Week 1-Meaning and Nature of
Stewardship
“I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First
and the Last, the Beginning and the End.”
MEANING OF STEWARDSHIP
Revelations 22:13
Bishop John McRaith, in his article, "The
Disciple of Christ as Steward," asserted
that
Stewardship, thus, teaches human beings
to know their roles as caretakers of God's
creation, wherein God is the sole owner of
this world.
"...the most serious issues we face in the
Church and in our society are directly
related to our understanding and
misunderstanding of Christian
stewardship."
The observation of Bishop John McRaith
about the proper understanding of
stewardship is correct. This proves the
importance of correct understanding on
the concept of Christian stewardship.
A biblical world view of stewardship can
be consciously defined as: "Utilizing and
managing all resources God provides for
the glory of God and the betterment of his
creation."
The central essence of biblical world view
of stewardship is managing everything
God brings into the believers’ life in a
manner that honors God and impacts
eternity.
Likewise, P. M. Fernando states that ...
"Jesus, on his part, defined stewardship as
managing the household which included
both people and property, the appropriate
distribution of resources, people-oriented
functioning in offices without abusing
people and using resources selfishly". Luke 12:35-48
On the other hand, Robert Morneau, in his
book, "Stewardship: A Disciple's
Response," defines stewardship as
"...the placing of humans in the Garden to
till and look after it and to subdue and
make it fruitful not only the responsible
work, but also the stewardship over the
Garden and its resources."
Maximus Fernando concludes that
stewardship has two roles: the responsible
management of the Garden Earth and the
responsible management of people and
societal resources with utmost respect for
the people. Thus, the concept of
Stewardship refers to the responsibility
that people should wisely use the gifts
God has bestowed on all human beings.
STEWARDSHIP IN THEOLOGY
STEWARDSHIP is further supported and
sustained theologically on the
understanding of GOD’s holiness as found
in such verse as: GENESIS 1:2, PSALM 104,
PSALM 113, 1 CHRONICLES 29: 10 – 20,
COLOSSIANS 1:16, and REVELATION 1:8
To the LORD your God belong the heavens,
even the highest heavens, the earth and
everything in it. -Deuteronomy 10:14.
Christian view of Stewardship
STEWARDSHIP in a Christian Context refers
to the responsibility that Christian has in
maintaining and using wisely the gifts that
God has bestowed. Increasingly this has
referred to environmental protectionism.
The word “STEWARDSHIP” refers to the
Catholic approach to the gifts that God has
bestowed upon us.
THE EARTH IS THE LORD’S, AND THE
FULNESS THEREOF; THE WORLD, AND
THEY THAT DWELL THEREIN. (PSALMS
24:1)
STEWARDSHIP is living out a commitment
to be Christ- centered rather than selfcentered. Profound gratitude, justice and
love become the fundamental motives for
giving back to God.
Everything that God has given to us is
intended to serve the divine plan.
Therefore, our life is to be lived in
gratitude toward God.
In a variety of ways, we as disciples of the
Lord Jesus Christ, shared our time, talent,
and treasure to build up the church and
make our world a better place.
Week 2-Biblical Basis of Stewardship
1. To the Lord your God the heaven, Even
the highest heavens, the earth and
everything in it. Due. 10:14
To the LORD your God belong the
heavens, even the highest heavens, the
earth and everything in it.
This biblical verse from the book of
Deuteronomy again speaks about the
absolute ownership of God of the world
and heaven. Humans are being reminded
by this biblical verse to understand their
primary role in this world in which they
should not act as the owner of the world,
instead they are tasked only as caretakers
of this world.
Christian view of Stewardship
The CHURCH needs you and GOD has
chosen you to go out into all the world.
Christian is to take an active part in the life
of the CHURCH and to share the
gifts of SALVATION.
Stewardship in the Old Testament
Who has first given to me. that I should
repay him? Whatever is under the whole
heaven is mine.
2. "Who has a claim against me that I
must pay? Everything under heaven
belongs to me."- Job 41:11
Job 41:11 states the ownership of God.
Everything under heaven belongs indeed
to God, our Creator. God does not owe
anything from human beings. Human
beings owe from God the wonderful
creation He entrusts to us.
