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A Theology of Stewardship.

The Bible's theology of stewardship is grounded in the creation account of Genesis. Adam's job description had two dimensions. He was placed in the garden “to work it and take care of it” (Gen. 2:15). The call to “work” the garden points to our responsibility to manage God's resources strategically. This is labor that produces fruit (cf. Gen. 2:5). The other dimension of Adam's charge was to keep or “care” for the garden. This was a call to guardianship.

The calling of stewardship did not belong to Adam alone. Eve was created to be his co-laborer in this task, and together they were given the responsibility of exercising “dominion” over God's creation (Gen. 1:26-28). Dominion involves acting under God's authority and in His stead. Mankind acts as God's agent with respect to creation. Sidney Greidanus observes, “Genesis 1 proclaims that we were created in God's image, that is, we are God's representatives in this world. As images of God we may manage this kingdom on God's behalf.”

Stewardship also has a personal dimension. In biblical times a steward was often a slave. The New Testament uses this metaphor to help us understand how the sacrifice of Christ affects our individual exercise of stewardship. “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God?” Paul asked the Corinthians. “You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body” (1 Cor. 6:19-20).

Just as Adam was placed in a garden that was not his own, we have been given a body that comes from God and has been purchased at great cost by Christ. Consequently, everything we think, say, or do is an exercise of stewardship. Our bodies are our particular sphere of influence and we are to use them in a way that reflects the dominion of Christ (Rom. 6:13). Biblical stewardship, then, is not just about money. It is the exercise of strategic management and care of every resource, whether material or spiritual, that God has entrusted to us (1 Cor. 4:1-2).