The Idea of “Mine”
From an early age children learn to claim things as their own. As toddlers children quickly become selfish and don’t want to share their toys. This problem arises even between siblings. Little brother doesn’t want to share his candy with big brother and vice versa. These children are already going down a slippery slope towards the cultural norm of self-centeredness or what I call the idea of “mine.”
Once the Europeans figured out they could sail across the sea and find “new land” they did. And they claimed them as their own—even though these lands had already been populated by others. The whole idea of colonialism which brought about the founding of this great country is actually just as bad as the two toddlers fighting over a piece of candy.
God’s Perspective
This idea of “mine” is not healthy and God new that from the start. That’s why he didn’t make Adam and Eve owners of the garden, but rather stewards charged with caring for it.
“The LORD God then took the man and settled him in the garden of Eden, to cultivate and care for it.”
The garden was God’s. There’s no mistaking that. But He wanted to share it with our primordial parents and that’s what He did.
Jesus Teaches About Stewardship
I used the word steward earlier, because I like what it implies. Not ownership, but responsibility. God is your Father and like every good parent He enjoys lavishing gifts on His children. But He also seeks to challenge you to better yourself, grow in holiness, and become more like Him.
You remember the parable of the Good Steward (Mt 25:14-30), don’t you? A man calls three servants and before leaving on a trip gives them all varying amounts of talents—these were a type of currency, but I love the play on words here. When he gets back he wants to see what they have done with the talents. Two of the servants have multiplied the talents, but the other servant buried what he was given for fear of losing it. The man was happy with the two who had taken care of what they had been given, but with the other one, not so much.
The money wasn’t theirs, but they were given charge over it. They had to assume responsibility.
Three Steps Toward Good Stewardship
Now I would challenge you to see your role as a spouse, parent, employee, team member, and as a Christian all from the perspective of a steward. You have probably heard stewardship applied most often when they are asking for money at church, but stewardship is not just about money, but about all the gifts that God has given us.
Step 1: Acknowledge All as Gifts from God
This applies to your spouse, your children, your money and possessions, your responsibilities at work and school, and your duties as a follower of Christ and member of His Church. All of these are gifts that God has freely lavished on you as His beloved child and until you recognize that you can’t become a good steward. You won’t see your spouse as a possession, but rather a “helpmate” created specifically for you by God. You pursuit of money will change, because you will see it as God’s money that He has given you charge over.
Step 2: Take Responsibility
When you treat the things and people under your care as gifts from God you will see that you approach them differently. You will make a stronger effort to care for them, to nurture them, to make them grow. You want the best for your children. You want to be successful at work. You want to live your Christian faith to the fullest. As a good steward you will constantly challenge yourself to be a better steward.
Step 3: Enjoy Your Reward
In the parable the good steward who took responsibility of caring for the talents his master had given him charge of and multiplied them in the end received praise from his master.
“Well done, my good and faithful servant. Since you were faithful in small matters, I will give you great responsibilities. Come, share your master’s joy.”
No More “Mine”
With the recent birth of my son the idea of stewardship as a parent has become more evident. I know that this child is a gift from God and that I am tasked not just with assuring his survival, but with his well-being and success in life. In order for me to do that I have to better myself: physically, spiritually, psychologically, emotionally. It’s my job not only to get to Heaven, but to bring my loved ones with me. Challenge yourself to change your perspective on the idea of “Mine” and to become a steward.
In what areas do you need to be a better steward of the gifts God has given you?