Qualities of a Good Steward: Godly Stewardship in the Bible
Often when we think of being a good steward, we get stuck thinking about financial matters. But Biblical stewardship is more than just being responsible with the money God blesses us with. The qualities of a good steward include wise oversight of all God’s gifts from finances to people.
What is stewardship in the Bible?
The concept of stewardship is not always easy to understand and can be tempting to skip over in our Bible study as we strive to become more Christ-like. However, understanding what being a faithful steward truly means is important for our faith journey.
The word stewardship itself is defined in the dictionary as “the conducting, supervising or managing of something, especially the careful and responsible management of something entrusted to one’s care.”
Biblical stewardship follows along with this definition and defines the “something” as the things of God. In short, being a steward of God simply means we are overseeing the things that belong to or come from God.
As Christians, we consider everything we have as coming from and ultimately belonging to God from our finances to our possessions to our time. So being Christian stewards means we are called to oversee these gifts well.
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What does it mean to be a good steward according to Scripture?
First let’s start with looking at what God’s Word has to say about being a good steward. There are several key characteristics of good stewards to delve into further.
Faithfulness and trustworthiness
In 1 Corinthians 4, the Apostle Paul lists these two traits as important for stewardship. We are to be reliable and honest in managing what God has entrusted to us.
Being reliable and honest not only reflect on our own good work and integrity, but they also show God’s work and goodness to those around us. The life of a faithful servant can have a huge impact.
For example, back in the Old Testament, we find the story of Joseph starting in Genesis 37. Joseph went through an incredibly hard ordeal that included his brothers selling him into slavery.
Yet, Joseph’s faithfulness to God remained firm and strong. Eventually his faithfulness and trustworthiness in Potiphar’s house led to him saving his entire family from famine.
Even Potiphar, who wasn’t a believer, eventually noticed Joseph made wise decisions and was a good steward of everything entrusted to him.
Wisdom
Another characteristic of being a good steward we learn from the Bible is being wise and full of prudence or cautiousness. When we are a wise steward, then we are making thoughtful decisions that honor both God and others.
King Solomon is one of the best examples of the power and importance of wisdom. As the son of King David, Solomon was set to inherit the throne. He had been raised to be king
In 1 Kings 3, God appears to Solomon in a dream and tells Solomon that He will give him whatever he asks for. Instead of asking for material possessions or anything selfish, Solomon asks simply for wisdom so he can rule the people fairly.
Solomon was being a good steward of the power and role God had given him by making sure he lived with wisdom according to God’s purposes for his life.
Generosity
Being a responsible steward does not mean hoarding or keeping gifts of God to ourselves. Instead, being good stewards of God means we reflect His love and provision by sharing with others.
God has given so freely to us, starting with the greatest gift of His Son, Jesus Christ. In Mark 12, Jesus is watching the offerings being given to the temple treasury. He notices a poor widow come and give a small amount.
He points her out to his disciples for her generosity of giving everything she had to live on rather than giving out of her abundance as so many others had.
This spirit of generosity carried into the very early church as well. Acts 2 tells us the early believers sold property and possessions to give to those in need.
Accountability
Being a good steward also means we understand we are and will be held accountable for how we manage what God has entrusted to us. Quite simply being accountable means we will have to justify how we used what we were given.
Jesus’ teaching using the parable of the talents in Matthew 25 is a great example of accountability.
In this parable, a rich man gives three of his servants different amounts of talents or bags of gold. Two of the servants invested their master’s money and doubled their amount of gold.
The master responded that because they were faithful with small things then they would be given more. The third servant, however, was afraid and hid the gold. He did nothing to increase the amount.
When he was accountable to the master in the end, he was reprimanded for being a bad steward and lost even what he had been given. This parable demonstrates we will one day be accountable in the sight of God for how we utilized the gifts He gave us.
Service
The Bible also tells us the life of an obedient steward is one full of serving others. As God’s steward, we know even our time and deeds are gifts from Him to be used wisely.
Doing good deeds for the glory of God is part of being a good steward. Jesus Himself shows us what service looks like in John 13 when He washes the feet of His disciples before eating the Passover feast.
The words of the Lord Jesus sum up the importance of serving others in John 13:14-15 (ESV): “If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you.”
Types of stewardship in the Bible
In order to live with stewardship as a way of life, we must understand the different types of stewardship talked about in the Bible. Being a good steward is being a wise manager of God’s gifts in daily life.
Stewardship of gifts
Each member of the Body of Christ has a role to play in God’s Kingdom. Through the Holy Spirit, God has given us gifts and talents to use for Him. And using these talents and gifts for Him also means we use them for the community of believers as well.
In 1 Peter 4, Peter plainly states we are all given gifts and should use them to serve others. In fact, he says doing so makes us “faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.”
Using our gifts for the kingdom of God leads to the glory, honor and praise of our Heavenly Father.
