8 Areas of Stewardship
Eight aspects of life for which which we need to be good stewards. For memorization purposes, I have ordered the 8: 5/2/1: 5 aspects of ourselves and our possessions; 2 aspects that involve ourselves and others; 1 aspect that it outside of us.
- Time – Stewarding your time well means using it purposefully, prioritizing time for worship, service, rest, and relationships.
▶Ephesians 5:15-16 NIV Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. - Treasure – This involves how you manage financial resources, being generous, avoiding debt, and supporting the work of God’s kingdom.
▶Matthew 6:19-21 NIV “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
▶1 Timothy 6:17-18 NIV Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share.
▶Malachi 3:10 ESV Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need. - Talents and Gifts – Using your abilities, skills, and spiritual gifts to serve others and glorify God is an important part of stewardship.
▶1 Peter 4:10 – “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.”
▶Matthew 25:14-30 Parable of the talents. - Knowledge and Learning – Growing in knowledge, especially in understanding Scripture, and using what you learn for the benefit of others is part of being a steward.
▶Proverbs 2:1-6 NIV 2 My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding— indeed, if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God. For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding. - Health and Body – Taking care of your physical and mental well-being through healthy living, rest, and proper care reflects stewardship of the body God has given you.
▶1 Corinthians 6:19-20 NIV Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies. - Relationships – How you nurture and care for your relationships, both in your family and community, reflects stewardship of the people God has placed in your life.
▶Philippians 2:3 NIV Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves,
▶Ephesians 4:32 – “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”
▶Proverbs 15:1 NIV A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. - Opportunities and Influence – Stewarding the opportunities and positions of influence you have to make a positive impact in the world, further God’s kingdom, and help others.
▶Colossians 4:5 NIV Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity.
▶Matthew 5:14-16 NIV “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. - Creation and Environment – Stewardship of the earth involves caring for and preserving the environment, being mindful of the resources you use, and reducing waste.
▶Genesis 2:15 – “The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.”
▶Psalm 24:1 – “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it.”
May I be a good steward of all that God has given and entrusted to me.
From Ligonier:
Fundamentally, stewardship is about exercising our God-given dominion over His creation, reflecting the image of our creator God in His care, responsibility, maintenance, protection, and beautification of His creation.
8 Principles of Stewardship
These 8 principles apply to the 8 areas of Stewardship.
1. Stewardship as a Reflection of God’s Ownership
- Key Idea: Everything belongs to God, and we are caretakers of His creation.
- Scripture: “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it.” (Psalm 24:1)
- Application: Recognizing God’s ownership shapes our perspective, reminding us that our time, talents, and resources are not truly ours but entrusted to us by Him.
2. Stewardship as an Act of Faithfulness
- Key Idea: Stewardship demonstrates our trustworthiness in managing what God has given us.
- Scripture: “Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful.” (1 Corinthians 4:2)
- Application: Faithfulness requires consistency, diligence, and integrity in how we manage our resources and responsibilities. God entrusts. It is significant that God has deemed us worthy of this tall task. He entrusts the care of this world to us. This means he trusts us. Like the coach that trusts his guard to bring the ball up the court vs. a man-to-man press.
The trust needs to go the other way, too. While we are flawed and prone to mistakes, we need to trust God, that we can act and we can be good stewards – albeit to the best of our abilities. The problem with the unprofitable servant (“worthless servant” in some translations) in the parable of the talents is that he didn’t trust God, so he buried the money. We need a level of trust of God, knowing that if we mess up, he will forgive us and give us a second chance. It might be that we earnestly try to invest the 1 talent, but end up loosing it. God is slow to anger and would give us a second chance.
3. Stewardship as a Way to Glorify God
- Key Idea: Everything we do, including how we manage what God has entrusted to us, should point others to God’s greatness.
- Scripture: “And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” (Colossians 3:17)
- Application: Stewardship becomes an act of worship when it honors God and aligns with His purposes.
4. Stewardship as an Investment in Eternal Treasures
- Key Idea: Stewardship shifts our focus from temporary gains to eternal rewards.
- Scripture: “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth… But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven.” (Matthew 6:19-21)
- Application: Stewardship requires prioritizing what matters to God, such as loving others, advancing His Kingdom, and living righteously.
5. Stewardship Requires Agency and Action
- Key Idea: Stewardship is active, not passive. It requires intentionality, planning, and effort.
- Scripture: “Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it?” (Luke 14:28)
- Application: Stewardship means taking initiative—setting goals, making wise decisions, and acting on them. This applies to budgeting finances, managing time, or cultivating relationships.
>>**illustration story of Thomas Hearne
6. Stewardship Often Comes Down to Helping Others and the Greater Good
- Key Idea: Stewardship should benefit others and reflect God’s love and justice in the world.
- Scripture: “Do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.” (Hebrews 13:16)
Isaiah 1:17“Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed. Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow.”
“Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” (John 15:13) - Application: Stewardship calls us to look beyond ourselves, using our resources and influence to serve others and advance God’s purposes, such as caring for the poor, mentoring others, or protecting creation. We need to look to be generous. Jesus demonstrated not just generosity, but sacrificial love. We need to be willing to sacrifice to help others. Again, the greater good. These principles and areas of stewardship work together and complement one another.
>>**illustration Charles Spurgeon and his wife
7. Stewardship Demonstrates Trust in God’s Provision
- Key Idea: By practicing stewardship, we acknowledge God as the ultimate provider and trust Him to meet our needs.
- Scripture: “And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:19)
- Application: Stewardship involves releasing fear and hoarding, knowing that God is faithful to provide for our needs as we use our resources for His glory. We need to trust God, knowing that, as we are generous with our time, resources, and money to benefit others, He will faithfully provide for our needs.
>>**illustration J.D. Rockefeller
8. Stewardship is About Multiplication, Not Preservation
- Key Idea: Stewardship calls us to grow and multiply what we’ve been given rather than simply maintain it.
- Scripture: “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things.’” (Matthew 25:23)
- Application: Whether it’s talents, opportunities, or relationships, we are called to nurture and expand what God entrusts to us for greater Kingdom impact. Stewardship is About Multiplication, and generosity, Not Preservation
