Being God’s steward is probably about more than you think. It is likely the key ministry issue in every congregation—and it’s an issue for each of us as well.

We need to ask the question: What is my identity—Who am I? We can go back to Genesis for this answer. You’ll find that you are a Child of God; you are a citizen, and you are a steward. A steward is one who manages what belongs to someone else for their purposes. Adam was a great example of God’s intent. He was put in charge of God’s new creation. A biblical understanding of stewardship is:

1.  God is the Creator and Owner. (Psalm 24:1)
2.  I am a creature and steward. (Genesis 1 and 1 Peter 4:10)
3.  I have responsibilities as God’s steward. (Luke 12:42–43)
4.  I am accountable to the Owner. (Romans 14:12)

In today’s society, we are conditioned to think of ourselves as owners—“my” house, “my” car, “my” savings. We wrongly assume that it’s ours, when in reality, God has blessed us with the care of His resources. Question: What is the term we use when someone claims ownership of something that belongs to someone else?

As you think about your role—remember, God owns all things! Go back and reread Psalm 24:1. As Christians, we are stewards of what God owns. That said, go back and read Romans 14:12 again. You see, we are accountable to God and will give an account to Him.

We serve as God’s stewards at home, at work, in church, and in our community. Learn about your stewardship relationships, responsibilities, and the resources (time, talents, and treasures) that God puts in our care.

Stewardship really is an adventure. As we learn more about it, we understand that stewardship helps us eliminate the compartmentalization between the sacred and secular parts of our life.

If you have any questions or would like to read more, please visit the Southeastern District website to find Stewardship Resources. You can click HERE or contact me at the email address below.

Kirk Hymes
LCEF Vice President of the SED & Executive Director of Stewardship
khymes@se.lcms.org