Forming Steward Leader Communities By Dr. Zenet Maramara

A steward is a follower of Christ who has surrendered to His lordship.

A steward called to lead is a steward leader—one who leads not as an owner, but as one entrusted by God.

Christian Stewards recently concluded a pilot run of the Steward Leader Journey in Manila. We brought together 40 leaders from churches, businesses, and ministries. They explored what it means to live as stewards who surrender every area of life to the true Owner—God.

Many participants realized that, often without knowing it, they had been living as owner-leaders. They tried to control people, organizations, circumstances, and outcomes, and carried the stress that comes with that burden. Becoming a steward leader requires humility. A leader must be willing to step down from their self-made thrones. It is a choice to allow God to take His rightful place as owner and sovereign.

Knowing God Is the Beginning of Knowing Ourselves

The journey begins with knowing God—His nature, His character, and His purposes—and understanding who we are in light of who He is. God created humanity in His image. We are made in the image of the triune God—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—who exist eternally in a relationship of love.

We, too, were created for relationship: relationship with God, with ourselves, with our neighbors, and with creation—including our time, resources, and the world God has entrusted to us. The Fall fractured all four relationships. Through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, God began the work of redemption and restoration, reconciling us to Himself and calling us into restored relationships with ourselves, others, and creation.

Yet one of the most neglected relationships is our relationship with ourselves—and how we steward the life God has entrusted to us. Our identity begins with knowing the God who created us. As the psalmist declares, “I am fearfully and wonderfully made.” Each of us is uniquely created and gifted with distinct abilities, capacities, and purposes. Our identity is ultimately secure in Christ, who is the image of the invisible God.

Yet it is easy to look for our identity in our work, titles, positions, reputation, achievements, or possessions. When these become the basis of our identity and security, we are carrying something God never intended us to carry. Jesus came so that we might experience life in its fullness—not the bondage that comes from trying to be our own owner and controller.

We Need Community for the Journey

Together, we are all on a journey toward the freedom of the steward—freedom from the lies of the enemy and from the false security offered by the world. We do not walk this journey alone. The Holy Spirit accompanies us, guiding and leading us into the way of life God intends for us.

But we also need fellow travelers. We were not created to live for ourselves. We need people who will walk beside us, encourage us when we are weary, challenge us when we drift, and remind us of who we are and whose we are. As Ecclesiastes reminds us, “Two are better than one… If either of them falls, one can help the other up.”

Accountability is Essential

This is why accountability is essential to the steward leader journey. We need to give trusted people permission to ask difficult questions, speak truth into our lives, and help us remain faithful to what God has entrusted to us.

This is the beauty of forming communities of steward leaders. When we walk together, we become stronger. We learn from one another, encourage one another, and carry one another’s burdens. More importantly, we create communities where leaders can experience the freedom and joy of living not as owners, but as faithful stewards of everything God has entrusted to them.

The steward leader journey invites a way of life—and a community of fellow travelers who help one another remain faithful. We are stewards. God is the Owner. We are stronger when we walk the journey together.

Dr. Zenet Maramara is the founder and president of Christian Stewards, whose mission is to multiply faithful and generous stewards and catalyze a movement of generosity in the Philippines.

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