Stewards Grow the Owner’s Resources By Howard Rich

The Call to Be A Good Steward of the Resources

I have been part of innumerable conversations on resources and the stewardship of funds donated to these wonderful ministries. When discussing the use and accountability of these funds, there is often a concern that we act as “good stewards.” Recently, I have been pondering what we mean when we say we need to be “good stewards.”

Evaluation is Biblical

Consider the Parable of the Talents. Matthew 25:14-30 tells us about a wealthy man who entrusts his wealth to three of his servants. Then he leaves to go away on a journey. Upon his return, he evaluates how those three stewards utilized his resources. The first two increased the owner’s funds and were seen as good and faithful in the owner’s eyes. They were even being invited to share in their master’s joy. Their faithfulness to what was entrusted to them led to their being placed in charge of even greater resources.

However, the third servant was fearful and hid the master’s resources. He returned the original amount entrusted to him without any increase. The owner found this steward wicked, lazy, and worthless, then declared that the servant be cast outside into the darkness.

The Choice

I reflect and wonder how many times I behave like the third steward when dealing with the Lord’s resources. When I say I need to be a “good steward” of donor resources, I want to keep the funds safe. I want to protect them by burying them rather than deploying them to increase the ministry’s effectiveness and sustainability.

The Parable of the Talents shows me that I need to grow the owner’s resources. It means I must trust him as he directs their use. I need to move beyond the impulse to bury the resources. It is time to seek what the Lord wants them deployed so he can grow His Kingdom.

I am pretty sure you have had some of the same thoughts. What is the best use of the Lord’s resources? My prayer for you and me is that we would look to the Lord. Allow him to direct us on how to deploy the resources. Ask him how he wants us to grow those resources.

Howard Rich is the CFO of Amazi Water and the President of the Center for Steward Leader Studies. Howard is a life-long advocate of generous living. He desires to see Christians lead from a heart of stewardship and generosity.