Kingdom Stewardship
We are called to be stewards of God's creation.
In the first chapter of Genesis God gives humanity the responsibility and authority to care for and cultivate the earth. With this God sets the stage for the relationship between God, the earth, and humanity. As stewards, we are called to balance the authority and responsibility given while living our duty to care for God’s creation.
The earth and everything in it ulitmately belongs to God and we are called to steward it according to His heart. God’s creation includes that work needs to be done and God created humanity with the mission to do this work to accomplish God’s purpose.
Humanity does not own the earth, but is its caretaker and is entrusted with its well-being. The earth is not ours to exploit selfishly, but rather a sacred trust given to us by God. We are temporary caretakers of God’s possession. Everything we have is on loan from the Lord, entrusted to us for a while, and to be used to serve Him.
Being a steward of God’s creation is not about power or prestige, but serving others. With this we reflect the love and character of Christ.
The areas of our service are worship, earth, money, time, and talents.
Being a steward of God's creation requires that we re-assess and re-prioritize our connection to God's creation. Such as our relationships, what we value, what we do with our money and resources, how we go about our work, how we relate to the people in our lives, and how we serve and treat fellow humans and God's creation.
Romans 8:19 (ESV) "For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God."
Stewardship of worship
The stewardship of our resources has been closely tied to our giving to God in worship. Thanksgiving and praise, the fruits of the labour of our own hands and giving to the work of God.
John 4:24 (ESV) “God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”
With this verse, John reminds us that God desires worship that springs from a genuine spiritual connection, rather than merely external practices associated with a specific place.
Stewardship of money
The Bible provides wisdom for us with regard to our wealth because how we steward it demonstrates our trust in the Lord.
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​Deuteronomy 8:18 (ESV) “You shall remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you power to get wealth, that he may confirm his covenant that he swore to your fathers, as it is this day.”
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With this verse, we are reminded of God's supreme authority as the creator and sustainer of the universe, which includes not only the physical planet, but also all the resources and wealth of it.
Stewardship of talents
Humanity has varying abilities and talents, we are called to steward these for the glory of God.
1 Peter 4:10 (ESV) “As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God 's varied grace:”
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With this verse we are reminded that every good thing we have is ours only by God's grace and intended to be used for His purpose. Using wisely everything that has been given to us to serve each other and God's creation is part of fulfilling our purpose as stewards of God's creation.
​Stewardship of the earth
One of the primary purposes of humanity is to steward that which is God’s. This includes His creation of the earth and everything in it. It is important to God how we care for His whole creation, not just the things that we “own”. By stewarding the earth well, we seek to worship the Lord through our care of His creation.
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Psalm 24:1 (ESV) “The earth is the Lord 's and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein,”
In this verse, King David highlights the responsibility of stewardship, reminding us that we are called to manage and care for the world as representatives of God. It challenges our attitudes towards the environment, prompting us to recognize that the earth is not ours to exploit selfishly, but rather a sacred trust given to us by God.
Stewardship of time
We are called to steward the time we have and to make use of our moments and days for God and His glory.
Proverbs 90:12 (ESV) “So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.”
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This verse teaches us that we must live sensibly and with a purpose, yet do so one day at a time.
