Stewardship

[Coaching Lesson #10 from our Serving Leadership Development Program—Developing Trusting Relationships, Phase 2]

Since everyone has the same amount of time in every day, what differentiates people is the manner in which they use their gifts and talents in the time they have.

Effective leaders are good stewards. Stewardship is about faithfully developing the gifts, talents, resources, and opportunities God has allocated to us. As stewards of all that God has entrusted to our care, one day we will all give an account to Him for our management.
 

Jesus on Stewardship (Matthew 25:14-30)

Jesus tells us in this parable that the Master (God) who hands out resources to His servants (us) will one day return and ask for an accounting of what we’ve done with what He has entrusted to us.

Faithful servants will be prepared for Jesus’ return if they have utilized their gifts, talents, resources, and opportunities to build the Kingdom of God.

The key question we all need to answer is, “Am I using all of my available resources (time, talents, gifts, wealth, etc.) in a way that brings God glory and honor?”
 

Leaders—Stewards of People (1 Peter 5:2-4)

If we are to lead, love, and serve like Jesus did, we must be good stewards of our greatest resource—people. While Christian leaders may feel responsible for many things, they must primarily accept responsibility for the people God has entrusted to their care.

Peter reminds Christian leaders to lead by example, to lead willingly, and to care for the “flock”, remembering that the “sheep” belong to God and not to them.
 

Discussion Questions:

1. How you are using the following resources: Time, Talent/abilities/skills? Wealth? Career? Leadership responsibilities? Are you using them as a good steward for God’s glory, or could you use them better?
2. How can we as leaders encourage others to be good stewards of everything that God has entrusted to them (not just with their finances)?