“The Lord God took [Adam] and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it” (Genesis 2:15).
The first two chapters within the book of Genesis are familiar to us all. We know them best as the Creation Account. Chapter one is where we hear the familiar creating command of God saying, “Let there be…” and then there it was! Chapter two focuses in on that sixth day of creation, giving an account of Adam who was formed by God’s own hands from the dust and became a living being when God breathed the breath of life upon him.
Within these first chapters of the Bible, we find more than just a historical narrative of how man and all of creation was brought into being. These verses also teach us the purpose and result of God’s design for His creation and our relationship with God, each other, and our environment. We were created distinctly by God to dwell with Him in holiness, to find joy in this world and life, and to “work and keep” it on His behalf. We summarize this God-given design and purpose for our lives as stewardship.
Most people equate stewardship with money and the offering plate. But that is a far cry from it’s full meaning. This word holds a deeper meaning that just being wise with your finances and paying the bills on time. Historically, a steward is someone who has been entrusted to care for his master’s property. He is to manage it as his master would; he is to love and respect it as if it were his own. But he dares not assume ownership of it, because at the end of the day, even though he is the one who is working and caring for it, it rightfully and fully belongs to his master.
What was meant to be a joyful and fulfilling task in the Garden of Eden, man took it, rebelled against it, and made it a four-letter word. Now, not only does this work and labor feel burdensome, but we also face pain, hardship, and suffering due to our failure to faithfully steward and care for God’s creation. But by God’s grace, mercy, and love, the steward failed but was never fired.
Which is why we have such an issue with stewardship to this day. We continue to live out a pre-fall vocation in a fallen world as failed stewards. That’s why we need to be often be reminded of our vocational call to be stewards of our lives and all that God has given to us. We so easily forget that we are not our own and that this world and it’s resources are not ours to do with as we please. As Psalm 24:1 declares, “The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness of it, the world and those who dwell in are His.” Nothing is ours; everything belongs to God. And yet, He entrusts us as stewards to manage this creation for His glory and the benefit of others.
As mentioned earlier, this involves every part of your life and being. God has blessed you with your life, your mind, your body, your soul, your talents and desires, your family and community, your church and Bible, your work and efforts, your food and drink, and all things needed to support your body and spiritual life.
This is the joyful task we have been made, redeemed, and called to do. We can’t do it on our own. We need Jesus’ forgiveness, grace, and life won for us on the cross. We need each other as the Body of Christ. We need the ongoing enrichment and work of the Holy Spirit through Word and Sacrament. Because our task involves more than the physical things of this world, but the spiritual things of Heaven. The greatest gift given to us is the Gospel, the forgiveness and sins made by Christ’s death on the cross and our new creation and life in Him through the resurrection.
Jesus, who is the Perfect Steward, took what the Father gave Him and managed it to our benefit. And because we have been united to Him through baptism, we too are given this important, life-giving Gospel to steward and care for. So may we use whatever God has given us to join Jesus in His work and care for us and all of creation. May God grant us the will and joy to be His hands and feet in this world, not for our benefit or praise, but for the good of others and for the glory to God!
Lord Jesus, “Take my life and let it be consecrated, Lord, to Thee. Take my moments and my days and let them flow in ceaseless praise.” (LSB 783:1)
In His Service,
Pastor Noble