Stewardship

What comes to mind when you hear this word? It is a very significant word both in the bible and in daily life. In the Bible, it is used to refer to someone who is left in charge of the affairs of another and expected to manage them as though the owner is present all the time. Management is an exercise of stewardship because as a manager you are expected to oversee the affairs of the concern given to your care on behalf of your appointing authority. 

There are two words in the Greek language that describe the word steward. The first one is epitropos which means a manager, foreman or steward. This gives you a clue about what this person’s responsibility is. I like the word foreman in this regard. On a construction site, the foreman manages the day to day operations of the project on behalf of the contractor. It is his responsibility to oversee the other construction workers and ensure they are delivering on their expectations. He makes sure they are supplied with all they need to do their job effectively. When the word is applied to governance it refers to a governor, procurator or guardian. In this sense, it is an administrative role charged with taking care of the government's business within a particular jurisdiction. It can be used to describe our regional and county commissioners in today’s government structure. 

The second word is oikonomos which is translated steward, manager or administrator. All these words boil down to someone who is entrusted with running the affairs of another entity and expected to do well in this regard.

Stewardship has been defined as the careful and responsible conducting, supervising and management of something entrusted to one’s care.

In Genesis 1:28 it is described as follows. Be fruitful and multiply, fill the earth and subdue it. Have dominion over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air and over every living thing that moves on the earth. Good stewardship not only concerns itself with exercising dominion or authority, but it also begins with being productive and having a multiplying effect on what has been entrusted to you. Genesis 2:15 talks about man’s responsibility to tend and keep the garden in shape. A steward needs to have an ability to nurture that which has been entrusted to him and maintain its status. 

At the basic level, you need to take responsibility for yourself and all that has been entrusted to you. In my book Blessed to be a Blessing, I explore some of the things entrusted to your care and suggestions about how you can make the most of them all as the good steward you are expected to be. Make sure to stay alert and secure yourself a copy as soon as it is out. It is sure to be a great read. Call/text me on +254725832477 if you would like to order the Ebook version.