The Meaning of Stewardship

The dictionary defines stewardship as ‘responsible overseeing and protection of something considered worth caring for and preserving’. This indeed is what we do for our clients who invest with us and for the nonprofits who use our stewardship skills to assist their major donors.

parable of the talentsWhile stewardship is an ethic that embodies the responsible planning and management of resources, the concepts of stewardship can be applied to the environment and nature, economics, health, property, information, theology, etc. At the Stewardship Foundation, we extend this to the protection of human life, religious freedom, and the sanctify of marriage.

There is also a biblical definition that work is the stewardship of all the creation that God has given us. “Remember then the LORD, your God, for he is the one who gives you the power to get wealth…” —Deuteronomy 8:18. When we manage the possessions (money, valuables, investments) of another, we know that one day we will be called to give an account of how we have managed those things.

We often refer to the Parable of the Talents. Because God has called us to be stewards, we are not allowed to rule over what others entrust to us as we see fit, but to exercise our knowledge and resources under the watchful eye of our Creator, managing all these things in accordance with the principles He has put forth. “For to everyone who has, more will be given and he will grow rich; but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.” —Matthew 25:29

We believe that when we are good stewards of God’s abundance, we are being faithful. At The Stewardship Foundation, we believe that when we are being good stewards with our donors’ money, we imitate the good servants—increasing our donor’s wealth for the good of all.

Please share this article with family, friends and colleagues whom you believe need our stewardship, and if we can help you with your investments, or if we can help the major donors of your nonprofit, please call us at (614) 800-7985.