Week 6: Stewardship

Stewardship has taken on a new meaning in a culture awakening to environmental concerns, but this week's speaker, Kinesiology professor Julie Walton, emphasized the term's original meaning: acting as the steward, or manager, of an estate. She directed us to open our Bibles to the single page taken up by the book of Philemon. Paul wrote the letter on behalf of Onesimus, a steward who had wronged the master of the oikos, or estate, which served in Greek culture as the basic economic unit, but whose members acted also as the church. Returning to his master would have been a death sentence for Onesimus, yet he was restored to his position and later became a bishop and possibly the author of the letter to the Ephesians. How did this happen?

It happened because Paul demonstrated leadership by using his influence to advocate for what was good, the reconciliation of Onesimus to his oikos. He and Philemon demonstrated leadership by acting as stewards of the faith, defending, protecting and honoring what they believed, which required Philemon to welcome and forgive the one who had wronged him. Philemon demonstrated leadership by investing in Onesimus' life but also his future, enabling him to move from slave to a leader himself.

How does one become that kind of leader?

Practice.

God has welcomed us, forgiven us, reconciled us to himself and appointed us stewards, charged with the flourishing of all that we encounter. But we are not born with the characteristics that make us suitable leaders; we develop them through practices, consistent actions that are part of who we are, that usher us into the presence of God and enable us to be fully and faithfully present with others as God is present to us. The way that we live determines how we are able to serve others. Making time for rest, prayer, our health, self-examination, solitude, silence- these things allow us to experience the presence of God, and practice that presence with our neighbors. We are called to pursue them and engage with them, listen to them, empathize and identify with them, hearing their needs and concerns. We are to be bold, to ask if we can pray for others.

Julie challenged us to make a note of how much time we spend thinking about ourselves and commit to change one major selfish personal characteristic. Be prepared to pray, to be humbled, and to confess, she told us. Journal about how you can be intentional in being a blessing to others. Then DO IT.

God's love is active, not passive; intentional, not accidental.

We, his stewards, are called to be the same.