| Introduction | | | | the Old Testament when the writer of Proverbs |
| The word Stewardship stems from the Greek word | | | | underscored, "honour the Lord with your substance |
| Oikonomia which means "the management of a house | | | | and with the first fruits of all your produce, then your |
| or household." It is the administration of duties or goods | | | | barns will be filled with plenty and your vats will be |
| in one's care. It can be defined as the aspect of the | | | | bursting with wine. (Prov. 39:9-10). This fact is also |
| church's administration, which deals with the individual's | | | | emphasized by the preacher who wrote: "Cast your |
| responsibility for sharing systematically and | | | | bread upon water for you will find it after many days." |
| proportionately his time, talent and material possession | | | | (Eccl. 11:1)8 |
| in the service of God. | | | | This concept of reward is also depicted in the book of |
| We can trace this idea of stewardship from the slave | | | | Chronicles. King Hezekiah did what was good and right |
| and master relationship in the culture of the Bible. The | | | | and faithful before the Lord his God. This was |
| slave master will appoint a slave to administer his | | | | reflected in every work that he undertook in the |
| household, which may encompass the teaching and | | | | service of the house of God, in his observance of the |
| disciplining of the children, other slaves and all members | | | | law and commandments. (2 Chron. 31:20-21). |
| of the household. A typical example of this was | | | | 5. Welfare of Society/Community |
| Joseph in Portiphar's house. (Gen. 39:4-6). Joseph was | | | | Stewardship is also necessary for the welfare of our |
| steward who administered the home until the return of | | | | society and community. It is only through good |
| his master.1 | | | | stewardship that the environment will be kept healthy. |
| The idea of stewardship is also rooted in the New | | | | Since this sinful world is characterized by insufficiency, |
| Testament. In his teaching and parables, we see Jesus | | | | irregularities and suffering, Jesus admonished us to be |
| talking about the unjust steward who poorly manages | | | | good stewards by taking care of each other and even |
| what was entrusted to him by his master (Luke 16:1-8). | | | | our environment. In talking to his disciples, Jesus told |
| In the Epistles, Paul wrote that a steward was required | | | | them that "whatever you do to the least of these |
| to be found faithful in administering the task entrusted | | | | brothers of mine, you did it to me." (Matt. 25:40). It is our |
| to him.2 | | | | responsibility to take care of all God's creatures. |
| The Scope of Biblical Stewardship | | | | It is also our responsibility to care and help improve our |
| In discussing the meaning of stewardship, three basic | | | | environment and the God given resources inherent in it. |
| concepts must be remembered. Firstly, the word | | | | We will give an account someday to the creator |
| stewardship itself implies that there is an owner. God is | | | | about our contribution to maintain and care for our life |
| the owner of all things. Looking back to the Old | | | | and natural resources. |
| Testament, the Psalmist declared that "The earth is | | | | The Mode for Promoting Stewardship |
| the Lord's and the fullness thereof, the world and they | | | | In discussing the mode for promoting stewardship we |
| that dwell therein." (Ps. 24:1). Secondly, if God is the | | | | seek to contextually apply the biblical perspective of |
| owner of all things then man is a trustee and a | | | | faithful stewardship. We shall consider the following: |
| steward. He has been entrusted to oversee or take | | | | tithing, offering: community development; societal |
| care of all that is in the universe. Thirdly, we must | | | | interaction; and gifts and abilities. |
| acknowledge that a steward is expected to give an | | | | Tithing |
| account for what was entrusted to his care. | | | | Tithing is an essential method of stewardship. Tithing in |
| The term stewardship can be broadly divided into two | | | | a broad sense is giving one tenth of all our income to |
| main aspects. Stewardship of the earth and | | | | the Lord. The first example of tithing is found in |
| stewardship of the gospel. Stewardship of the earth | | | | Genesis 14:16-20 with regards to Abraham and |
| denotes that God created the universe and entrusted | | | | Melchizedek. We also see the practice mentioned by |
