Am I a good steward?
This is a good question to ask yourself. The Bible says that someone who is faithful with a little thing will be faithful with much (Luke 16:9-11). So, if we are honest and do the right thing when no one is looking, we will be able to be trusted when people are looking.
Stewards are mentioned in the Bible quite a bit actually (you can read more about stewardship verses.) The basic message that I have gotten from the Bible about being a good steward is that God has entrusted me with things down here on earth and it is my responsibility to do something good with them.
Being a good steward
Realize that God owns it all
It can be easy to forget that God create the world we live in and us as well. He created the air we breathe, the sun that warms the earth, and plants and animals for food. He is the one that gave us our brains to think, he placed different gifts and skills in each one of us, and gave us each unique personalities.
It is only because of His great mercy that he doesn’t just prove to me how dependent I am on Him, when I start to think I really accomplished something on my own 
. As we understand that, “the earth is the Lord’s and everything in it,” (Psalm 24:1) we can see that we are merely temporary possessors (or stewards) of things that He owns.
We are born with nothing and we take nothing with us when we leave. It all just gets passed on to someone else. The amazing thing is that we have the opportunity to “store up for ourselves treasures in heaven” by giving some of those items that we temporarily possess down here.
Stewards can only serve one master
“No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.”
Matthew 6:24
I have found from my own life that my decisions about money reflect who I am serving. At the most stingy and greedy moments of my life it was painfully evident who my master was. I tried to convince myself that I was serving God, but in truth my decisions were made on their financial impact rather than on my faith in God. It’s one of those areas that we will all have room to grow in.
I remember patting myself on the back after an act of generosity that I was proud of, only to be shown, moments later, of two other areas of my life that I was being greedy in. It’s humbling, but it is also encouraging to know that we will never “arrive” and that God doesn’t expect that of us. He knows our weaknesses and our strengths. He knows what we are capable of and while I earnestly want to please Him, I am so thankful for his forgiveness when I mess up.
Use resources wisely
As stewards we have a responsibility to use what we have been given wisely. Just like in the parable of the talents, it is up to us how we use what we have been given. We can choose to bury it like the “lazy” steward or we can make more from what we have been given like the “good” stewards.
As far as managing our finances go, there is a tricky balance between not being wasteful like Jesus talks about in John 6:12 and not living with a poverty mindset. It is easy to fall towards one of the extremes, and it is challenging to walk in the balance. That balance is what we should be seeking in the practical areas of being stewards of our finances.
The great thing is that as we prove ourselves faithful in small things we will be given more and bigger things to be stewards over.
“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. Come and share your master’s happiness!’”
Matthew 25:21–22
{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }
Great post and Yes I am!
Todd
I’ve tried to be a good steward on all aspects of my life. I even have goals for each one. For instance, I have the following “stewardship goals”.
Gifts/Talent
*Use my gift of playing music by joining praise and worship team of our church.
Finances
*View eating in restaurants as a special occasion, not a regular occurrence.
*Evaluate our grocery spending and find ways to spend more efficiently.
Time
*Spend no more than an hour per day watching TV.
*Spend at least 2 days per week, at home, as a family. That doesn’t mean we can’t invite people over to share a meal with us.
Resources
*Make more homemade things, starting with bread.
*Keep the house clean and as orderly as possible on a daily basis.
Environment
*Turn off lights in rooms we aren’t using.
*Continue composting and work to reduce trash.
Body
*Go to the gym at least three times a week. Work out at home at least once a week.
*Drink at least six glasses of water per day.
*Get at least six hours of sleep four days per week.
Relationships
*Invite at least two people/families we’d like to get to know better for a meal each month.
*Figure out a plan on how to get to know our neighbors better.
Children/Parenting
*Pray with my son daily.
*Plan at least one focused, one-on-one activity with my son per week.
I believe one lesson I’ve learned in order to achieve those goals is to continue trusting the Lord, that with him everything is possible.
@Sam
Great ideas! I really like how you set goals for each area, I need to be a better steward myself in some of the areas you mentioned! Thanks for the ideas…
I am at the beginning of my journey to be a good steward. For the last 3 years since finishing college i have not very bad managing my money.
But just like everything in life God gives you answers when you seek him, and after a great and eye opening series on stewardship the path has shown itself. All the points in the article are the basis on becoming a good steward.
If you want more proof that God needs to be our master and not money look at the words on all our currency: “In God We Trust”
Man, what a great post! It’s so easy to forget that all this money and stuff we hold so dearly isn’t even ours to begin with.
For me, this is the reminder I need to keep it all in perspective.
I love your blogs. They give me encouragement on my own journey thru life. And believe me, I need a lot of encouragement at the moment.
Hello, All ive read is good stuff. I know we have to start somewhere in honoring the Creator of us all. Iam sure as we grow in sprit we see more of what is needed. For me I look at the sprit of the Earth as liveing just as we do. My judgement is Ive gotten behind in my stewartship. We have already played to much with the Earth. It is our home, our sanctuary to pay homage and communion with God. With out the Earth to hold us we are lost. There are those who believe that we will leave this Earth, and those that don’t. I am of the judgement that which ever way it happens We all have to live here until that time. The greatest of these is Love. What does that mean to you? I send prayer to the Creator that we all can learn in sprit to understand that everything is connected. Blessing.