Stewardship

Christian stewardship is the joyous management of all of life and life's resources so that God's mission on earth is accomplished.

Every believer, responding in love to God's abundant outpouring of material blessings, shares the responsibility of Christian stewardship. Everything that we "own" is actually "on loan" from God. For as the apostle Paul wrote, "We brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it" . Of course, these material blessings include our money. Some have more; some have less. Regardless of the size of our bank account, we have the responsibility to give sacrificially for God's mission through His church. Christian stewardship also includes managing our time, talents, and all other resources that extend God's kingdom.The Christian Reformed Church believes that Christian stewardship is essential for the health and vision of the church.

The "steward" (usually rendered Â?prince; Â?, one who manages the affairs or superintends these household of another, as Eliezer of Damascus did that of Abraham (Genesis 15:2). Great confidence was reposed in those who held such an office, and hence Paul describes Christian ministers as the stewards of God over his Church and family (Titus 1:7). Believers also are described as stewards of GodÂ?s gifts and graces, to dispense the benefits of them to the world (1 Peter 4:10). Our Lord frequently uses the responsibilities belonging to the office of a steward for the purpose of illustrating His reasoning. In the parable of the unjust steward, who defrauds his master by collusion with the debtors (Luke 16), the illustration is confined to the policy of the conduct pursued, and no inference can be drawn respecting its moral propriety. (On the proverbial dishonesty of modern Oriental wakkils or agents of this kind, see Thomson, Land and Book, 1, 517 sq.) The exhortation which follows is merely advice to manage worldly goods with such liberality and generosity as will promote the cause of true piety, Christian charity, and enlightened benevolence, and not to exercise the rights of property too harshly. See the monographs on this passage cited by Danz, Wrterb. s.v. Â?Lucas,Â? Nos. 76-93. (Biblical Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, by McClintok and Strong)

I really have not much to add to this treatment, though it be short and sweet I think it portrays the fact that we have all the more of a reason to depend upon our God who is the source of all things. This blog is also a means by which I'm striving to portray Christ rightly and truly This line of reasoning is very helpful to me and just a snip-it of a reminder of what we have been called to do out of obedience.