| it to man to take proper care of it. It includes taking | | | | Jacob when he vowed to the Lord saying "If God will |
| proper care of the life and natural resources given to | | | | be with me and watch over me, on this journey I am |
| us by God. Since God entrusted to man dominion over | | | | taking and will give me food to eat and clothes to |
| this creation, man is responsibly accountable to God. | | | | wear so that I return safely to my father's house, then |
| The second division of stewardship is that of the | | | | ... of all that you give me I will give you a tenth" (Gen. |
| gospel. The gospel is a priceless message committed | | | | 28:20-22). |
| to every Christian to care for. Jesus himself | | | | This concept of tithing seemed to have been a |
| commanded us to go into the world and relentlessly | | | | customary practice among the Cananites even before |
| spread the good news of salvation (Matt. 28:19-20). | | | | Abraham and Moses. Nevertheless, we see the |
| The urgency of this command is pictured by the | | | | concept permeating throughout scripture. Tithing |
| apostle Paul when he stated 'Though I preach the | | | | became a requirement for the people of God. (Lev. |
| gospel I have nothing to glory of: For necessity is laid | | | | 27:30).9 |
| upon me. Yea, woe unto me, If I preach not the gospel. | | | | The principle of tithing is a relevant means of |
| For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward, but if | | | | stewardship for the church today. The Pastor must |
| against my will, a dispensation of the gospel is | | | | instruct his congregation about tithing through preaching |
| committed unto me,' (1 Cor. 9:16-17).3 | | | | and teaching. He must develop a tithe culture in his |
| When we consider the two broad aspects of | | | | congregation: tithing in cash and kind. |
| stewardship we are confronted with two pertinent | | | | Offering |
| questions: (i) what should we give to enhance | | | | Offering is another method of showing stewardship. It |
| stewardship of the earth and stewarship of the | | | | is a very good method of funding God's work. This |
| gospel? (ii) what will God appreciate from us if He | | | | method of stewardship is found in the Old Testament. |
| owns everything in this universe, including our life? This | | | | This free will offering can be divided into two: weekly |
| though may seem perplexing; yet, the Bible reveals | | | | and occasional offerings. The weekly offering, as the |
| answers. There are basically three things which God | | | | name denotes is given perpetually every week. This |
| expects us to give: our treasure, our talent and out | | | | also like the tithe provides daily food and finance for |
| time. | | | | God's house. In times of emergency, this fund will |
| Firstly, we are to give our treasure to God. Treasure is | | | | always be available. The apostle Paul made use of |
| something with great value and worth. Treasure may | | | | that offering as relief aid for the church in Jerusalem: |
| include money or material wealth. It may be | | | | "On the first day of the week let each one of you lay |
| paradoxical to give a good and perfect God money or | | | | something aside, storing up as he may prosper, that |
| material possession. "The love of money is the root of | | | | there may be no collection when I come (1 Cor. 16:2). |
| all evil." (1Tim.6:10). Moreover, scripture says that it is | | | | We can deduce from this a system set by the |
| easier for a Camel to pass through the eye of a | | | | Apostle Paul which is useful not only for the church in |
| needle than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of | | | | Corinth but even for the universal church. |
| Heaven.4 We should note that the Bible is not saying | | | | The strategy of Paul in organizing the collection of the |
| that money is evil, instead, "the love of money" is what | | | | offering alleviated the rush that can accompany |
| the Bible condemns. Accumulating money for one's | | | | emergency collections in the church and the |
| selfish ends is improper. The Christian should recognize | | | | embarrassment it may cause those who do not have. |
| that whatever treasure he has belongs to God. We | | | | The type of offering should be a model for us today.10 |
| should take from the treasure which God gives us and | | | | This develop in members the ability to practice |
| give back to God for the enhancing of His Kingdom. | | | | stewardship through regular offering. |
