Stewards For The Lord

Keith McNeely

As a small boy I became aware that from time to time my father would loan money to an individual, and this individual would always secure the loan with a shotgun. Time after time that same gun would come into our house as collateral to secure the loan that was made. Early in life I learned the idea of something being entrusted to us (the gun) that was not ours, and that we would take care of it better than if it were ours. We were stewards of that property that did not belong to us.

The rule of stewards; There is a rule of stewards, it has been in our minds for years, but it also is set forth in the New Testament. Paul would state “Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.” (1 Corinthians 4:2). Albert Barnes comments that “Fidelity to the master” is required. Fidelity means being faithful to your obligations and duties. Thus the rule of stewards is that they be faithful.

Personal responsibility; Peter mentions receiving a gift and reminds us of our personal duties to “minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.” (1 Peter 4:10). Two points, first it is a fact that everyone has different talents, and second that we each have opportunity and even obligation to utilize our talents in God’s service. Thus we each have personal responsibility to be stewards of our talents.

Elders as stewards; Paul would write to Titus “a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God;” (Titus 1:7). Vine writes under “steward” that the original word oikonomos means “the manager of a household or estate” (Vines Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words p 1097). The point to learn is that the steward is not the owner but rather the “manager” of the household of another, in this case it refers to elders as managers of the “household of God” (Ephesians 2:19) which is the church. A question dear reader, is it not the case that the church is made up of souls? Then it seems we could accurately reason that the eldership of local congregations is indeed to be considered as stewards of the souls that make up that local congregation?

We must then recognize that we as Christians, all of us, not just elders, preachers or deacons, but rather all of us are stewards for the Lord. We further must recognize our responsibility to be faithful (to the Lord) in our stewardship.