3. The earth is the Lord's, and everything in
it, the world, and all who live in it." Ps.24:1
This biblical verse from the Book of Ps
explains to all people that the earth and
everything in it come from God. Humans
should know this teaching of God in order
that they will know their proper place in
the world. God is the owner of this world
and humans should respect all creation
since they come from God. Abuses and
exploitations over creation happen
because humans think that they are
superior to other beings. They have the
tendency to act like God. Psalm 24 will
remind people to be God's stewards, not
abusers and exploiters.
"The land shall not be sold in perpetuity
for the land is mine. For you are strangers
and sojourners with me." (Lev. 25:23)
4. "The land must not be sold permanently,
because the land is mine and you are but
aliens and my tenants." - Leviticus 25:23
Leviticus 25:23 firmly affirms the
importance of land to the lives of the
people. The land is owned by God as part
of His creation. Human beings are His
tenants. They are considered stewards
and caretakers. The implication is that the
land is not to be exhausted for short-term
gains.
5."Serve and keep the garden in which we
have been placed." - Genesis 2:15
Genesis 2:15 is used by Pope Francis in
teaching ecological stewardship. Human
beings are tasked by God to serve and
keep the enriching and caring for our
garden, which means earth. Genesis 2:15
is against exploitation and dominion over
the environment. Humans should serve
and keep the garden, the environment
and the world.
THE LORD GOD TOOK THE MAN AND PUT
HIM IN THE GARDEN OF EDEN TO WORK IT
AND KEEP IT. Genesis 2:15
6.” The institution of Sabbath set a limit to
the overuse of resources”. Lev. 25:15
Leviticus 25: 1-5 gives importance to the
value of rest in the creation of God. This
will limit the abuses and exploitations
against the goods and resources of the
earth. The Sabbath Day reminds people to
take a rest in their lives.
The Lord said to Moses at Mount Sinai, 2
"Speak to the Israelites and say to them:
'When you enter the land, I am going to
give you, the land itself must observe a
sabbath to the Lord. 3 For six years sow
your fields, and for six years prune your
vineyards and gather their crops. 4 But in
the rest, a sabbath to the Lord. Do not sow
your fields seventh year the land is to have
a year of sabbath or prune your vineyards.
5 Do not reap what grows of itself or
harvest the grapes of your untended vines.
The land is to have a year of rest Leviticus
25:1-5
They should also give rest to all creation
like land. They need to pause and ponder
their relationships with the creation of
God. They should check their words and
actions in their lives particularly in relating
with their environment. In doing so, they
will realize to protect and care for all God's
creation.
New Testament Stewardship
MATTHEW 25:14 -30 / PARABLE OF
TALENTS
A broader concept of stewardship is
illustrated in Jesus' parable of the
"talents", which refer to an amount of
money but by implication (and by
common use of the word in English as
"ABILITIES")
The parable basically teaches that people
are accountable and responsible to God
for the way they use the resources they
are given. They are expected to "steward"
or "manage" these for the ONE who owns
and has given them for this purpose.
Additionally, frequent references to the
"TITHE", or giving of a "TENTH" (the
meaning of TITHE) are found throughout
the Bible. The TITHE represents the
returning to GOD a significant, specific,
and intentional portion of material gain.
However, giving is not limited to the tithe
or a specific amount, illustrated by Jesus'
comment that a woman who gave a very
small amount had given more than those
had given large amounts because "while
they gave out of their abundance, she
gave all she had to live on." (MARK 12:41 44, LUKE 21:1-4)
given. God gives human beings everything.
Humans should responsibly and
accountably use all the gifts He bestows.
4.) Distribution of resources according to
the needs without hording or storing for
the future security - Luke 12:16-20
2. "As each one has received a gift, use it
to serve one another as good stewards of
God's varied grace. (Peter 4:10)
1. Bringing the best out of personal,
human, societal, and natural resources.
This is the story of the Parable of the
Talents (Matthew 25:14-30)
As each one has received a special gift,
employ it in serving one another as good
stewards of the manifold grace of God.
This biblical verse reminds people to share
their resources and possessions with
others for the betterment of society.
People are blinded by greediness and
insecurity in which they tend to possess all
the earth's resources. Consequently,
others become poor. Only by sharing the
earth's resources, will people eradicate
poverty in society. Stewardship teaches
sharing and caring for one another.
