Spiritual Practices: Stewardship

In actively addressing spiritual practices, it is important to form a shared understanding of the definition of each of the practices. It may be that stewardship is the most ill-defined of the practices. Stewardship may be defined as honoring God through all the resources that he has entrusted to us. This is not limited to the resources of the church or for the use of the church, but for each of us who follows him.

Entrusted to steward

We often say that our time, treasure, and talent is the sum of the resources we have been entrusted to manage or use. He has entrusted us each with our lives, our bodies and minds, as well. So often the focus of stewardship is outward – it is how we offer the “three ts” to others and to the church. However, I would challenge us to say as well that these considerations need to turn inward as well. We need to consider our time, treasure and talent as managed for our families and ourselves as much as for the church and the world.

We have each been entrusted with who we are, physically and intellectually, that makes the first impact upon ourselves and our ability to steward God’s gifts. If we are healthy and caring for ourselves, we are better able to meet the needs of those around us and set out healthy planning for the “tithe” of time, treasure, and talents in other areas. I am not saying that we should count ourselves first, but rather that neglect of ourselves can lead to unhealthy use of time, treasure and talents. Perhaps it would be better to say that one of our first “time allocations” should be to check that we are properly filled spiritually, physically and mentally to be able to do the rest of the stewarding. I do indeed mean that we should pay attention to our quiet times, our diets and exercising. That is the starting list, but I think we can each address our needs best.

Acknowledging and Honoring God

Then we should consider our time, treasure and talent and how to honor God. The first tithe was 10 percent given to Melchizedek by Abram, following a battle that he had won. Melchizedek blessed him and credited God with the victory. In return, Abram gave 10% of the spoils to him (Gen. 14:19-20). Acknowledging that God is the gift-giver and deserving of our victory celebrations, we then should consider how to best serve God and honor him through these resources entrusted us.

I do not think this is about giving ten percent to the church. This is about giving everything that we are to the One who created it and calls us his own. The investments (of the three ts) we make in improving our work, doing the best we can in every situation, giving rather than expecting something in return, all of these things are what constitute honoring God.

co-laboring to Achieve

The Parable of the Talents (Matt. 25:14-30) speaks of how God’s people use what they have been entrusted. Recalling that God co-labors to achieve the amazing results that the stewards (servants) did in this account makes it more palatable to think of multiplying what God has given. He works with us with whatever we give him of our stewarding. He doesn’t sit back and watch, but actively gets involved in the use and management of resources. Ourselves, our money, our land or car, our time, our work, all can be God-honoring. The placement of our hearts is what determines if it IS God-honoring.

I enjoy using talents in creating this ministry to honor him. What do you find joy in tithing to him, or honoring him with? Drop a comment below.