These days, you don’t have to look far to find examples of waste. Our society is built on a throwaway culture—throwaway items, throwaway relationships, even throwaway values. We consume and discard at an alarming rate, and leaders are no exception. Money, power, resources—it all gets squandered when people are focused on short-term gain instead of long-term impact.
But stewardship isn’t a new concept. The Bible has a lot to say about making the most of what we’re given. In Matthew 25:21, Jesus tells the story of the faithful servant: “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness.’”
Stewardship, in this context, isn’t about hoarding resources or playing it safe. It’s about using what you’ve been entrusted with—time, money, influence—to make a difference. It’s about being faithful with the little things so that you can be trusted with bigger responsibilities down the line.
Let’s get practical. When we talk about stewardship today, it applies to leaders at every level. Look at how government leaders allocate budgets. Are they investing in what benefits communities long-term, or are they spending recklessly to score political points? In the corporate world, are CEOs stewarding their companies in a way that ensures sustainability and treats employees fairly, or are they driven by quarterly profits at the expense of long-term health?
Even in our personal lives, stewardship is crucial. We all know someone who spends every penny they make, never considering how they could invest or save for the future. Or someone who treats their relationships as disposable, using people when it’s convenient and discarding them when it’s not. That’s not how God designed us to live.
But let’s not mistake stewardship for stinginess. Being a good steward doesn’t mean you never take risks. It doesn’t mean you hoard resources or live in fear of losing what you have. It means managing your blessings wisely and being generous when God calls you to be. It means looking at your calendar, your bank account, your energy, and asking: Am I using these things in a way that honors God and blesses others?
Consider the current debate around environmental stewardship. Some people think we should not utilize the abundance of natural resources with which God has blessed this state and country. But if God gave us this earth to manage, we should take that seriously. We’re called to be caretakers – stewards – not hoarders or abusers. Or think about how we use our time. Are we investing in our families, communities, and spiritual growth, or are we letting our days get swallowed up by social media and endless distractions?
As we continue through the week, I challenge us to think about where we could be better stewards. Maybe it’s our finances. Maybe it’s how we manage our time. Or maybe it’s the way we use our influence at work or in our communities. Remember the parable in Matthew 25. One day, we’ll all give an account of how we managed the resources God entrusted us. Let’s make sure we hear, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”
In a world of waste, let’s be leaders who invest, build, and leave things better than we found them.
Let’s Be Bold!
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