role and the expectation of faithfulness.

Moreover, faithful stewardship is associated with divine reward. In Luke 16:10 , Jesus states, "Whoever is faithful with very little will also be faithful with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much." This principle suggests that those who are trustworthy in small matters will be entrusted with greater responsibilities and blessings.

Conclusion
The biblical concept of stewardship calls believers to recognize God's ownership of all things and to manage His resources with wisdom, faithfulness, and a heart of service. Through stewardship, Christians are invited to participate in God's work, reflecting His character and advancing His purposes in the world.
Topical Bible Verses
Luke 16:11
If therefore you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?
Topicalbible.org

1 Peter 4:10
As every man has received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
Topicalbible.org

Titus 1:7
For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not self-willed, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre;
Topicalbible.org

Psalm 24:1
The earth is the LORD's, and the fullness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.
Topicalbible.org

2 Timothy 2:15
Study to show yourself approved to God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
Topicalbible.org

Luke 14:28
For which of you, intending to build a tower, sits not down first, and counts the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?
Topicalbible.org

1 Corinthians 6:19-20
What? know you not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which you have of God, and you are not your own?
Topicalbible.org

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
(n.) The office of a steward.
Greek
3622. oikonomia -- stewardship, administration
... stewardship, administration. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: oikonomia
Phonetic Spelling: (oy-kon-om-ee'-ah) Short Definition: stewardship ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3622.htm - 7k

5362. philandros -- loving men, (of a wife) loving her husband
... companion of a wife") -- properly, the special affection of a woman for her
life-time mate (husband), embracing him as her "calling" (stewardship) from God ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5362.htm - 7k

Library

Home as a Stewardship.
... CHAPTER VI. HOME AS A STEWARDSHIP. ... "For look, how many souls in thy house be, With
just as many souls God trusteth thee!". The Christian home is a stewardship. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/philips/the christian home/chapter vi home as a.htm

Christian Stewardship.
... CHAPTER II. CHRISTIAN STEWARDSHIP. ... It was found to lie deeper; and to consist in
wrong views and wrong practice on the great subject of Christian stewardship. ...
/.../dibble/thoughts on missions/chapter ii christian stewardship.htm

If Anyone, Except the Bishop or the Person Appointed for the ...
... Canon VIII. If anyone, except the bishop or the person appointed for the
stewardship of benefactions? If anyone, except the bishop ...
/.../schaff/the seven ecumenical councils/canon viii if anyone except.htm

Questions and Answers--Sorrowful Cases--Testimonies from those who ...
... CHAPTER IX. Questions and Answers"Sorrowful Cases"Testimonies from
those who have visited Canada"Stewardship. ... STEWARDSHIP. ...
/.../lowe/gods answers/chapter ix questions and answerssorrowful.htm

Rendering Our Account.
... RENDERING OUR ACCOUNT. (Ninth Sunday after Trinity.) S. Luke 16:2. "Give an account
of thy stewardship.". My brothers, we shall all hear that command one day. ...
/.../sermon xliv rendering our account.htm

Second Great Group of Parables.
... [an indignant expression of surprise arising from abused confidence] render the
account of thy stewardship; for thou canst be no longer steward. ...
/.../mcgarvey/the four-fold gospel/xcii second great group of 5.htm

The Unrighteous Mammon
... give an account of thy stewardship; for thou mayest be no longer steward. ... for my
lord taketh away from me the stewardship: I cannot dig; to beg I am ashamed. ...
/.../kingsley/town and country sermons/sermon xxiv the unrighteous mammon.htm

The Unjust Steward.
... render the account of thy stewardship; for thou canst be no longer steward' And
the steward said within himself, 'What shall I do, seeing that my lord taketh ...
//christianbookshelf.org/barton/his life/the unjust steward.htm

Responsibilities of the Christian Home.
... From the potent influence and moral stewardship of the Christian home, we may infer
its responsibility. The former is the argument for the latter. ...
/.../philips/the christian home/chapter vii responsibilities of the.htm

