On Being a Steward

“Let a man regard us in this manner, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. In this case, moreover, it is required of stewards that one be found trustworthy.”
1 Corinthians 4:1-2

To be a successful money manager, you must believe wholeheartedly and with much conviction that you are managing someone else’s possessions; for the Christian, that someone is God. The Bible does not lightly address the issue of stewardship. The Greek word for stewardship is oikonomia, meaning management of a household, not ownership of a household.

Harold L. Dayton explains it this way in his book, Your Money: Frustration Or Freedom?: “In Scripture the position of a steward is one of great responsibility. He is the supreme authority under his master and has full responsibility for all his master’s possessions, household affairs, and rasing of children.”

This is not to say that God is watching every dime as it leaves your hands, making sure you do not spend it on goals, vacations, or hobbies. A careful manager invests his time and money wisely. Spend time with God regarding your money. If your decisions are made prayerfully, then you can feel assured that you are using the money to accomplish what God has in mind for you. After all, of all the wonderful things that God owns, His most precious commodity is you.