What is a Steward?

1. Greek: οἰκονόμος (noun): (From οἶκος (house) + νόμος (law)): the manager of household or of household affairs:
   1. “ a steward, manager, superintendent to whom the head of the house or proprietor has entrusted the management of his affairs, the care of receipts and expenditures”
   2. “the manager of a farm or landed estate, an overseer”
   3. “the superintendent of the city's finances, the treasurer of a city” (Romans 6:23, “Erastus, the treasurer of the city, greets you”
   4. Companion word (Noun): οἰκονομία = “the management of a household or of household affairs” (eg 1 Corinthians 9:17, “For if I do this willingly, I have a reward; but if against my will, I have been entrusted with a stewardship”
2. Examples in New Testament:
   1. Luke 12:42,43, “And the Lord said, “Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his master will make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of food in due season? 43 Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes.”
   2. Luke 16:1-3-ff, “He also said to His disciples: “There was a certain rich man who had a steward, and an accusation was brought to him that this man was wasting his goods. So he called him and said to him, ‘What is this I hear about you? Give an account of your stewardship, for you can no longer be steward.’ “Then the steward said within himself, ‘What shall I do? For my master is taking the stewardship away from me. I cannot dig; I am ashamed to beg.”
   3. 1 Corinthians 4:1-2, “Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful”
   4. 1 Peter 4:10, “As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God”
3. The key principle of stewardship = “it is not ours!”
4. Of what is the Christian a steward?
   1. Life! Life is a gift. God is the giver of life. We belong to Him and our times are in His hands!
      • Acts 17:28, “for in Him we live and move and have our being”
      • Romans 14:8, “For if we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore ,whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s”
      • Romans 12:1, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service”
   2. Time:
      • Ephesians 5:16, “redeeming the time, because the days are evil.”
      • 2 Timothy 4:6, “For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand” (demonstrates that Paul cognizant of)
      • “Today, if you will hear His voice, Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion” (Four times in Hebrews – chapters 3 & 4)
      • Hebrews 9:27, “it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment”
   3. Treasure: What we earn … how we spend, save, and bestow it
   4. Talent and giftedness (1 Peter 4 context is spiritual gifts!)
      • Natural abilities
      • Developed areas giftedness: (music, speaking, administration, et cetera)
      • Spiritual gifts (1 Corinthians 12-14 & Romans 12)/ 1 Corinthians 12:8, “And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues. … “
   5. The gospel and gospel opportunities (appointments!) (1 Corinthians 4 passage).

Comment: Part of Adult Bible Fellowship lesson for this coming Lord's Day