KiNGdOM StEwARdShiP - The Lausanne Global Conversation ...

K i n g d o m S t e wa r d s h i p
The How of Stewardship
The first major theme of stewardship recurring throughout
Scripture is the fact that God is the author and owner
of all things: seen and unseen. Closely associated with this
overarching theme of God’s ownership is the idea that our
effective stewardship of all things must be evaluated by God’s
standards. In other words, since God is the Creator of this
world, who better to ask about how to manage every arena of
life effectively than the author and designer himself?
Stewardship and generosity are two of the Christian’s most
profound privileges. They are privileges granted by a God that
loves us and wants only the best for each of us. God does not
want us to view them as responsibilities to be performed or
obligations placed on us by an uncaring God.
Imagine – the God of the universe has called you and me
to be his stewards. This curious fact alone should move us
to discover not only what has been entrusted to our care, but
also how God intends every area of life to be managed for his
ultimate glory.
We serve a perfect God – a God who does not have some
vague idea of how life best functions. God’s design for life is
flawless. Since humanity fell into sin and became separated
from God, our tendency is to manage life as if it were our
own – as if we know what is best for us and how God’s mission
can best be accomplished.
We can only understand the How of stewardship when we
seek to know and understand the Who of stewardship. Effective
stewardship can only be achieved when we diligently seek
the One for whom we are commissioned as royal stewards.
The Why of Stewardship
Why would an all-knowing, all-powerful God, who is in control
of all he created, appoint us as stewards over his resources?
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