On being a steward

A different way to think about your life

Photo by Amsterdam City Archives on Unsplash

Who or what are you a steward of? 

This is a question I never asked myself before hearing Charlie Peacock ask it on The Habit Podcast. 

Steward isn’t a word you hear anymore. When I hear steward I think of the scene in Lord of the Rings where Gandolf addresses Denethor’s delusions of grandeur with, “Authority is not given to you to deny the return of the King, Steward!" Denethor saw himself as the King of Gondor when in fact he was only a steward. 

Webster’s dictionary defines steward as: one employed in a large household or estate to manage domestic concerns; an employee on a ship, airplane, bus, or train who manages the provisioning of food and attends passengers; one appointed to supervise the provision and distribution of food and drink in an institution.

The apostle Peter tells us to use our abilities to serve others, “…as good stewards of the varied grace of God.”¹ And the apostle Paul refers to himself as a steward of the mysteries of God²  

The idea in both our modern language and the language of the apostles is one of humbly serving, as though those you serve are not your own but belong to someone whom you are accountable to. 

After considering Charlie Peacock’s question, I wrote a list of who/what I am responsible before God for stewarding. Here’s some of my list:

• My marriage

• My relationship with my sons and their girlfriends 

• The income I make working as a case manager 

• My relationships with my church family/pastor/leaders/community group

• My responsibilities teaching kids at church

• Mentoring relationship with young ladies from church

• My little garden plot

• My goats and chickens

• My home in The Waddell Haciendas neighborhood 

• My 50 year old body 

• My relationship with my neighbors 

• My relationship with my coworkers

• My relationship with my parents 

• My relationship with my brother and sister and sister in law

• Relationship with nieces and nephews

• Writing poetry/essays/blogs/substack

When I think about my life and relationships from the perspective of stewardship I feel an immediate sense of relief. I am not in charge. I don’t rule over this little kingdom on 183rd avenue in the Waddell Haciendas of Surprise, Arizona in the year of our Lord 2024. I am not flying this plane, or steering this ship. I don’t cause the plants to grow or the sun to shine. I don’t win or lose based on the outcome of my relationships or efforts. I win because Christ is King. My King. I lose only what’s temporary and even then I don’t really lose. But that doesn’t mean I have no responsibility here. I am responsible for doing what my King has asked me to do with the strength and skills he’s given me. 

And what has he asked me to do? Follow him (Matthew 16:24). Trust him (Proverbs 3:5). Look to him (Hebrews 12:2). Turn back to him (repent) when I turn away (Mark 1:15). Let go of what I’m clinging to (Matthew 10:37-39). Rest in his promise to carry out his purpose in my life (Matthew 11:28; Psalm 138:8; Philippians 1:6). Cast my cares on him (1 Peter 5:7)…just to name a few.

While seeing my relationships and efforts from the perspective of a steward relieves me of many anxieties, it also gives me a sense of honor and purpose. 

God, who owns all he has made, including me, has entrusted me with his good works. He is not a harsh task-master I must fear if I don’t manage and grow all he’s given me perfectly. He is a good, good Father who comes alongside me for a lifetime, teaching to steward well all he has entrusted to me. He doesn’t have me walking a tight-rope. He’s given me acres and acres to walk. And fall. And get back up again. He’s given me tremendous freedom in stewarding all he has entrusted to me. Not freedom to indulge myself, but freedom to serve others in love. Freedom to learn what it means to love my neighbor as myself. Freedom to learn what I was made for. Freedom to fail and get up, looking to Jesus again and again and again till the day I see him face to face.

The King will return. Will he find me faithful? Will he find my love has grown cold? Will he find me neurotically clinging to what was never mine in the first place? Will he find me waiting on him? Will I hear, “Well done, good and faithful steward?”³

1. 1 Peter 4:10 CSB, “Just as each one has received a gift, use it to serve others, as good stewards of the varied grace of God.”

2. 1 Corinthians 4:8 ESV, “This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God.”

3. My paraphrase of Matthew 25:21 NASB, “His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You were faithful over a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Share your master’s joy.”