Living as a Steward - Part I

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How do you see Stewardship as a way of life? One recent answer was, "I have learned to share because I want to, not because I need to." On the other hand, "I look at it as a growth experience, always keeping in mind the life of Jesus Christ."

The great story told in Scripture, God's love for humankind begins with God as Creator, maker of all that is: "In the beginning, when God created the heavens and the earth…." (Gn. 1:1). God also created human beings, and bestowed on them divine image and likeness. (Gn. 1:26). Thus, the Creator called us to cooperate with Him in continuing His divine work.

Stewardship of creation is one expression of living as a steward. God said, "Be fertile and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it. Have dominion over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air and all the living things that move on the earth." (Gn. 1:28) However, subduing and exercising dominion do not mean abusing the earth. God settled humankind upon the earth to be its steward -- "to cultivate and care for it." (Gn. 2:15) This human activity of cultivating and caring for what God created has a generic name -- work. Regardless how we may feel sometimes, work is not a punishment for or a consequence of sin. Work, commanded by God, " is fundamental for all human beings, is necessary for happiness and fulfillment, and is essential to responsible stewardship of the world.

Human cooperation with God's work of creation takes several forms. One of is a profound reverence for the great gift of life, their own lives and the lives of others, along with readiness to spend themselves in serving all that preserves and enhances life. Stewardship of the world is also expressed by jubilant appreciation of nature, God's given beauty to us. Beyond simply appreciation natural beauty, there should be the active stewardship of ecological concern. This means increasing our understanding the need of human interdependence with the earth and with each other. Perhaps, this means we should adopt a simpler lifestyle. As Pope John Paul says, "Simplicity, moderation and discipline, as well as a spirit of sacrifice, must become a part of everyday life, least all suffer the consequences of the careless habit of a few." (Message for the World Day of Peace, Jan. 1, 1990)

If you were to undertake stewardship as a way of Christian life, what major problems and pain would you anticipate? What if there were none?

Fr. Bob Kraig, and Stewardship Committee

           [God's Way of Life]   [Joyful Living]   [Disciple's Response]   [How to Live]   [Joy in Church]   [The Call]   [Living as a Steward I]  [Living as a Steward II]  [Church as Steward]

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