Joy and Fulfilment of Whole-Life Stewardship

Introduction

As we approach the end of 2023, it is clear that this has been a year of unprecedented challenges and surprises. The world and governments are still struggling to cope with the waves of shocking events.

In this Stewardship Month (November), it is a good time to take a step back and reflect on our lives in a troubling world and our role as stewards of God’s creation.

How can we be good and wise steward?

To be a good and wise steward, we must first understand that everything we have belongs to God. We are simply stewards, or managers, of His resources.

The Bible teaches this clearly:

• “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it.” – Ps 24:1
• God said, “Who has a claim against me that I must pay? Everything under heaven belongs to me.” – Job 41:11

As good and wise stewards, we manage our time, money, possessions, talents, and relationships in a way that pleases God and honours Him.

This means being grateful for all His blessings, using our resources wisely, being generous with our time, money, and talents, and using our resources to further God’s kingdom and to make a difference in the world.

What is Whole-Life Stewardship?

1. Whole Life Stewardship is both a mandate and a privilege.

The mandate for whole life stewardship comes from the creation story. In Genesis 1:28-30, God gives Adam and Eve dominion over the earth and all that is in it. He tells them to be fruitful and multiply, to fill the earth and subdue it, and to have dominion over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, and every living thing that moves on the earth.

This mandate is not simply about procreation and family size. It is also about the responsibility to care for and manage God’s creation.

There is also a cultural aspect of the mandate. In the cultural mandate, we are called to live as a blessing to others. We do this by using our God-given gifts and talents to serve others and to glorify God. This can be done through our paid work, volunteer work, and work in the home.

Work is what we do, and stewardship is how we do it in fulfilling His purpose. Our lives have a role in kingdom-building work that does not just occur in the halls of the church on Sunday morning or in ministry, but rather in all aspects of our lives and our work. We are a Christ-Centred Acts 1:8 family, filled with the spirit to be his witnesses in our city, region, and around the world.

2. Whole-life stewardship refers to all our decision-making.

It is about how we choose to spend every moment of our lives and every dollar of our money. It is about where we choose to invest our time, energy, and resources.

To do this, we should pray about our decisions and ask God for guidance on how to use our time, talents, and resources in a way that honours Him and serves others. We should also be intentional about our priorities, making time for the things that are most important to us, such as our relationships with God and our loved ones. Additionally, we should be generous with our time, talents, and resources, looking for ways to serve others in our community and around the world. We should also be good stewards of the environment, taking care of God’s creation by recycling, conserving water, and using resources wisely. Finally, we should be witnesses for Christ in all that we do, letting our light shine so that others may see our good works and glorify our Father in heaven.

Here are some ways we can practice whole-life stewardship in our daily lives:

• At work: Be honest and hardworking, and use your skills and talents to serve your colleagues and clients.
• At home: Be a good spouse, parent, and child. Spend time with your loved ones and help out around the house.
• In your community: Volunteer your time and skills to a cause that you care about. Donate to charities that are doing good work.
• At church: Get involved in a ministry or cell group. Use your gifts and talents to serve your church body.

Conclusion

When we live a life of whole-life stewardship, we are not only honouring God, but we are also experiencing the joy and fulfilment that comes from using our resources to make a difference in the world as well as a difference to our personal life.

Rev Anthony Loh