(Original post from the Resurgence)
A steward gladly acknowledges that he or she belongs to the Lord. This is exactly what Paul says in Romans 1:6 when he reminds Christians that they “belong to Jesus Christ.” Subsequently, stewards understand that everything they have and are logically belongs to the Lord. . . .
A steward recognizes that everything ultimately belongs to the Lord. The Bible recognizes private property ownership, which explains why it forbids stealing. Above all, though, the Bible repeatedly teaches that God alone is the ultimate owner of everything, because it comes from him and is ruled over by him. God’s ownership includes all wealth: “The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, declares the LORD of hosts.” God’s ownership extends to the natural resources we cultivate for wealth, as God says in Psalm 50:10: ‘”For every beast of the forest is mine, the cattle on a thousand hills.” Even the abilities we use to earn a living are gifted to us by God and are to be humbly used, as Deuteronomy 8:17—18 says: “Beware lest you say in your heart, ‘My power and the might of my hand have gotten me this wealth.’ You shall remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you power to get wealth.” . . .
Simply put, stewards know they deserve hell. Everything that they enjoy belongs to God and is gifted to them for enjoyment and service. Practically, this means the air we breathe, the food we eat, and everything else is a gracious gift from our loving God.
Stewards seek to faithfully oversee all that God has entrusted to their oversight. Because they see that they and all that has been entrusted to their care belong to God alone, they aspire to manage everything in their life in a God-glorifying way. Additionally, they do not want to be guilty of robbing God by failing to manage his resources according to his wishes.
From Doctrine, Chapter 12. Stewardship: God Gives (pgs. 373–374). Doctrine is out now.
In recent years there has been a resurgence of ministries resounding that their end purpose is to glorify God. The question is, do we understand what “the glory of God” actually means? Or will “the glory of God” become a cliché, much like “the love of God” did in precious generations?
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