Stewardship of creation
Taking care of God’s creation is part of being a good steward as well. This includes every living thing — both the environment and the creatures in it.
While we may think being environmentally aware is something relatively new, it actually started way back in the very beginning. In Genesis 2, God tells Adam to work in and care for the Garden of Eden.
Later in Leviticus 25, God instructs Moses to have the people sow in the fields for six years and then let the land rest and rejuvenate every seventh year in order to care for it.
The Bible includes a variety of examples of taking care of the animals on earth as well. For instance, Noah was faithful in Genesis 6 to follow God’s instructions to care for the animals on earth and preserved them during the flood.
Stewardship of time
Time is of the essence, as the saying goes, both in general life and in Christian life. Time is one of our most valuable resources. We spend the most time doing what matters most to us.
So logically time is one of the Biblical principles of stewardship we are to manage wisely. Good stewardship means using our life well for God’s glory.
In the Old Testament, Ecclesiastes 3 tells us there is a time for every activity under the heavens. We do not and should not try to cram everything into one time period. God has given us seasons of life.
And then in the New Testament, when the Apostle Paul instructs the church on how to best behave in Ephesians 5, he places great importance on time:
“Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.” — Ephesians 5:15-17 (ESV)
Stewardship of resources
Being a good steward does also mean we use our resources as God calls us to. Our resources mean pretty much everything.
James 1:17 (NIV) says, “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.”
So if all we have comes from God, then we must be a good steward of it all. In Proverbs 3, Solomon talks about honoring God with our wealth. Yet stewardship of resources applies no matter how great or how meager the resources are.
Throughout the Bible are examples of those with little giving much — like the widow we talked about earlier who gave out of her poverty. Another great example of giving through faith is in 1 Kings 17.
The prophet Elijah was passing through a town named Zarephath. He was hungry and thirsty, so he asked a widow to give him a bit of food and water.
This widow didn’t have anything. She was literally gathering sticks to feed herself and her son so they could die.
However, when Elijah told her to make a cake for him from the tiny bit of flour she had left because God would bless her, she did so. And from that day on, her jar of flour never ran out and her jug of oil was never empty.
Stewardship of relationships
To live out God’s love, we must love one another and be good stewards of the relationships in our lives. In fact, Jesus tells us love should be a defining characteristic of Christians in John 13:35.
We honor God when we manage our relationships well by building and maintaining healthy, loving relationships with others. Ephesians 5 and 6 is particularly great for family relationships in giving instructions for husband and wives, children and parents.
The bottom line for all the relationship advice in these verses is to remain humble, loving, respectful and kind to one another.
Watch Morning Prayer: Becoming a Good Steward for God’s Glory to see the #1 thing to steward to God, today!
Best Biblical verses on stewardship
A variety of Bible verses talk about stewardship and what living it out looks like. These are some of the best.
Old Testament Bible verses about stewardship
Proverbs 3:9-10 (NIV)
“Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.”
Malachi 3:10 (NIV)
“‘Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,’ says the Lord Almighty, ‘and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.'”
Psalm 90:12 (NIV)
“Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.”
Proverbs 11:24-24 (NIV)
“One person gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty. A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.”
New Testament Bible verses about stewardship
1 Corinthians 4:1-2 (ESV)
“This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful.”
1 Peter 4:10 (NIV)
“Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.”
Luke 12:48b (NIV)
“From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.”
Matthew 6:19-21 (ESV)
“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
Luke 16:10-11 (NIV)
“Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches?”
1 Corinthians 10:31 (NIV)
“So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.”
Matthew 25:21 (NIV)
“His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’”
Colossians 3:23-24 (NIV)
“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.”
2 Corinthians 9:6-7 (NIV)
“Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”
1 Timothy 6:18-19 (NIV)
“Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.”
Galatians 6:9-10 (NIV)
“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.”
Luke 12:42-43 (NIV)
“The Lord answered, “Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom the master puts in charge of his servants to give them their food allowance at the proper time? It will be good for that servant whom the master finds doing so when he returns.”
Simple ways to be a good steward as a Christian woman
Finally, let’s dig a little deeper about how we can actually live a life of stewardship today. The reality is most Christian women today don’t have firstfruits of crops to dedicate to God as Solomon says to do in Proverbs 3.
But, there are other ways to live out stewardship in modern life, and they just require a bit of thought, routine self-examination and effort.
Talk to God about it.
The very first step in being a good steward is to talk to God about it. Let Him know you desire to be a better steward of the gifts He’s given you. Ask Him to show you how to be a good steward.
You can try this prayer:
Dear God, thank you for all you have given me. I see your blessings all over my life. I praise you for them! Father, I want to make sure I honor you and your blessings by being a good steward of them. Open my eyes to see areas where I need to improve. Give me wisdom and discernment to best use my time, resources and gifts for your glory. Show me how to best build good relationships with all of those around me and take care of your creations. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.
