Jesus the Good Steward

Three ways to follow his example

 

Have you ever thought about what it really means to be a good steward?  Stewardship isn’t just about money—it’s about how we manage everything God entrusts to us: our time, abilities, relationships, and even creation itself.  From the very beginning, God has called his people to live as wise and faithful stewards.

 

Good stewardship lies at the heart of the command given to Adam and Eve in Genesis to be fruitful, subdue the earth and rule over everything.  As God’s image bearers they were to reflect the heart of a benevolent God to the world in a caring and wise way (Genesis 1:26-28).  It’s a charge that passes on to us.

Yet, as we see from Genesis 3 onwards, humanity's stewardship has been marked by failure, as sin distorts our ability to care for what God has entrusted to us.  But while many biblical figures illustrate stewardship in different ways, Jesus provides the ultimate example.

 

Here are three ways in which Jesus shows us what being a good steward is all about.

1. Use your God-given abilities

Jesus taught a lot about how we should steward everything in life.  One such example is the ‘Parable of the Talents’ (Matthew 25:14-30).  It’s a powerful narrative illustrating the key principles of stewardship.  In the parable, a master entrusts his servants with talents (a form of currency) before going on a journey.  The servants who wisely invest and multiply their talents are praised upon the master's return, while the one who buries his talent is rebuked.

 

Jesus uses this parable to convey the importance of using one's God-given abilities and resources for the benefit of the Kingdom.  The lesson goes beyond financial matters; it extends to the skills, time, and opportunities we have generally in life.  Jesus encourages us to actively engage with these gifts bestowed upon us by God and to use them responsibly for the growth of his kingdom through the church.

Whether it's our profession, creativity, leadership or acts of kindness, we are called to use what we have—not bury it in fear.

 

2. Serve the needs of others

Jesus’ act of washing his disciples’ feet (John 13) shows us that stewardship is about serving others, no matter how lowly the task.  Philippians 2:5-11 reminds us that Jesus’ whole life—from incarnation to the cross—was one of self-giving service.  In the same way, true stewardship isn’t about status or recognition, but about humbly caring for others.

 

Jesus' life not only demonstrates humility but also the essence of a good steward.  Jesus, the ultimate steward of humanity's salvation, exemplifies the importance of selfless service.  In stewarding the basic ability of washing another’s feet he sets the example of

serving others with deep love and humility that mirrored his entire ministry.

 

3. Make the most of your time

Throughout the Gospels, Jesus consistently shows compassion and care for the marginalized, the sick, and the needy. He primarily does this by making time for them. Jesus made time for the marginalized and hurting, showing that good stewardship isn’t just about talents or money, but how we prioritize people in our daily lives. We never read about Jesus wasting a moment, everything is always carried out with impeccable timing.

 

While we can never achieve this same level of perfection, the principle to note is that good stewardship extends beyond personal talents, resources and even basic abilities. A compassionate and caring attitude towards others will often cost us the most in terms of our time. In imitating Jesus, we’re called to be a good steward of love and justice by spending time actively engaging in the well-being of others around us.

 

 

              The Board of Stewardship