Let’s face it. Stewardship is most often associated with wealth and the responsibility of the individual to distribute wealth based on a tithe and offering paradigm. I introduce stewardship this way–not because I disagree with the biblical paradigm of tithe and offering–but because I believe we have dead-ended the idea of stewardship on a path that is only associated with financial management.
Stewardship is a much broader concept than just our attitude and behavior toward financial systems and structures. Taking the New Testament as our guide on the subject, we come to recognize that stewardship involves all that one has and all that one does.
Excursus: A Word on Wealth
First, let me clarify something regarding money. Nowhere does the Bible advocate for us to avoid becoming wealthy. Contrary to the poverty doctrines peddled along the back alleys of theological malpractice, we find that what we do with our wealth–not wealth itself–is the primary issue that the Bible takes exception.
Abundance–something that ought to be celebrated–was also interwoven with a call to responsibility. In II Cor. 8:14-15, the Apostle Paul sought to help the Corinthian church comprehend giving from a lens they obviously failed to understand.
2 Corinthians 8:13–15 (KJV 1900) — 13 For I mean not that other men be eased, and ye burdened: 14 But by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may be a supply for their want, that their abundance also may be a supply for your want: that there may be equality: 15 As it is written, He that had gathered much had nothing over; and he that had gathered little had no lack.
Paul is not demanding that the Corinthian church give more than others simply because they had more to give, but he was asking them to give what they could give. He is teaching them that they ought to give in proportion to what they have, but in a way that is equitable. He wasn’t asking the rich to become poor so that the poor could become rich (though I’m sure some where charging him with this very idea).
Paul’s follow-up semi-quote from Exodus 16:18, “he that had gathered much had nothing over; and he that had gathered little had no lack,” is an illustration of the model he is attempting to articulate. In other words, the needs of all were met and no-one went without, though no one had a surplus either. This is not an advocacy for socialism but for the church to distribute “to the necessity of the saints; given to hospitality” (Rom. 12:13).
In II Corinthians 9:8, we find this model advanced further when Paul makes it clear that God wants ” “that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work.” Don’t forget the words of Ephesians 4:28, “let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.”
This idea of wealth is seldom affixed to our teachings on the subject. Paul is not advocating enablement for those that are unwise–spending needed resources on wants while sacrificing their needs. He is not advocating a welfare state where we pour money into the accounts of individuals not willing to work with their own hands if they are able and, looking further, we find that Paul even warns us that one should never take advantage of the generosity of others (2 Thess. 3:8-12).
The simple truth is that there will always be those who have more and those who have less but we should make sure that–in proper context–everyone has enough. We must be willing to share our wealth equitably and willingly should others in the church find themselves in great need. Don’t forget, supporting those in need is a part of “pure religion” (James 1:27).
Unfortunately, we have come to utilize supportive contributions as a means of control and lordship over the needy. In a sense, we hold the recipients to a paradigm of performance and we seek honor and recognition for our “financial contributions.” The spirit of this oft manifests in our collective assemblies when we take up offerings and we itch the oft-desired need for men to announce to the world their name and their giving. I get it, not all manifest this issue, but it does lend toward the Pharisee’s way with contribution–little to do with those in need and more to do with a desire for human accolade and applause. Perhaps this makes the organizer of such offerings smart, as they understand the extra bonus made possible through this human ambition?
Without bogging down to much in this excursus, I think it would behoove us to take a better look at how we manage wealth in the church and our attitude, motivations, and outlook on hospitality regarding the same. Now, back to stewardship.
Divine Ownership
Stewardship first begins with the understanding that “the earth is the Lord’s and the fulness thereof, the world and they that dwell therin” (Ps. 24:1). Recognizing divine ownership is paramount to us modeling proper stewardship in the Christian life. The Old Testament is constantly affirming divine ownership (Ps. 50:10; 95:4-5; Job 41:11; Isa. 66:1; Hag. 2:8) and we are admonished to never overlook this fact.
Deuteronomy 8:17–18 (KJV 1900) — 17 And thou say in thine heart, My power and the might of mine hand hath gotten me this wealth. 18 But thou shalt remember the Lord thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day.
Though this deals with wealth, it is important to underscore the principle of divine ownership for stewardship. Everything good comes from God as a gift and such gifts are to be administered faithfully on His behalf. Here is a short list of things placed in the hands of the stewards of grace:
- The Earth
- The Gospel
- Personal Resources (Time, Treasure, Talent)
- The Church (i.e. the Body of Christ)
- The Family
Seizing upon the Church as one of the resources placed in our hands, herein lies the incredible importance of stewardship as it relates to the Body and the Members within that Body. There is a recognition that “my member” is a resource within the body–as is each member alongside me and individual stewardship of my life directly correlates to the strength, development, and efficacy of the Body as a greater whole.
Ephesians 4:16 (KJV 1900) — 16 From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.
The measure of every part, better translated as “the proper working of each individual part (NASB 95), screams of stewardship! Honestly, you are going to be hard pressed to define stewardship beyond a telos of divine community (i.e. the Kingdom of God; the Church). From this understanding comes the clarion call to “seek ye first the kingdom of God.”
I have long wrestled with the present distress of busyness that has overtaken many in the church today. Abundance–or the need for it–isn’t something that is always the result of organic divine increase but is often something pursued out of necessity to further develop the material world. Now, I am not against nice houses, cars, boats, etc., but when the church suffers due to the busyness mandated by the constant need for “more” to maintain these things; something is out-of-alignment.
Missing church on a regular basis due to a work schedule–when their are many other options for work that would provide similar pay–smacks of stewardship issues. Ephesians 4:16 becomes, “the effectual working in the measure of some parts…” when we know that “every part” is the key to making increase in the body! Business as missions, absolutely! But, an absent member cannot be replaced by a present finance.
To be continued….