What Does It Mean to Be a Good Steward?
Stewardship can be a broad, elusive subject. Webster's official definition is "the careful and responsible management of something entrusted to one's care."
That "something" could be finances. It could also be health, relationships, time, agriculture, animals, nature, systems, groups or causes.
Stewardship Was Humanity's Primary Calling
The first command to mankind, according to Genesis, was this:
Fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.— Genesis 1:28
Accompanying this command was God's placement of mankind into the midst of this task.
The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it.— Genesis 2:15
He gave the command and provided the environment in which to fulfill it.
From the beginning of human knowledge and society, mankind's role has been one of stewardship—the faithful management of those things entrusted to our care.
Stewardship vs Exploitation
Before any other rule, statute or covenantal promise was given, faithful management of the earth and its resources was the foundational and primary command.
And connected to this idea was the concept of unending life. Stewardship meant that things could go on indefinitely, perpetually.
The animals needed naming and classification.
The world needed to be defined, observed and cared for.
Death, destruction, pain and hardship entered the picture when humanity's attention turned inward—from serving and cultivating creation toward self-centered ambition.
Knowledge can be used for good—and knowledge can be used for self-advancement at the expense of others. Faithful stewardship brings life, order, and flourishing. Exploitation brings pain and decay.
Both require knowledge. But only one results from wisdom.
Wisdom Is Essential to Good Stewardship
Solomon had this to say:
The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom, and whatever you get, get insight. Prize her highly, and she will exalt you; she will honor you if you embrace her. She will place on your head a graceful garland; she will bestow on you a beautiful crown.— Proverbs 4:7-9
A garland and a crown upon the head are symbols of authority. Solomon knew as well as anyone how important wisdom was to faithful stewardship of a nation.
Jesus himself painted a profound contrast between a faithful steward and an exploiter.
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.— Luke 12:42-44
But Jesus continues to say that if such a manager loses sight of the mission, and begins to beat those who are entrusted to him, and become careless and drunk and indulgent at the expense of others, he will be severely punished. Depending on what was entrusted, and accounting for the knowledge and capabilities of the manager, the negative result will be limited but proportional to the crime (Luke 12:47-48).
What Does It Mean to Be a Good Steward Financially?
When it comes to finances specifically, what does it mean to be a good steward in a way that improves the world while also improving our own lives?
First, why should faithful stewardship improve both our lives and the lives of others?
Simply because what is valuable to the world is valuable to us—and what is valuable to us is valuable to the world. If we are to love our neighbors as ourselves, then inherently we are commanded to love ourselves—and to love our neighbors just the same.
This is neither selfless nor selfish. It is the fulfillment of God's goodness toward all:
For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.— Matthew 5:45
What is a good life on earth to look like? In other words, what are we stewarding the world toward?
Solomon observes:
To be joyful and to do good as long as they live; also that everyone should eat and drink and take pleasure in all his toil—this is God's gift to man.— Ecclesiastes 3:12-13
God's gifts to mankind include joy, goodness, food, drink, and pleasure in meaningful work.
Notice these are not so much achieved as they are received. They are gifts.
And in fact, they are not the only gifts. Joy and goodness are accompanied by love, peace, patience, kindness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control—fruits of the Spirit that were breathed back into mankind.
Questions to Ask About Your Money
When we seek to steward what we have been given, it is prudent to ask these questions:
- Add to the deep and lasting joy of this world?
- Improve the life of someone without diminishing the life of another?
- Bring pleasure that is not at the expense of someone else?
- Add to the sensation and experience of purpose in one's work and life mission?
- Does it contribute to one or more of the 12 riches of life?
Connecting this to the idea of keeping the garden and exercising authority over the earth as its keepers, the stewardship of this money should be employed in such a way as to increase joy, goodness and pleasurable work sustainably and perpetually over time.
- Taking a sabbatical, or even a short vacation, to relax, recharge and reexamine your sense of mission at this point in your life.
- Continuing your education so that you can offer the greatest value to all with whom you do business—whether an employer, employees, co-workers, customers, patients, clients or all of the above.
- Investing in causes that you believe will better the world—while being mindful and wise with risk.
- Giving to a charity or a cause that you care about.
The list could go on and on.
Stewardship Is About More Than Money
Ultimately, stewardship is not simply earning, planning, saving, investing and giving. It's deeper than that—broader even.
In the end, it is about improving the world through raising the experience of life itself. And that happens from the inside out. Money is a part of it. But its foundation rests in the world of invisible treasures.