And There came unto Him Publicans and Sinners to Hear his Word. .. ...
... thee? Give me the account of thy stewardship; for it is now impossible
that thou shouldest [36] be a steward for me. [1850] The ...
/.../hogg/the diatessaron of tatian/section xxvi and there came.htm

Thesaurus
Stewardship (7 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Stewardship (7 Occurrences). ... give an account of thy
stewardship; for thou mayest be no longer steward. (KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT RSV). ...
/s/stewardship.htm - 8k

Dispensation (8 Occurrences)
... dis-pen-sa'-shun: The Greek word (oikonomia) so translated signifies primarily,
a stewardship, the management or disposition of affairs entrusted to one. ...
/d/dispensation.htm - 11k

Concealed (36 Occurrences)
... (WEY). Ephesians 3:9 and to show all men in a clear light what my stewardship
is. It is the stewardship of the truth which from all ...
/c/concealed.htm - 16k

Creator (19 Occurrences)
... Amen. (WEB KJV WEY ASV WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV). Ephesians 3:9 and to show
all men in a clear light what my stewardship is. It is the ...
/c/creator.htm - 15k

Divine (39 Occurrences)
... (WEY). Colossians 1:25 of which I was made a servant, according to the stewardship
of God which was given me toward you, to fulfill the word of God, (See RSV). ...
/d/divine.htm - 19k

Steward (23 Occurrences)
... give an account of thy stewardship; for thou mayest be no longer steward. ... for my
lord taketh away from me the stewardship: I cannot dig; to beg I am ashamed. ...
/s/steward.htm - 21k

Stewards (8 Occurrences)

/s/stewards.htm - 8k

Unwillingly (1 Occurrence)
... Unwillingly (1 Occurrence). 1 Corinthians 9:17 for if willing I do this, I have
a reward; and if unwillingly -- with a stewardship I have been entrusted! (YLT). ...
/u/unwillingly.htm - 6k

Occupy (25 Occurrences)
... 1 Timothy 1:4 neither to pay attention to myths and endless genealogies, which cause
disputes, rather than God's stewardship, which is in faith- (See RSV). ...
/o/occupy.htm - 16k

Labour (119 Occurrences)
... (WEY YLT). Luke 16:3 "Then the steward said within himself, "'What am I to
do? For my master is taking away the stewardship from me. ...
/l/labour.htm - 35k

Resources
What is biblical stewardship? | GotQuestions.org

The Christian and Money ' Article Index | GotQuestions.org

Should a Christian take a vacation? | GotQuestions.org

Stewardship: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible ConcordanceBible DictionaryBible EncyclopediaTopical BibleBible Thesuarus
Concordance
Stewardship (7 Occurrences)

Luke 16:2
And he called him, and said unto him, How is it that I hear this of thee? give an account of thy stewardship; for thou mayest be no longer steward.
(KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT RSV)

Luke 16:3
Then the steward said within himself, What shall I do? for my lord taketh away from me the stewardship: I cannot dig; to beg I am ashamed.
(KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT RSV)

Luke 16:4
I am resolved what to do, that, when I am put out of the stewardship, they may receive me into their houses.
(KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT RSV)

1 Corinthians 9:17
For if I do this of my own will, I have a reward. But if not of my own will, I have a stewardship entrusted to me.
(WEB WEY ASV YLT NAS)

Ephesians 3:2
if, that is, you have heard of the work which God has graciously entrusted to me for your benefit,
(See NAS RSV)

Ephesians 3:9
and to show all men in a clear light what my stewardship is. It is the stewardship of the truth which from all the Ages lay concealed in the mind of God, the Creator of all things--
(WEY)

Colossians 1:25
of which I was made a servant, according to the stewardship of God which was given me toward you, to fulfill the word of God,
(WEB NAS)

Subtopics

Stewardship

Related Terms

Stewardship (7 Occurrences)

Stewpan

Stewards of the Mysteries of God
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