| Secondly, we are to give our talent to God. Many of | | | | The second type of offering is the occasional offering. |
| us do not have treasure to give but God will | | | | This type of offering is seldomly taken except when |
| appreciate our natural talents. It is biblically and | | | | the church needs to undertake a project like erecting a |
| practically true that God has given everyman a gift to | | | | temple edifice or raising fund for relief purposes. It is a |
| exercise. Therefore, no person can say I have nothing | | | | time in which people are expected to make pledges |
| to give God. God has given some people the gift of | | | | for challenges to give for the progress of God's work. |
| singing, healing, natural abilities, strength and | | | | A Biblical example of this is found in Exodus. Moses |
| resourcefulness to build His kingdom on earth. In the | | | | challenged the people of God to give in order to build |
| Old Testament, we see God's people involving in | | | | the tabernacle when he said. "This is the thing which |
| projects. For instance, the building of the temple of | | | | the Lord commanded saying take from among you an |
| God by Solomon and the wall of Jerusalem by | | | | offering to the Lord. Whoever is of a willing heart let |
| Nehemiah. In these projects, we see the people of | | | | him bring it as an offering to the Lord, gold, silver, and |
| God using their manual labour and talents to | | | | bronze.11 |
| accomplish the will of God. | | | | The response of the people of Israel to this challenge |
| In a similar trend, our churches today need to harness | | | | was extra-ordinary and superb. We read that the |
| the natural resources in our congregation. Everyman or | | | | people "continued to bring to him free-will offering |
| woman has something to offer to God in the form of | | | | every morning" (Ex.36:3) In fact, the craftsmen who |
| service. Our churches will have little or no kingdom. The | | | | were doing the work in the Sanctuary went to Moses |
| church should identity potential people in the | | | | and said, "The people bring much more than enough |
| congregation and put the right person in the right place. | | | | for the service of the work which the Lord |
| God will appreciate any little service you will offer in His | | | | commanded, and they caused it to be proclaimed |
| temple. | | | | throughout the camp saying let neither man do |
| The third thing that God expects us to give is our time. | | | | anymore for the offering of the Sanctuary (Ex. 36:4-6). |
| God has given us 24 hours everyday to work and | | | | This is the type of stewardship that God expects |
| rest. It depends on us as to how wisely we use our | | | | from the church. |
| time. Nevertheless, we should allot most of our time for | | | | Occasional offering is also seen when the Christians in |
| the service of God, be it in sharing the gospel or | | | | Antioch raised relief fund for he brethren in Judea. We |
| working for the good of our society. We need to give | | | | are also told that "each according to his ability, |
| up our time in propagating the gospel to the unreached. | | | | determined to send relief to the brethren dwelling in |
| In fact, this is the core of the Christian faith. A call to | | | | Judea." (Acts 11:29). The two methods of stewardship |
| Christian stewardship is a call to surrender our time for | | | | of giving are the most clear-cut methods seen in the |
| the progress of God's kingdom on earth. | | | | Bible for the support of God's work on earth.12 |
| The Necessity for Promoting Stewardship | | | | We must also note that tithing and offering does not |
| Stewardship is necessary for the life and survival of | | | | necessarily denote money giving. It includes the |
| the church. In fact there can be no church without | | | | products of our farms like cassava, potatoes, rice, |
| stewardship. There are five basic reasons why | | | | groundnuts. It also encompasses resources from any |
| stewardship should be promoted in the church or | | | | trade or business. God will appreciate any good thing |
| community. | | | | that we have and not necessarily money. This kind of |
| 1. God's Ownership | | | | tithing or offering is being practiced in some churches in |
| We need to promote stewardship because God is the | | | | the provincial towns and villages of Sierra Leone. A |
| owner of all we have. We need to create awareness | | | | typical example of this practice is found in the |
