Stewards: the good, the bad & the ugly Going Deeper
“A steward is a ruler and servant, one who exists to please his master.” If a steward both rules and serves, what are the products, the consequences, the outcomes of such a complex role? Do we expect stewards to function in today’s world? Is stewardship still a relevant concept for today? If so, how is it, then, that the notion of stewardship (let alone service) has become so underused and misunderstood? Surely by holding so significant a position, a the role of a modern day steward is no less important than it was in the days of Biblical stewards, rulers and servants? In this series we will explore the notion of stewardship by looking closely at twelve different Biblical stewards. Drawing from both the Old and the New Testaments, we will probe the choices, unearth the consequences and track the impact of a range of ancient stewards, the good, the bad as well as the ugly. Once we learn to fully appreciate the twin nature of the steward – being both ruler and servant – we will see that the theme of duality runs deeply throughout. For, just as Jesus encouraged his disciples to receive the Holy Spirit before being sent out to spread His good news, so too must every steward today learn both to receive as well as to give. Writing in his book Basic Christianity, John Stott references the words of Jesus’ appointed chief steward, Peter, who wrote 1st Peter 2:21:
“To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving an example that you should follow in his steps.”