The United States Government Services Administration (GSA) is responsible for streamlining and reducing government spending. In 2010 they held a conference outside of Las Vegas for 299 of its employees. It was later discovered that the cost of the event exceeded $800,000. A government oversight committee reported that the executive that selected the site spent $130,000 visiting hotels and planning the conference. In addition to hiring a clown and a mind reader, some enjoyed rooms that topped $1,000 per night.
Does that kind of waste bother you? After all, the leaders of the scandal were held accountable, and the total was less than one-half of one-tenth of one percent of the money the government collected that year. My guess, though, is that you still find it discomforting that your tax money was squandered in such a frivolous way. Why do you suppose that is? Why does that kind of waste upset you? Because it violates a stewardship principle that’s embedded in your conscience.
“Stewardship” is not a word used much in today’s conversation, but the principle is clearly articulated in Scripture. In biblical times stewards managed the affairs of the head of the house. They served a unique role of being a household servant, yet wielding authority in areas granted to them. The steward managed the master’s possessions, would oversee business dealings and arrange banquets. He could delegate responsibilities to other workers and even discipline them. It was an important role that was built on trust.
In the Bible, the Greek word translated “steward” is also translated “manager” and “overseer.” The steward of God is one that has been entrusted with the care of something or someone. The first chapter of Titus includes the qualifications for a man to serve as an elder in the church. Specifically, verse seven reads, “For an overseer, as God’s steward, must be above reproach.” Those that called has called to serve in leadership in the church are overseers and stewards. They have been endowed with spiritual authority to operate within God’s church to care for and, when necessary, discipline on His behalf.
It may not be difficult to see the correlation between the responsibilities of a steward in the first century and the role of an elder in the modern church, but do you realize that you, Christian, are called to a similar responsibility? God has entrusted you to care for things and people entrusted to you. Even before sin entered the world, Adam was put in the garden of Eden with the instruction “to work it and keep it.” He was given a specific responsibility over a particular piece of geography. God made Adam a steward.
This is what Jesus was talking about in the Parable of the Talents which begins, “For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property.” The parable was based on an evaluation of what each servant did with what was delegated to them. Two of them made full use of what they were given in service of the master and were told, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” One of them was a poor steward, failing to put to work what little was committed to him. About him it was said, “Cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness.”
God does not give too much or too little. He does not misassign possessions and abilities and He does not lose track of what He gives. And there will be an accounting of what He has given. Here is how you can receive a divine “Well done.” Use your possessions to serve God and your neighbor. Put your personal strengths to work for God. “As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace” (1 Pet. 4:10).
Do you have the courage to objectively take inventory of the possessions and talents you’ve been given and weigh it against your faithful use of them? Would you, like those in the parable, be commended by receiving even more, or would the audit result in a repossession of what you already have? A biblical view of stewardship will keep you from complaining about your current situation and motivate you to use what you have for God’s glory.
This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful. (1 Cor. 4:1–2)