| in our world that God is the true giver and owner of | | | | Kamakwe Wesleyan Church. There, the members will |
| everything in this universe. We can relate this to Jesus' | | | | bring to the church their farm products and business |
| answer about paying taxes to Caesar. "Render to | | | | materials as offering to the Lord. This practice was |
| Caesar the things that are Caesar's and to God the | | | | very common in ancient Israel. |
| things that are God's (Matt. 22:21). This clearly depicts | | | | Community Development |
| that God is to have all or the best of what we have. | | | | The Pastor can also promote stewardship among his |
| Acknowledging this act the Psalmist wrote: "The earth | | | | members through cultivating the awareness for |
| is the Lord's and everything in it, the world, and all who | | | | involvement in community to build latrines, water wells |
| live in it. | | | | or do environmental cleaning. The church as the light |
| In his prayer, David recognizes this necessity for good | | | | and salt of this dark and saltless world should lead its |
| stewardship".... For everything in heaven and earth is | | | | community into faithful stewardship of God's creation. |
| yours.... Wealth and honour come from thee... of thy | | | | We can see today that through building hospitals, |
| own are we giving thee" (1 Chron. 29:11). It is only when | | | | schools and clinics the evangelical church in Sierra |
| we realize and acknowledge God's ownership that | | | | Leone had greatly contributed in enhancing the health |
| faithful stewardship will be effectively promoted.5 | | | | and educational standards in Sierra Leone. This is all |
| 2. Response to Grace | | | | part of God's commission of faithful stewardship. |
| Another important reason for promoting stewardship is | | | | Our Christian stewardship should also be extended in |
| to show our appreciation and response to God's | | | | the leadership of our community or society. Many |
| grace. Since God owns everything and has given all to | | | | Christians today have been indoctrinated to believe |
| us, we have nothing equivalent to pay in return for | | | | that Christians should not partake in politics or social |
| God's life and grace. Nevertheless, our commitment | | | | affairs. Some even went on to state that Christians |
| and dedication to a life of faithful stewardship is our | | | | must be totally separate from worldly activities. This is |
| way of saying thanks to God for what he has done | | | | a reflection of irresponsible stewardship. If Christians do |
| for us in Christ. In response to God's grace the Apostle | | | | not mingle with unbelievers to correct their thinking and |
| Paul wrote: "I beseech you therefore by the mercies | | | | way of living, who then will do that. God has entrusted |
| of God that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, | | | | to us a big responsibility. We must be in the world to |
| holy, acceptable unto God which is your reasonable | | | | influence it with God's standards but not be of the |
| service." | | | | world to compromise in its ways. This fact is also |
| In addition, some people go beyond spiritual giving to | | | | depicted in Jesus' prayer for his disciples when he |
| material stewardship as a sign of appreciation for | | | | prayed that they may not be taken away from the |
| God's work of salvation in Christ. A typical example of | | | | world but live to be salt and light in the world. |
| this is Zachaeus. In response to the master's saving | | | | Gifts and Abilities |
| grace he declared the following: "Behold, Lord, the half | | | | Another way the Pastor can promote stewardship is |
| of my goods I give to the poor, and if I have taken | | | | by motivating members to develop and/or utilize their |
| anything from any man by false accusation, I restore | | | | gifts and abilities and providing the avenue for such |
| him fourfold." (Luke 19:8) Stewardship and care for | | | | utilization. Members in the church can be dramatists, |
| others has always characterized those who | | | | playwrights, writers, musicians or musically inclined, |
| appreciate Christ's saving grace. 6 | | | | singers, teachers, communicators, administrators, artists, |
| In a similar vein, the response of the Samaritan woman | | | | nurses, doctors, engineers, lawyers, farmers, craftsmen |
| after talking with Jesus was, "Come and see a man | | | | or women et cetera. Each person should be |
