As was stated in the last post (All Aboard! Stewarship), the first order of importance when it comes to good stewardship is to establish good stewardship over your understanding of this life. In essence, understanding why you exist is the first step in existing well. Furthermore, good self-stewardship is consistent with being a good steward over what one has; what if someone used their possessions well, but did not look after their own health?
This points to how the Christian life differs from a worldy life not only in what is done and what is not done, but also in the motives that come from the heart. For example, a worldy person may eat in order to sustain their own being while a Christian ought to eat not only to sustain their own being, but to sustain their own physical being for the extra purpose of serving others (1). One of the main goals of this Apologia Athlete platform is to help you realize your identity. In essence, to help you realize that you are made in the image of God. In order to do this, you need to have an understanding of who God is. It comes down to this: how we understand ourselves and others depends on how we understand God.
“IT COMES DOWN TO THIS: HOW WE UNDERSTAND OURSELVES AND OTHERS DEPENDS ON HOW WE UNDERSTAND GOD.”
Life is only possible because God has life in Himself. Gifts are only possible because there is something to give. Creation is only possible because there is a self-existent God, with creative power, who willed to create. Now that such things are grounded in what is possible, how can we steward them?
Life: While there are approximately 613 rules in the Old Testament Law, Jesus summarized one’s walk with God in this manner: “You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind . . . You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets” (Matthew 22:36-40). So, how does one properly steward over his own life? In a nutshell, by loving God and by loving your neighbor. Having schedules, motives, habits, making decisions, and so on, that support these ends means being a good steward over this gift of life. It can be as complicated or as simple as you make it.
Gifts: Do not let the gifts that you do not have interfere with using the ones that you do have. Everyone has gifts. You think you have none? Well, I would start listening to what God says about you rather than what you say about yourself (Acts 17:28). Now, before I go on, I need to make a distinction. There are gifts by the pure nature of being a human being made in the image of God and there are special spiritual gifts that Believers in Christ have. Just by existing, you have the gift of reflecting life and being someone towards which one can extend their love. As far as more unique spiritual gifts go, God tells us through His Word that Christians have been given the special gifts of the Spirit, and though the outworking are different, the same Spirit is at work among the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:1-11, and 1 Peter 4:10-11). There are differing opinions concerning continuationism and cessationism, but my point here is to say that no matter which gifts a person has, whether it be the gift of public speaking or the gift of art, they can be directed towards the same end: the glorification of God.
So how do we properly steward the gifts we have been given? In essence, it is this: any capability that you have to serve Christ, pursue that. If you can sing, keep out profane language and pursue the fruits of the Spirit. If you can paint, design illustrations that are saturated with allusions to the fruits of the Spirit. If you have amazing athletic capabilities, honor God in your conduct and how you treat your teammates and all those around you. If you can manage people well, manage them in such a way where you love them in word and in action. None of this means being gooey; sometimes love requires being stern. Furthermore, good music and good art does not have to directly contain Bible verses and symbols. Everything good comes from God, and it is about what that music and what that art represents. Is it beautiful? Is it truly beautiful, free of profane things; not things the world simply agrees with but things that align with Scripture? If so, it is good. The list and caveats go on and on, but the end is the same ought. Now, I have been focusing on immaterial gifts primarily, but the same things apply to material gifts. If God has given you the ability to make a lot of money or other resources, do what you can to serve God and His kindgom with that; do not love it as an idol, but, rather, use it as a resource. Ultimately, it comes down to this: read the Word, store it in your heart, and as you attach this to your life, you will be properly stewarding your gifts more and more.
Creation: this is a vast idea, since creation includes every created thing on the face of the Earth. However, rather than seeing this as a burden, we can see this as an opprtunity to make a difference, even in ways that feel small to us. It comes down to this: do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God (Micah 6:8). Apply this to the abortion crisis. Apply this to the debt crisis. Apply this to environmental crises. Apply this to taking care of your animals. Apply this to everything, and together, we will see more change in the world around us; the creation that was created good, is in the midst of the bad, but will be restored one day (Romans 8:18-25).
We have now looked at how stewardship can be applied to broad levels of stewardship regarding life, gifts, and creation. Next post, we will look at how stewardship can be applied in a more specific way regarding knowledge, physical fitness, and finances. Until then, if you are not a Believer, I pray you believe. If you are a Believer, keep pressing on; we are one month closer to eternity.
