Ramblings About Lessons in Stewardship

I like to be an owner.  I like control.  I like the responsibility.  Honestly, I like the power.

My current season is becoming a lesson in the greater responsibility of stewardship.

I have prided myself in owning things.  Back in Nashville, I was proud to own my house, the stuff in my house, our cars, the dog.

My new season allows me to own very little.  I’m renting the house we’re living in.  There’s a huge part of me that is uncomfortable about that.  I want to own.  I want control.  In some ways I find myself disconnected from this house.  I’m not as interested… because I don’t own.  I’m not in complete control.  Truth is, this house is far nicer than what I could afford to own here (we won’t even get into the housing market craziness of this place).  But my pride wants to own.  My pride wants to control.

But for this season I’m privileged to rent – to steward – something far nicer than I deserve.  It’s been entrusted to me.  That honor should overwhelm me.  The honor of stewardship.

I realize there are a lot of other things in life that I try to own rather than steward… my gifts and talents, my job, my future.

Most days I treat my responsibilities like an entitled owner rather than a faithful steward.

Seasons like the one I’m in now are a healthy reminder of how little we control and how much we are called to be faithful stewards of all that God has given us.  Ownership is an illusion.  Everything we have is a gift from God.

Our responsibility is to be amazing stewards.

Whatever we have, however we acquired it, we must approach the care of it as faithful stewards of a gift much grander than we deserve.