| who told me all things that ever I did, is not this the | | | | encouraged to be a faithful steward of his or her gifts |
| Christ." (Jn. 4:29). In Paul's teaching and life, stewardship | | | | and abilities, with particular reference to the enhancing |
| is nothing but a response to God's grace in Christ. In his | | | | of God's kingdom. |
| letter to the church at Corinth, Paul encourages them | | | | Even though we have identified the ways through |
| to give liberally because Christ became poor to enrich | | | | which we can exercise our stewardship, we also need |
| them. He also told the Ephesians to walk in love as | | | | to note that good stewardship can be affected by our |
| Christ loved us and gave himself for us as a fragrant | | | | attitude towards that service. Paul instructs the people |
| offering and sacrifice to God. | | | | of /Corinth not to give reluctantly but cheerfully |
| 3. Spiritual Growth | | | | (Cor.9:7). He also pointed out that we should give |
| Stewardship is indispensable to the spiritually growing | | | | sacrificially and wholeheartedly. He praised the church |
| Christian. This is because spiritual growth itself is | | | | in Phillipi for giving out of its extreme poverty. The |
| characterized by good stewardship in Christ. Good | | | | church even begged earnestly for the favor of taking |
| stewardship guards the believer from numerous | | | | part in the relief of the saints. (2 Cor. 8:2-4). Right |
| spiritual problems. The New Testament is full of | | | | attitude in giving should be the mark of the church |
| warnings against worldly possession which impedes | | | | today. |
| spiritual growth. "The cares of the world and the delight | | | | Conclusion |
| in riches and desire for other non spiritual things enter in | | | | Finally, the Bible teaches us to be honest in our |
| and choke the word and it proves unfruitful. (Mark 4:19). | | | | stewardship. We are not to behave like Ananias and |
| Poor stewardship is one of the strongest stumbling | | | | Saphira who secretly stole from themselves and lied |
| blocks to spiritual growth in the life of Christians. A | | | | to Peter saying that they had given everything. God |
| biblical example of this is the rich man who claimed to | | | | expects us to be good and faithful stewards through |
| have obeyed the laws but became sad, disturbed and | | | | the demonstration of honesty. In the end, we would |
| unwilling to share his riches to the poor.7 | | | | expect our rewards and the master's great welcome, |
| The story of Lazarus and the rich man is another | | | | "Well done you good and faithful servant" (Steward). |
| example of poor stewardship. The story clearly | | | | End Notes |
| depicts the cause for the rich man's suffering. "But | | | | 1W Curry Mavis, Advancing the smaller Church (Grand |
| Abraham replied, son remember that in your life time | | | | Rapids: Baker Book House, 1957), p. 82. |
| you received good things while Lazarus received bad | | | | 2Ibid., p. 83 |
| things...." The complete story implies that the rich man | | | | 3A Grace Wenger, Stewards of the Gospel |
| did not faithfully take care of the riches entrusted to | | | | (Pennyslvania: Herald Press, 1965), p. 4. |
| him by his maker. Consequently his reward was | | | | 4Tumbull. s v 'Steardship' by G Ernest Thomas |
| spiritual death. | | | | 5Ruck Benjamin, "We are God's stewards", Herald of |
| 4. Expectation of Reward | | | | His Coming. Vol. 51, no. 6, 1992, p. 3. |
| A very important reason and motive for stewardship | | | | 6Wenger, pp. 29-30. |
| is reward. Every steward expects a reward whether | | | | 7Ibid., pp. 29-30 |
| good or bad. In his letter to the Galatians, Paul wrote, | | | | 8Webley, p.p. 13-14. |
| "A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to | | | | 9Samuel Young, Giving and Living (Kansas City: |
| please his sinful nature will reap destruction. The one | | | | Beacon Hill Press, 1974), pp. 54-60. |
| who sows to please the spirit will from the spirit reap | | | | 10Leopold A Foullah, "Biblical Motivation and |
| eternal life." (Gal.6:8). A good steward will expect a | | | | Methodology for Giving and Fund Raising", Evangelical |
| good result from his master and a bad steward will | | | | Ministries, vol. 6, no. 3, 1987, pp. 22-23. |
| expect a bad result from his master. | | | | 11Ibiid., p.23 |
| Stewardship is contractual: the steward acts faithfully | | | | 12Ibid., p. |
| and the master brings blessings. The fact is depicted in | | | | |