CHAPTER FOUR
The Steward
In biblical times, the steward was more than a slave. He was a confidant of the boss. He was a trusted servant of the householder, or the rich man, who left all his goods and property in the hands of the steward so that he could run the household, manage the finances, the staff, control the accounts and generally keep everything in order. The steward controlled everything from garden to kitchen to office.
The rich man, or financier, or owner, would make decisions and leave the rest to the steward, giving him the power and finances to do his bidding and bring his plans to fruition. In any household or business, stewards were powerful people, capable of hiring and firing. He was the vice-president, the senior manager and supervisor of the rich man’s life.
The steward was considered part of the family. In Genesis 15 we read how Abraham, who at that time was childless, worried that his possessions would be inherited by his steward, the most senior member of his household. Being a steward afforded one status, position, power, wealth and rewards, but it demanded loyalty to death.
The most prominent steward in the Bible is Joseph. His first appointment as steward was to Potiphar, the captain of Pharaoh’s guard, in whose household Joseph excelled and flourished. Unfortunately, Potiphar’s wife considered a steward’s work consisted of more than Joseph was prepared to do, and his loyalty in refusing to accede to her advances cost Joseph his freedom. Joseph’s refusal to compromise his loyalty to Potiphar would, however, lead to a higher appointment as the leading steward in the land. (Genesis 39).
Loyalty, trustworthiness, discretion, honesty are all attributes of a good steward. He had to be disciplined and of good character.
For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not self-willed, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre;
But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate;
Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.(Tit.1:7-9)
Remember that all things belong to God (Ps 115:16; Ps. 24:1) and He has given us stewardship thereof.
So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.
And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth. (Gen.1:27-28)
Paul confirmed this:
Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours;
Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours;
And ye are Christ's; and Christ is God's. (1Cor.3:21-23)
God has given us all things, placed it in our care and we are responsible for it. Matt. 25:14-30 relates the parable of the talents. To each was given that which he could manage and from which he could make a profit, but when the lord of the servants returned, he demanded that which he had given as well as the profits.
At all times God has a right to that which He has entrusted to us, and He expects us to be fruitful, to make a profit, and the more we make, the more we must be willing to give, and the more we give, the more He will reward us.
Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase:
So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine. (Prov.3:9-10)
As stewards we have to give account of that which we do, how we handle and care for that which has been entrusted to us.
And that servant, which knew his lord's will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes.
But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more. (Luk.12:47-48)
There are also times when a steward’s loyalty will be put to the test. It is in those times that we, as stewards will have to decide who our master is. In 1 Kings 18, we read of Obadiah who was in charge of Ahab, the king’s house. He was a trusted servant and Ahab left all in his hands. Unbeknown to Ahab, however, Obadiah had a greater vision than even the king’s household. He saw past the present danger to a greater reward that awaited him, and at great risk to himself, he hid one hundred prophets of the Lord God of Israel from the murderous queen Jezebel, whose allegiance was to the idol Baal. When it comes to allegiances, we must never forget who comes first. The things of this earth are transient and ultimately we will have to give account to the King of kings.
We ought to obey God rather than men.
(Acts 5:29b)
As stewards we are responsible to God for all that He has given us, and that includes life, talents, wealth and family.
As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.(1Pet.4:10)
God is the master of our house, in all we are subject to Him. He has a right to our loyalty and our lives.