The Steward’s Mindset
Steward’s Mentality
Stewardship starts with the surrender of what we “own” to the authority and sovereignty of God’s purposes. Realizing that we are stewards (like in the Parable of the Talents) requires that we first understand that what we have was never ours to begin with. Our world today emphasizes ownership – own your time, own your house, own your life, own this exotic good, own your retirement, etc. We never actually owned anything. We are just borrowing God’s creation through His grace for His purposes. When we put an ownership mindset on “things” we don’t own, we inflate our role in creation and conflate our purpose in this life with our human desires for success.
We tend to overstate our abilities and reach as humans by nature, and this is strongly evident in how we take possession of our things. Children by nature snatch toys and take possession of the things they view as owned by them – it's in our sinful DNA. It takes intentional practices, remembrance, and daily surrender to truly live as stewards instead of owners. Every financial decision is equally capable of being a Spiritual decision.
Some may view borrowed goods as requiring less maintenance and care because it isn’t “ours” (like how rental homes and hotels tend to get mistreated). The Bible calls us to a different standard as renters of this creation. We are called to steward and manage what we have been entrusted with.
οἰκονόμος – Trusted Steward and Household Manager
This word (pronounced oikonomos) appears in 10 New Testament verse s and is mostly translated as steward or household manager. In Greco-Roman culture, this word was used to represent a trusted manager who governed the master’s property and answered directly to the owner with delegated authority.
Luke 12:42-43, “Peter said, 'Lord, are you telling this parable for us or for all?’ And the Lord said, ‘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.’” (ESV)
1 Corinthians 4:1, “This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God.” (ESV)
Titus 1:7-9, ”For an overseer, as God’s steward, must be above reproach. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain, but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined. He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it.” (ESV)
God has entrusted us with His resources to manage them and to take care of the distribution. We are to ensure that His resources are distributed wisely and that His children are provided for. We oversee His household, an intimate responsibility given to us as His faithful followers. We are directly accountable to Him through His sovereignty, and stewarding well is of the utmost importance.
