CHRISTIAN STEWARDSHIP..........

Christian StewardshipWhat does God require of us in lieu of financial stewardship? What does the Bible really say about all of this?

In our day and age, one of the most neglect topics and ill treated duties of the Christian Faith is Stewardship. What does the Bible say about God and Money? How good are you as a steward of God's possessions. The warning comes now: you will not like what you read in these articles because they reach into your savings accounts, wallets, purses and possessions.

The basic etymology of the word oijkono>mov, oikonomos meaning "steward," comes from two root words oikos (house) and nomos (law). As if to say that the steward is one who is the “law over the house,” and all that is associated with the house. He is given authority over the household but does not own the household.
The "steward" (rci, sar, usually rendered “prince; “ ejpi>tropov, oijkono>mov (steward)), one who manages the affairs or superintends these household of another, as Eliezer of Damascus did that of Abraham (Genesis 15:2). Great confidence was reposed in those who held such an office, and hence Paul describes Christian ministers as the stewards of God over his Church and family (Titus 1:7). Believers also are described as stewards of God’s gifts and graces, to dispense the benefits of them to the world (1 Peter 4:10).

Our Lord frequently uses the responsibilities belonging to the office of a steward for the purpose of illustrating his reasoning. In the parable of the unjust steward, who defrauds his master by collusion with the debtors (Luke 16), the illustration is confined to the policy of the conduct pursued, and no inference can be drawn respecting its moral propriety. (On the proverbial dishonesty of modern Oriental wakkils or agents of this kind, see Thomson, Land and Book, 1, 517 sq.) The exhortation which follows is merely advice to manage worldly goods with such liberality and generosity as will promote the cause of true piety, Christian charity, and enlightened benevolence, and not to exercise the rights of property too harshly. See the monographs on this passage cited by Danz, Wörterb. s.v. “Lucas,” Nos. 76-93. (Biblical Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, by McClintok and Strong)