We learn throughout the bible that God owns it all—our time, our gifts, our resources, and our relationships. I like to think of this as the 4 T’s of God’s ownership:

• Time
• Talent
• Treasure
• Tribe

But while many Christians know and believe this truth on an intellectual level, we often struggle with how to incorporate it into our daily lives.

Do I always seek the wishes of the Owner before making decisions about how to allocate all of these resources? we ask ourselves. And when I do make decisions, am I always confident that I’m aligned with the will of the Maker and Owner of All?

Able to Respond

When we’re wrestling with decisions about all that God has made us responsible for, it’s helpful to look closely at that word responsible.

What does it mean to be responsible for something? What does stewardship entail?

If we break the word responsible down, we get 2 words: response and able. We are able to make a response regarding all that we’ve been made accountable for. In other words, the Owner of All has given us the ability to make wise and God-honoring decisions about everything he has entrusted to us.

How encouraging!

Caretaker vs. Owner

Being a steward means being a caretaker, responsible for the care and protection of something. It does not mean ownership.

To be a good steward is to fully understand and apply the principle of watching over, protecting, and wisely using resources according to the wishes of the Owner.

Such is the essence of stewardship.