Matthew 25: 14-30 is about the Parable of
the Talents. A master entrusted talents to
his three servants. The first and second
servants abundantly returned their
entrusted talents to their master hundred
fold. On the other hand, the last servant
hid his entrusted talent without any
improvement. That is why the master got
angry with the last servant who did not
enrich his talent.
The master is God. The three servants are
the different people in this world. Humans
should emulate the first and second
servants who use wisely and accountably
their God-given talents for the service of
others.
The parable teaches that people are
accountable and responsible to God for
the way they use the resources they are
Peter 4:10 acknowledges that everyone
receives gifts from God. It implores all
people who freely receive gifts from God
to use them in the service of other people.
As stewards, people should utilize their
God-given talents for the betterment and
improvement of our society.
3.) "I am the Alpha and Omega, the First
and the Last, the Beginning and the End." Revelation 22:13
I AM THE ALPHA AND THE OMEGA THE
FIRST AND THE LAST THE BEGINNING AND
THE END REVELATION 22:13
Revelation 22:13 reminds people that God
is the beginning and the end. That is why
He owns everything on earth. Humans are
His entrusted children. They are His
stewards and managers. God is the
ultimate owner of everything on earth.
Week 3-Four Principles of Biblical concepts
of Stewardship
Principles
a moral rule or belief that helps you know
what is right and wrong and that
influences your actions: a basic truth or
theory an idea that forms the basis of
something a law or fact of nature that
explains how something works or why
something happens.
A. It is clear that man was created to work
and that work is the stewardship of all of
the creation that God has given him.
(Gen. 2:15, Gal. 6:4-5)
B. This is the fundamental principle of
biblical stewardship. God owns everything,
and we are simply managers or
administrators acting on his behalf.
(Duet. 10:14, Jn. 3:27)
III. The Principle of Accountability (vvs. 1927)
B. Biblical stewardship deals with more
than finances but encompasses all that
God has given us to advance His kingdom
on the earth.
Week 4-The role of Christian Spirit
A steward is one who manages the
possessions of another.
The Principle of Ownership (vss. 14-15)
C. Therefore, stewardship expresses our
obedience regarding the administration of
everything God has placed under our
control.
D. Stewardship is the commitment of one'
self and possessions to God's service
(Duet. 8:17-18)
The Principle of Responsibility (vss. 16-18)
A. Although God gives us "all things richly
to enjoy," nothing is ours. Nothing really
belongs to us. God owns everything; we're
responsible for how we treat it and what
we do with it (I Cor. 4:2)
1. Owners have rights; stewards have
responsibilities.
B. While God has graciously entrusted us
with the care, development, and
enjoyment everything he owns as his
stewards, we are responsible to
We are all stewards of the resources,
abilities and opportunities that God has
entrusted to our care, and one day each
one of us will be called to give an account
for how we have managed what the
Master has given us.
B. God has entrusted authority over the
creation to us and we are not allowed to
rule over it as we see fit.
C. We are called to exercise dominion
under the management of the Creator. We
have been tasked with overseeing His
creation in accordance with the principles
He has established.
IV. The Principle of Reward (vss. 28-30)
A. Stewards who do the master's will with
the master's resources can expect to be
rewarded incompletely in this life.
(Col. 3:23-24)
MEANING OF SPIRITUALITY
Thomas H. Green, SJ states that "in a
broad sense, spirituality may be described
as a way to holiness." Likewise, Fernando
Maximus defines spirituality as "feelings,
attitudes, values, and practices related to
supernatural beings, to God, or a horizon
of meaning." Miriam-Webster's Collegiate
Dictionary defines spirituality as
"sensitivity or attachment to religious
values." From these definitions, spirituality
means a way of life of people in expressing
their relationship with God.
TWO TYPES OF SPIRITUALITY
According to Maximus Fernando, he
categorized two types of spirituality,
namely intentional spirituality and folk
spirituality.
1. Intentional Spirituality
Intentional spirituality is characterized by
horizon of meaning, which consists of
rationalized and impersonal beliefs about
ultimate realities. This spirituality is called
intentional spirituality because it is a
rational horizon of meaning. Spirituality
means leading human beings to a
meaningful life guided by God.
