Steward, Stewardship
Steward, Stewardship
STEWARD, STEWARDSHIP
The former word is a translation of in Mat 20:8, Luk 8:3, and of in Luk 12:42; Luk 16:1; Luk 16:3; Luk 16:8; the latter, of in Luk 16:2-4. In Luk 16:2 the verb occurs. The distinction between and has been variously stated. Horne treats them as synonyms; Meyer says the former is a more general term; Schleusner, that the . is appointed by law or a magistrate, the . by will; Elliott and Lightfoot agree in thinking that ., like our guardian, has special reference to persons; ., like steward, to property (see their notes on Gal 4:2 and references there cited, and Smiths Dict. of Gr. and Rom. [Note: Roman.] Ant., s.v. ). The last view is probably the right one. But the exact duties of each of them doubtless varied in different cases and under different masters, and often the two are used interchangeably (so Meyer on Mat 20:8). Meyers view is probably true of the Gospels, although if Chuza as (Luk 8:3) had special charge of the education of the royal children, it might lend further colour to Sandays theory of Joannas relation to the authorship of Luk 1:2. In Mat 24:45 is used of one whose position is evidently that of the steward, as may be seen by comparison with Luk 12:42. Usually, indeed, the steward is a slave or freedman, corresponding to Lat. dispensator or villicus (as in Luke 12, Matthew 24); occasionally he is a freeman, Lat. procurator (Luke 16). See Plummer in ICC [Note: CC International Critical Commentary.] on Luk 12:42; Luk 16:1, and Hatch, Bibl. Greek, p. 62.
The primary passages are Mat 20:1-20 (Labourers in Vineyard), Mat 24:45-51, Luk 8:3; Luk 12:42-48; Luk 16:1-21 (the Unjust Steward). Some would add the parables of the Prodigal and of Dives as illustrations of wealth wrongly used. The secondary are Mat 21:33-46 (Wicked Husbandmen) Mat 25:14-30 (Talents), Luk 19:12-27, (Minae), Mat 10:24 f., Mat 18:23-35, Mar 13:34, Joh 15:14-27, Luk 17:10. Of these Luk 8:3 yields no teaching.
The facts and teachings of the others may be thus summarized:
1. The stewards position.He was entrusted with the oversight of part or all of his masters estate, including persons and property. He had the management of his affairs, the care of receipts and expenditures, and the duty of dealing out the proper portion to every servant and even to the children, (Grimm-Thayer). The education of the children as well as their maintenance was under his charge. His control was more or less absolute according as the master was absent or present. Christ teaches that we are all Gods stewards. The trust covers (a) ourselves (for we are His); (b) others whom we can influence; (c) our time, means, opportunities, etc. For everything we rightfully have is from God (cf. Mat 5:45). What one has wrongfully seized is no part of his trust.
2. The stewards duty was to manage everything with most watchful fidelity and utmost efficiency, and to do it in the interest of his master. So with us. We should therefore (a) discipline ourselvesbody, soul, and spirit, so as to realize Gods ideal for us and be most efficient for servicea duty demanding care of the body, training of the mind, culture of the affections, discipline of the will, etc.; (b) pursue our calling, whatever it may be, in the interest of Gods Kingdom, whether our work be that of the labourer, the farmer, the merchant, the lawyer, physician, statesman, teacher, preacher, or any other; (c) utilize time, influence, opportunities, money, in the wisest way; (d) urge and help others to do the same. One must plan ones probable life as a whole that it may subserve Gods purposes in the largest measure possible.
3. The masters duty was (a) to assign to the steward only just and honourable work, and (b) to provide for his needs. The righteous God can be trusted to do both (Mat 6:33). This leads to the topic that is commonly uppermost when Christian stewardship is thought of; only it approaches the matter from a rather different, but the true, standpoint.
The arrangements between master and steward varied. Is it so in our relation to God? or is there any definite arrangement or understanding? Some have held that tithing represents it. Yet a regulation like that does not seem fully in harmony with the spirit of the new dispensation (cf. Jer 31:33), which deals in principles rather than rules, just because God is more careful to develop character than to get mens gains. Perhaps the best way of stating the case, however, would be this: God wills that His stewards should spend on themselves such a proportion of the income as is necessary to their highest working efficiency. This will vary with different persons according to conditions. Each must determine honestly for himself. To his own Master he stands or falls. In general, it will mean less than is commonly supposed. It must be determined not by love of ease or pleasure, not by selfishness or pride, not by custom or fashion (where these are wrong), nor even by what would be reasonable and allowable in a normal world of sinlessness and blessedness, but wholly by the spirit of Divine love in view of the pressing needs of this abnormal world with its appalling sin, ignorance, and wretchedness.
4. Rewards and penalties.All rewards are of grace (Luk 17:10). These begin now, but their fulness is hereafter. Through faithful service there comes the perfecting of character, the richer development of the personality, and the final winning of our souls (Luk 21:19). We are now stewards holding all on trust. We shall then receive as our own the inheritance prepared from the foundation of the world (Luk 16:12, Mat 25:34). We shall be welcomed into eternal tabernacles (Luk 16:9) and be entrusted with the rule and authority for which we have become fitted (Luk 12:14, Mat 24:47; Mat 25:20-23). The unfaithful shall be beaten, or stripped of what they had, cut asunder as hypocrites, and cast into outer darkness with the unbelieving (Luk 12:46, Mat 24:51; Mat 25:28-30).
Literature.Commentaries: works on the Parables; Stirling, Stewardship of Life; Hartman, The Business Aspect of Christian Stewardship; F. W. Robertson, Serm. iv. 239; C. H. Spurgeon, An All-round Ministry, 260; A. L. Moore, God is Love, 52; W. Houghton, Secret of Power, 80; the best treatment is that of C. A. Cook, Stewardship (Am. Bapt. Publ. Soc.).
J. H. Farmer.
Fuente: A Dictionary Of Christ And The Gospels
Steward, Stewardship
primarily denoted “the manager of a household or estate” (oikos, “a house,” nemo, “to arrange”), “a steward” (such were usually slaves or freedmen), Luk 12:42; Luk 16:1, Luk 16:3, Luk 16:8; 1Co 4:2; Gal 4:2, RV (AV, “governors”); in Rom 16:23, the “treasurer” (RV) of a city (see CHAMBERLAIN, Note); it is used metaphorically, in the wider sense, of a “steward” in general, (a) of preachers of the Gospel and teachers of the Word of God, 1Co 4:1; (b) of elders or bishops in churches, Tit 1:7; (c) of believers generally, 1Pe 4:10.
is rendered “steward” in Mat 20:8; Luk 8:3, see GUARDIAN.
is rendered “stewardship” in Luk 16:2-4, and in the RV in 1Co 9:17, see DISPENSATION.
akin to A, Nos. 1 and 3, signifies “to be a house steward,” Luk 16:2. In the Sept., Psa 112:5.