Stewardship in Business – An Edenic Mandate?

The Merriam-Webster definition of stewardship is:

The conducting, supervising, or managing of something. Especially the careful and responsible management of something entrusted to one’s care.

Wikipedia (I know) defines a biblical worldview of stewardship as:

Utilizing and managing all resources God provides for the glory of God and the betterment of His creation.

That’s actually a pretty solid definition, good job Wikipedia. I present these two to highlight that stewardship is something that is seen as a positive value in both the secular and Christian worldview but with the slight twist. For Christians it is rooted in the belief that what we have been blessed with is from God and we are to use it for His glory. This understanding can be traced all the way back to the Garden of Eden with the “Edenic Mandate”.

And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”

Genesis 1:28

God chose to give His marvelous creation to mankind to steward. The internal sense to steward, at least on the macro scale, is something that has permeated in mankind throughout our existence. I would argue that this innate desire in humans to steward the world is traced back to this initial mandate from God. Some will say on a macro level we have failed, thank God for the new heaven and new earth, and many on a personal level fail dramatically in stewarding what has been given to them.

Limited Resources

No matter the circumstance either macro or micro we all are dealing with limited, finite resources. RC Sproul makes an interesting point in one of his Tabletalk devotions:

“In our own households, we learn that if we spend fifty dollars on clothes, that’s fifty dollars we no longer have for other purposes. Everyone, even billionaires, functions with limited resources. Every time we use a resource, we make a decision, and that decision reveals what kind of stewards we are. That’s where God holds us accountable. He held Adam and Eve accountable for how they took care of the garden. God is interested in how we take care of our ministries, personal lives, homes—every aspect of life. All of these areas deal with managing and allocating resources.”

There are many examples in business where we see the limited function of resources. If you have ever made a bad hire you know that all the time and energy spent to recruit, interview and train cannot be recouped much less the money paid out. Stewardship does not mean making the correct decision every time. Luckily, outside of a drastic one, there is not a decision that would make us completely lose our position of steward as it was for Adam and Eve in the Garden. What it does mean is that we should take into account the resources available to make the best decision. As RC Sproul said, “Every time we use a resource, we make a decision, and that decision reveals what kind of stewards we are.” A culture of stewarding whether in business or family comes from the top.

Trimming the Fat and Sacrificing

It is probably easy to lump not spending money as being a good steward. This is not at all the case. The servant who only received one talent in the Parable of the Talents was punished for doing such a thing. However, in our personal lives and in our businesses there is undoubtedly areas where we can manage our time, resources and money better. It is always good to review spending and efficiency once a quarter to discern if there are ways to be a better steward. A budget helps to track the spending but other areas will require deeper thought. You will probably always find somewhere to trim the fat but in some cases you may find the need for greater sacrifice in order to honor the Lord with what you have.

Will We be Judged on Our Stewardship or Lack of?

The Parable of the Talents seems to indicate, yes. The two who were faithful, good stewards were rewarded and there was a severe consequence for the one who was not. Paul in his first letter to the Corinthians touches on judgement and stewardship:

This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. ² Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful. ³ But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by any human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself. ⁴ For I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not thereby acquitted. It is the Lord who judges me. ⁵ Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then each one will receive his commendation from God.

1 Corinthians 4:1-5

Several important things to point out.

1. The Lord will judge and bring to light things hidden in the dark and disclose the purposes of the heart (verse 5).
2. Other people’s judgement, including your own, is of little importance (verses 3-4)
3. Stewards are servants of Christ and faithfulness is a REQUIREMENT (verse 2).

(1) – Through the years of working in accounting I have seen very poor stewardship being “hidden” in the books. From churches to nonprofits to for-profit businesses it happens in all areas. Quite frankly it is easy to get away with. The Lord not only knows what is going on in the dark but He knows our heart. We are unhidden before God.

(2) – “Only God can judge me” is a mantra for some. Paul reiterates this claim as well as the little significance of other people’s judgement has on him. This does not mean we should disregard reproof from others. Paul in the very next chapter calls upon the Corinthians to both judge and reject an immoral man. However, men may judge incorrectly and our primary focus is to honor the Lord.

(3) – When you recognize Jesus as Lord over your life you are succumbing to Him as your master in all areas of life. Thus servanthood should follow. Faithfulness therefore is not a choice but a requirement of being a steward of the Lord’s provisions in your life.

Takeaway

Whether it is on a macro (your business) or micro (personal life) level, we are to be good stewards. Regardless of the positions we find ourselves in, whatever area of our lives. This is something that God decreed in the garden and still demands for us now. We are to be faithful in light of our servanthood to the Master. Peter sums it up nicely:

¹⁰ As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: ¹¹ whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

1 Peter 4:10-11

May you bring glory to God through your stewardship.