What all is involved with proper Christian stewardship?

Stewardship involves the proper handling of “all things” that we receive from God. The Lord gives us many types of blessings beyond money: “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning” (James 1:17). Even our life, breath, and bodies are gifts we should care for. Stewardship simply means to carefully and responsibly manage something.

Our talents are given to us by God to use for building up the body of Christ. Spiritual gifts are distributed to all believers “from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love” (Ephesians 4:16, my emphasis).

Time is a gift from God and should be used in doing the work the Lord has assigned each one of us. “It is like a man going to a far country, who left his house and gave authority to his servants, and to each his work, and commanded the doorkeeper to watch” (Mark 13:34). Are you using your time properly in witnessing for Christ (Acts 1:8)? In studying the Bible (2 Timothy 2:15)? In prayer (1 Thessalonians 5:17)? In helping those in need (Matthew 25:31–46)?

I like to think of stewardship as a partnership with God. Jesus has given me the assurance of salvation. He is my Savior and friend. As I walk with Him, I want to obey and follow Him as Lord of my life. That means submitting everything I have to be used for His glory. I hold nothing back from serving God. I acknowledge that He gave me my life, talents, time, family, money, and so much more to be used for His work.

Key Bible Texts

God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; Neither is worshipped with men’s hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things; (Acts 17:24-25 KJV)