TOPIC 32 OF 47
Stewardship of Life
Receiving God’s gifts with gratitude and sharing them in love.
THE MAIN TRUTH
When God created mankind in his image, he designed us to receive his life-giving presence, reflect his loving character, and represent his generous reign by managing his good creation for his glory.
The teaching
From the book · pages 97–99
When God created mankind in his image, he designed us to receive his life-giving presence, reflect his loving character, and represent his generous reign by managing his good creation for his glory. He created us to be his stewards of life on earth.
Sin distorts his image in us, so that we grasp at life with greed, treating it as our possession to satisfy our desires. This leads to misery and death. By his forgiving love, Jesus renews his image in us so that we may grow in managing life with gratitude, recognizing it as belonging to God. He gives us everything to enjoy with open hands as we worship him and serve others.
We use our time, abilities, and bodies, along with the relationships, work, money, possessions, and the earth he gives us, to reflect the self-giving love of Jesus and to represent his saving kingdom. Christ calls us to joyfully and generously support the mission and ministry of his Church. He promises to bless us abundantly as we live in the overflow of his generosity—blessing the Church and the people around us who are struggling emotionally, physically, financially, or in poverty.
Scripture foundations
All Scripture excerpts from this topic are presented below in the book’s order. Ellipses and bracketed explanations follow the manuscript. Select a reference to read the surrounding passage in the EHV.
Reading these passages together
These passages place our possessions and abilities within God’s generous care. Stewardship is a response to grace, directing the whole of life toward worship, service, and the support of the Gospel.
12 Scripture excerpt groups
SCRIPTURE 01
Genesis 1:26; 2:15 ↗
“God said, ‘Let us make man in our image, according to our likeness, and let them have dominion . . . over all the earth’. . .The LORD God took the man and settled him in the Garden of Eden to work it and to take care of it.”
Book page 98
SCRIPTURE 02
Ephesians 2:1; Romans 1:25 ↗
“You were dead in your trespasses and sins . . .” “Such people have traded the truth about God for the lie, worshipping and serving the creation rather than the Creator. . .”
Book page 98
SCRIPTURE 03
1 John 2:16 ↗
“For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the desire of the eyes, boasting about material possessions—is not from the Father but from the world.”
Book page 98
SCRIPTURE 04
1 Timothy 6:9-10 ↗
“Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and many foolish and harmful desires, which plunge them into complete destruction and utter ruin. For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evils.”
Book page 98
SCRIPTURE 05
Colossians 2:13; 3:10 ↗
“. . . God made you alive with Christ by forgiving us all our trespasses . . . put on the new self, which is continually being renewed in knowledge, according to the image of its Creator.”
Book page 98
SCRIPTURE 06
2 Corinthians 3:18 ↗
“But all of us who reflect the Lord’s glory with an unveiled face are being transformed into his own image, from one degree of glory to another.”
Book page 98
SCRIPTURE 07
1 Timothy 4:4-5 ↗
“In fact, everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, because it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.”
Book page 99
SCRIPTURE 08
Matthew 6:33; 10:8 ↗
“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” “Freely you have received; freely give.”
Book page 99
SCRIPTURE 09
1 Timothy 6:17-18 ↗
“Instruct those who are rich in this present age not to be arrogant or to put their hope in the uncertainty of riches, but rather in God, who richly supplies us with all things for our enjoyment. Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and willing to share.”
Book page 99
SCRIPTURE 10
1 Peter 4:10 ↗
“Serve one another, each according to the gift he has received, as good stewards of the many forms of God’s grace.”
Book page 99
SCRIPTURE 11
2 Corinthians 9:6-8 ↗
“The one who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly. The one who sows generously will also reap generously. Each one should give as he has determined in his heart, not reluctantly or under pressure, for God loves a cheerful giver. God is able to make all grace overflow to you, so that in all things, at all times, having all that you need, you will overflow in every good work.”
Book page 99
SCRIPTURE 12
Galatians 6:10 ↗
“So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who belong to the household of faith.”
Book page 99
Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture passages are from the Holy Bible, Evangelical Heritage Version (EHV), copyright 2019 Wartburg Project, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission, as noted in the manuscript.
PERSONAL REFLECTION OR GROUP DISCUSSION
Reflect and pray
How does belonging to God change your understanding of what you own?
Where does fear or greed make generosity difficult?
What gift of time, ability, or money could serve a real need around you?
A prayer
Generous Father, free us from grasping and fear. Teach us to receive your gifts thankfully and use them gladly for your Church and our neighbors. Amen.