Stewardship is a fundamental principle of Christian living. Stewardship is more than just managing our resources; it includes how we use our time, talents, and treasures to serve God and others. Each of these aspects is a gift from God, given to us for a specific purpose. It is our responsibility to cultivate and use them wisely, in accordance with God’s will. The basic idea is that we are all but servants. Every talent, treasure, and time that has been given to us will be accounted for. Being conscious of our stewardship enables us to make sound decisions and perform our best work.
Hiding one’s talent and gifting is considered wicked and slothful (Matthew 25:25–26). It is not out of place to reflect on your time, talents, and resources to determine how you are being wicked with them. You also want to ensure that your work ethic aligns with your spiritual goals. You cannot build a million-dollar business on a minimum-wage work ethic. You may initially underestimate yourself and your abilities, but if you continue to pray and meditate about your talents, your awareness will grow.
Stewardship requires intentionality and mindfulness in how we manage our time, talents, and treasures. Two guiding principles from the Bible are “freely have you received, freely give” (Matthew 10:8), and “Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord” (Romans 12:11). Stewardship doesn’t mean you cannot make money from your talents and skills. It means that monetary profits are never your main motivation, yet you work as hard as you can. As you share your talents with those in need, you will discover a deeper sense of fulfillment and purpose. As we steward well what God has entrusted to us, we light up our world.