2. Folk Spirituality
This spirituality is characterized by
personal relationship with God, which
includes all relationships to supernatural
beings consisting of feelings, attitude,
value and practices. This spirituality is
called folk spirituality because it is most
common among ordinary folks. In the case
of Christianity, Christian spirituality is
considered as folk spirituality because it
emerges from the personal relationship to
the historical person called Jesus and
extends to God the Father and the Holy
Spirit through the person of Jesus Christ.
Jesus Christ is the focus of Christian
spirituality. It is a way of life living like
Jesus Christ.
Meaning of Christian Spirituality
Joseph Tetlow, then, concludes that
"Christian spirituality implies direct
relationship with God." Human beings
yearn to experience a direct relationship
with God. They desire to know God in
their lives. That is why, he states that
"experiencing and knowing God is
spirituality. The Holy Spirit has summoned
us to remember that God has called us by
our names and known us from our
mothers' wombs." Hence, spirituality
guides and motivates human beings to
experience and know God.
Importance of Christian Spirituality
Spirituality will guide people to know their
proper place on earth. It will lead people
to know God in their lives. It will lead
people to love God and His creation.
Spirituality puts God in the center and
heart of every human beings' actions and
decisions.
Pope Francis also gives importance to
spirituality because it "proposes an
alternative understanding of the quality of
life, and encourages a prophetic and
contemplative lifestyle, one capable of
deep enjoyment free of the obsession with
consumption." Christian spirituality is
giving the people deeper reflection on the
very meaning of the existence of human
beings. It also makes people live simply
free from desire of worldly things. Thus, it
leads people have a deeper relationship
with their God, their Creator, who is the
source of their lives.
The Role of Spirituality in Human Life
Holy Spirit also known as Holy Ghost means wind or breath and by nominal
definition by etymology, it came from the
Greek word "Pneuma" that it is being used
385 times in the New Testaments. It is
basically used “Pneuma" as wind or breath
that tends to us to become holy.
This role of Spirituality in human life, the
life-style and practices of Christian virtues
must be embodied in each believer
through sacraments, personal prayer,
which contribute to the richness of
ministrial action.
The very conformity to Christ requires one
to Breathe, so to speak, in a climate of
friendship and personal encounter with
the Lord and in service to Church, His
body, for which the minister of Christ
shows His divine love.
It is necessary therefore, that the minister
or the priest programs his life of prayer
through the following items:
1. Attending the celebration of the Holy
Eucharist;
2. Frequenting the sacrament of
Confession or Reconciliation and spirit
direction; 3. Saying personal prayer or
mental prayer;
4. Having the Marian devotions like Holy
Rosary and other pious exercises.
The care for spiritual life should be felt as
a joyful duty and a right of the faithful. Life
is the greatest gift that God has given us, a
precious and divine gift from GOD that we
must give the full respect. The Roman
Catholic Church truly believes in the
sanctity of life. .The Holy Church teaches
us that new life starts at the moment of
conception and should end naturally only
when GOD calls us back to HIM.
Week 5-Jesus’ Spiritual Stewardship
Three convictions in particular underlie
our understanding of stewardship.
Mature disciples make a conscious, firm
decision, carried out in action, to be
followers of Jesus Christ no matter the
cost to themselves.
Beginning in conversion, change of mind
and heart, this commitment is expressed
not in a single action, nor even in a
number of actions over a period of time,
but in an entire way of life. It means
committing one's very self to the LORD.
STEWARDSHIP is an expression of
discipleship, with power to change how
we understand and live out our lives.
Disciples who practice stewardship
recognize God as the origin of life, the
giver of freedom, the source of all they
have and are and will be.
Three convictions in particular underlie
our understanding of stewardship
They are deeply aware that
"THE LORD'S ARE THE EARTH AND ITS
FULLNESS; THE WORLD AND THOSE WHO
DWELL IN IT" PSALMS 24:1
They know themselves to be recipients
and caretakers of God's many gifts. They
are grateful for what they have received
and eager to cultivate their gifts out of
love for God and one another
GOD'S GENEROSITY WILL NEVER BE
OUTDONE BY OUR OWN.