The word steward means manager, guardian, trustee or caretaker. A steward does not own the thing placed under his management. His job is to take care of it for the owner. The owner has placed the thing in the steward’s hands to guard it for him. So, what are we managers of? What has God placed in our hands to manage for Him? We manage the atmosphere: water, land, vegetation, air. We are also guardians of living things: animals, children, family, fish, birds. More personally we take care of our bodies, our minds, our souls. This is what the Bible says about the roles of Adam.
“The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.” (Genesis 2:15)
Notice that the garden belonged to God, not Adam. Adam was put there to take care of it for God. That is the role of a steward. A steward does not own the thing he is put in charge of, but his specific job is to manage it for the one who does own it.
Jesus told a parable about a wise and an unwise steward. (Luke 12:41- 47) Both were put in charge of their master’s possessions when he went on a journey. The wise steward was careful to take care of his master’s things as if they were his own. The foolish steward wasted the things of his master. He beat the other servants and got drunk. When the master returned, he rewarded the wise steward, but he severely punished the foolish one. Jesus is the Master who left this earth to go to heaven. He left the earth and all its riches and money in the hands of his stewards. We are those stewards. When He returns what will He find us doing? Are we wise or unwise stewards of His things? Is God pleased with the way we are taking care of His things? Will He reward us or punish us?
When we talk about our money and valuables, we need to remember that we don’t really own things. We have been given those things to use while we live. They belong to God.
God said, “Everything under heaven belongs to me” (Job 41:11).
When we die, we can’t take them with us. The very richest man in the world will die and when he dies, everything he owns is left behind. He doesn’t even take his body with him. Someone else will be put in charge of those things. Jesus told the story about a farmer who harvested a big crop. He was selfish and thought only about pleasing himself, to eat and drink and be happy. He did not use what God gave him in a wise way. God called him a foolish man because that night he died and left all this wealth to someone else. (Luke 12:16-20) The Psalmist said,
“Don’t be afraid of people just because they are rich. Don’t be afraid of people just because they have big fancy houses. They will not take anything with them when they die. They will not take their wealth with them.” (Psalms 49:16-17)