Ldg W/ Wisdom, Vision & Value

2.1 Devotion. The Good Steward, Part 2

Getting Started

The Good Steward: Part 2 – Resources

In the latter half of Luke’s gospel, one important theme in the recorded ministry of Jesus is the status of the kingdom of God – both its present form and its future form. Luke’s narrative provides descriptions of the kingdom as well as the characteristics of those who are part (and not part) of the kingdom. Within that context, the idea of stewardship and what it means to be a good steward (i.e., member, citizen, follower, leader) emerges. Luke’s gospel contains several passages with important parables and principles that can help us understand the good steward. The parables are often very blunt and thought provoking. Some of hearers in Jesus’ day were shocked at the illustrations that Jesus gave and the implications for themselves and the community. Certainly, some of the imagery reflects understandings and practices of an ancient culture. However, the parables can speak to us in our time, questioning our values, examining our virtues, and giving us the opportunity to adopt enhanced ways of living and leading our self and others.

Upon successful completion of this assignment, you will be able to:

· Recognize strong and wise leadership skills through leaders in the Bible.

Background Information

Read (new tab) / Listen (new tab)  to Luke 12:13-34.

Previously in Luke 12, Jesus taught a message to be careful not to follow the selfish and owner-oriented perspective of the Pharisees (a group of religious leaders). Instead, Jesus proclaimed God’s care of each soul and the need to trust him as the source of life, now and eternal, as part of what it means to be a citizen in the kingdom of God. Yet, Jesus’ message of trusting in the riches and resources of God for well-being is interrupted by someone in the crowd asking Jesus to arbitrate an inheritance dispute between him and his brother. Quite the irony – in the middle of a message about focusing on eternal things rather than earthly things, the person doing the interruption is worried about earthly things. In other words, he is thinking like an owner rather than a steward (his chosen reality). Jesus uses the opportunity to first deliver a parable and then to re-emphasize a message of do not worry about this life. Worry about something more important – eternal life.

As you read the parable, consider the owner-orientation of the rich man. What is his view of earthly riches and resources? It seems like three principles undergird his view: (1) Wealth is for hoarding (cf. v. 17), (2) Wealth is for personal gain and pleasure (cf. v. 19), and, thus (3) Wealth will satisfy the important things in life. The twist in the story (parables usually have a twist at the end) is that it was soon revealed that the man was not owner, just a steward – and a poor steward at that, as he died before he could ever build the next bigger barn. The parable ends with a haunting tone, “This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God” ( New International Version Bible, 1973/1984, Luke 12:21).

After the parable, Jesus returns to the idea of eternal focus – and being a good steward. God will take care of us if we trust in him as owner of all. We do not need to seek material wealth as if everything depends on it (cf. vv. 29-30). Rather, if we lean into faith in God and seek His kingdom above all else (cf. v. 31), we can begin to function more fully as a steward in the kingdom with all that God may give us, including all that we may achieve or attain. In contrast to the rich man’s principles of riches, the good steward understands that we have “riches” and that resources (including leadership positions!) are for helping not hoarding, for others, not just self, and for accomplishing the important things in life rather than riches being the important thing in life.

After you have read the passage, consider the following prompts:

1. How does the Luke 12 passage continue to reflect the reality of God as owner and us as stewards (that we observed during the last workshop's devotional)?

2. As you think about your life and your work as a leader, what has been your view on the place of riches or resources to this point? What do you really think about the accumulation of things? What do you really think about the place of profit in an organization (or, perhaps funds/resource development in non-profit scenarios)? What do you really think about the importance of people in the organization? In what ways have your attitudes and actions been more consistent with being an “owner” versus being a “steward?”

3. If you have a perspective different from a Christian worldview, what does that perspective suggest about the place of riches/resources?

4. What might you be holding onto or managing currently (e.g., resources: possessions, processes, people) in ways that are more owner-oriented than steward-oriented?

5. What are some initial ideas on how you could begin to make an owner-steward shift in those areas?

6. Based on the above prompts, write a one-half to one-page reflection paper that describes connections you might make between stewardship of riches and resources with strategic mission or vision. Be specific.