Christian Stewardship and God's Expectations in Scripture
Christian Stewardship and God's Expectations in Scripture
The concept of stewardship is deeply rooted in biblical teachings, emphasizing the responsibility entrusted to believers to manage God's resources wisely. In 1 Corinthians 9:17, Paul writes, "For if I do this of my own will, I have a reward. But if not of my own will, I have a stewardship entrusted to me" [4]. This verse highlights the idea that believers are stewards of God's grace and resources.
The biblical understanding of stewardship is closely tied to the concept of faithfulness. In Luke 12:41-44, Jesus describes the faithful steward as one who is entrusted with managing the household and is expected to be wise and responsible [7]. John Gill's commentary on this passage notes that Jesus is referring to the apostles and succeeding ministers of the Gospel, who are stewards in Christ's family, entrusted with the stores and provisions of His house [7].
The Psalms also provide insight into the concept of stewardship and God's expectations. Psalm 23, often interpreted as a representation of Christ's relation to His people, describes God's providential care in providing refreshment, guidance, protection, and abundance [8]. Matthew Henry's commentary on Psalm 23:1 notes that David infers from God's being his shepherd that he shall not want anything that is good for him [5].
God's expectations from His people are multifaceted. According to Torrey's Topical Textbook, God calls believers to wait upon Him, exercising patience and steadfastness in their faith [1, 2]. This involves waiting for God's salvation, guidance, and protection, as well as being mindful of one's responsibilities as a steward of God's resources.
The biblical concept of stewardship is also linked to the idea of holiness. In 1 Peter 1:15-16, believers are called to be holy because God is holy [3]. This call to holiness is a fundamental aspect of God's expectations from His people.
In the view of Nonconformist/Puritan tradition, as represented by Matthew Henry, the duty of beneficence and doing good to those in need is a key aspect of Christian stewardship [6]. This tradition emphasizes the importance of using one's resources to benefit others, reflecting God's character and fulfilling one's responsibilities as a steward.
The Baptist/Reformed tradition, as represented by John Gill, also highlights the importance of faithfulness and responsibility in stewardship. Gill's commentary on Isaiah 61:5 notes that strangers shall stand and feed the flocks, and the sons of the alien shall be ploughmen and vinedressers, indicating the inclusion of Gentiles in the ministry of the Gospel [9].
Sources
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Waiting Upon God — As the God of providence -- Jer 14:22. As the God of salvation -- Ps 25:5. As the Giver of all temporal blessings -- Ps 104:27,28; Ps 145:15,16. For Mercy. -- Ps 123:2. Pardon. -- Ps 39:7,8. The consolation of Israel. -- Lu 2:25. Salvation. -- Ge 49:18; Ps 62:1,2. Guidance and teaching. -- Ps 25:5. Protection. -- Ps 33:20; 59:9,10. The fulfillment of His word. -- Hab 2:3. The fulfillment of His promises. -- Ac 1:4. Hope of righteous by faith. -- Ga 5:5. Coming of Christ. -- 1Co 1:7; 1Th 1:10. Is good -- Ps 52:9. God calls us to -- Zep 3:8. Exhortat”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Steadfastness — Exhibited by God in all his purposes and ways -- Nu 23:19; Da 6:26; Jas 1:17. Commanded -- Php 4:1; 2Th 2:15; Jas 1:6-8. Godliness necessary to -- Job 11:13-15. Secured by The power of God. -- Ps 55:22; 62:2; 1Pe 1:5; Jude 1:24. The presence of God. -- Ps 16:8. Trust in God. -- Ps 26:1. The intercession of Christ. -- Lu 22:31,32. A characteristic of saints -- Job 17:9; Joh 8:31. Should be manifested In cleaving to God. -- De 10:20; Ac 11:23. In the work of the Lord. -- 1Co 15:58. In continuing in the Apostles' doctrine. -- Ac 2:42. In holding fast our”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Holiness — Commanded -- Le 11:45; 20:7; Eph 5:8; Col 3:12; Ro 12:1. Christ Desires for his people. -- Joh 17:17. Effects, in his people. -- Eph 5:25-27. An example of. -- Heb 7:26; 1Pe 2:21,22. The character of God, the standard of -- Le 19:2; 1Pe 1:15,16; Eph 5:1. The character of Christ, the standard of -- Ro 8:29; 1Jo 2:6; Php 2:5. The gospel the way of -- Isa 35:8. Necessary to God's worship -- Ps 24:3,4. None shall see God without -- Eph 5:5; Heb 12:14. Saints Elected to. -- Ro 8:29; Eph 1:4. Called to. -- 1Th 4:7; 2Ti 1:9. New created in. -- Eph 4:24. Possess. ”
- 1 Corinthians “For if I do this of my own will, I have a reward. But if not of my own will, I have a stewardship entrusted to me. -- 1 Corinthians 9:17”
- Psalms (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Psalms 23:1: From three very comfortable premises David, in this psalm, draws three very comfortable conclusions, and teaches us to do so too. We are saved by hope, and that hope will not make us ashamed, because it is well grounded. It is the duty of Christians to encourage themselves in the Lord their God; and we are here directed to take that encouragement both from the relation wherein he stands to us and from the experience we have had of his goodness according to that relation. I. From God's being his shepherd he infers that he shall not want anything that is good for hi”
- Luke (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Luke 16:1: We mistake if we imagine that the design of Christ's doctrine and holy religion was either to amuse us with notions of divine mysteries or to entertain us with notions of divine mercies. No, the divine revelation of both these in the gospel is intended to engage and quicken us to the practice of Christian duties, and, as much as any one thing, to the duty of beneficence and doing good to those who stand in need of any thing that either we have or can do for them. This our Saviour is here pressing us to, by reminding us that we are but stewards of the manifold grace ”
- Luke (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Luke 12:41: And the Lord said, who then is that faithful and wise steward,.... Christ does not directly, and in express words, answer to Peter's question, but suggests, that though he intended it as a caution to all his people, and in it spoke to them all to be upon their watch and guard, Mar 13:37 yet that he had a special regard to them, his apostles, and succeeding ministers of the Gospel, whose characters, office, work, dignity, and honour, are here described. Such are stewards in Christ's family, they are entrusted with the stores and provisions of his house, and "faithfulnes”
- Psalms (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Psalms 23 (introduction): Under a metaphor borrowed from scenes of pastoral life, with which David was familiar, he describes God's providential care in providing refreshment, guidance, protection, and abundance, and so affording grounds of confidence in His perpetual favor. (Psa 23:1-6) Christ's relation to His people is often represented by the figure of a shepherd (Joh 10:14; Heb 13:20; Pe1 2:25; Pe1 5:4), and therefore the opinion that He is the Lord here so described, and in Gen 48:15; Psa 80:1; Isa 40:11, is not without some good reason.”
- Isaiah (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Isaiah 61:5: And strangers shall stand and feed your flocks,.... The several congregated churches of Christ, which shall be set among them, compared to flocks of sheep, as they often are; and which shall be fed with knowledge and understanding, with the words of faith and sound doctrine, by pastors of the Gentile race; who shall be raised up by Christ, and shall freely, and faithfully, and constantly perform the office they are called unto; see Act 20:28, and the sons of the alien shall be your ploughmen, and your vinedressers: the sons of Gentiles, who were aliens from the comm”