Manage your finances.
Talking about finances is not usually fun or pleasant, but it’s necessary. You can be a good steward of your finances in a few ways.
- Make a budget. Be sure it is practical and fits the needs of your family. Keep it simple and manageable.
- Tithe. Decide on a percentage of your income that you can tithe. Add an additional percent each year until you get to 10%.
- Save money. Whether it’s a rainy day fund or a retirement fund, be sure to save money back as well for unexpected expenses. This will help you avoid going into debt in an emergency.
With all of these suggestions, be sure to also pray about them and ask God to guide you. Talk with your husband as well as trusted Christian friends who can help keep you accountable and on track as well.
Use your time well.
Time management can be a challenge with all the demands coming at us as mothers, wives, employees, daughters and on the list goes. As you are planning your week or day, ask God to guide and direct you. Find a way to manage time that works for you.
- Keep a Christian planner. Whether it’s paper or digital, a planner is a great way to organize all your appointments, reminders and activities.
- Set alarms. Alarms can help us stay on task. Set an alarm and give yourself 30 minutes for a task before you move on. Or set an alarm to go off and remind you when it’s time to leave.
- Ask for help. As women, we can often take way too many tasks upon ourselves. Find ways and places where you can delegate tasks to family, friends or colleagues and then do so.
- Plan time for God. Take a realistic look at your day and figure out when you can best have time with God for prayer and Bible study. This can be first thing in the morning, last thing before bed or whenever works for you. The key to building a habit is by picking a consistent time that works each day.
- Prioritize. The reality is we can’t do everything for everyone. Think and pray about your priorities and put those things first. Pay attention to when those priorities shift and may need to change permanently or for a season of life.
- Plan downtime. Don’t overlook your God-given need for downtime and rest. If you’re in a season where taking an entire day of Sabbath rest isn’t possible, find ways throughout your week to build in periods of rest and downtime.
Cultivate your gifts.
God has given each one of us gifts and talents to use for His glory. We can be a good steward of those things by cultivating them. This can be intentionally putting them to use in service of God or learning more about something you’re naturally good at doing.
- Figure out your gifts. If you aren’t sure what your gifts are, you can try a spiritual gifts assessment. Or think about what you do that people compliment you on. What do you do that brings you joy? What kind of tasks would your best friends or family give you to do when working on a big project?
- Volunteer. Check your church and local community for ways to volunteer doing things you are good at. If you’re great at organizing, maybe your church’s food pantry needs help putting a system in place. If you love spending time with children, your church children’s ministry could always use more volunteers.
- Take a class. No matter how great you are at something, you can always learn more. Consider taking a class or online workshop to hone your gifts and talents even more. This can be a great way for God to open your eyes to new opportunities for ministering to others as well.
Care for your relationships.
No matter how strong they are, relationships need work, time and care. This includes your relationship with your spouse, your church, your colleagues, your extended family, your church family and more.
- Schedule a check-in. Whether it’s once a week, once a month or once a quarter, schedule a regular check-in night with those closest to you. Go out for coffee with your husband and talk one-on-one about concerns and challenges you’re facing. Address any issues that have come up. When your children are old enough, do the same regular check-in time with them.
- Plan a date night. You don’t have to get fancy or even go out on the town to have a fun date night with your husband to reconnect and have fun together. You’ll make memories and strengthen your bond.
- Have family fun. If you have kiddos living at home, plan a family game night at home, go to see a movie, play miniature golf or whatever you enjoy doing together to just have fun and relax. Take it up a notch by banning devices.
- Check in on extended family. Call your extended family members or visit with them and find out how they’re doing. Look for ways to help them as well as ways to have a good time together.
- Attend church. Attending church helps you care for your relationship with God, your family and church family all at once. Be sure to also find a small group to connect with if you don’t have one. Small groups can let you draw closer to your brothers and sisters in Christ and encourage one another on your faith journeys.
Help the environment.
In being a good steward to God’s creations, we should also be aware of ways to take care of the environment around us. Even a few small changes can have a big impact.
- Turn off lights. If you don’t need a light on, be sure to turn it off so as to not use extra energy.
- Use reusable bags. Take along reusable bags when you go to the grocery store to cut back on plastic bag production and waste.
- Recycle. When you can, recycle with a community program or elsewhere to help preserve natural resources.
- Look out for animals. Of course if you have pets, be sure to take care of them, but also be aware of other creatures who live in your area. Take precautions to keep them safe.
- Appreciate nature. Take time to notice the world around you and thank God for its beauty. Being aware of the beauty of God’s creation can help you focus more on how to take care of it.
Go Deeper on Being a Good Steward
Study more of what the Bible says about being a good steward for yourself. Use this free Stewardship Scripture Guide to help you read and reflect on these Bible verses in a meaningful way.
Grab your free Scripture Guide, here
