What is Stewardship?

What is Stewardship? It is so much more than just money!

Everything that we have is a precious gift from our Good, Gracious, and Loving Heavenly Father.

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.
– James 1:17

John answered, “A person cannot receive even one thing unless it is given him from heaven.”
– John 3:27

Martin Luther amplifies this in his explanation of the Fourth Petition of the Lord’s Prayer

The Fourth Petition – Give us this day our daily bread.
What does this mean?
God certainly gives daily bread to everyone without our prayers, even to all evil people, but we pray in this petition that God would lead us to realize this and to receive our daily bread with thanksgiving.

What is meant by daily bread?
Daily bread includes everything that has to do with the support and needs of the body, such as food, drink, clothing, shoes, house, home, land, animals, money, goods, a devout husband or wife, devout children, devout workers, devout and faithful rulers, good government, good weather, peace, health, self-control, good reputation, good friends, faithful neighbors, and the like.

Accordingly, we are expected to be good stewards of those gifts

As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace.
– 1 Peter 4:10

Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men.
– Colossians 3:23

“His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’”
– Matthew 25:21

Thank Almighty God daily for all that He has given you in order that you may glorify His Holy Name!
– Mike Kroeger, Elder