Stewardship is a word that is used a lot in church.  A steward is someone who takes care of things for someone else. In ancient times, stewards usually handled the day to day details of the country, and ran the country in the absence of the king. When the king came back the steward had to explain what he had done, how he had done it, and why. A steward did not own the kingdom. The king decided what a steward’s job should be and stewards served only as long as the king thought they were doing a good job.

Ministers are often called stewards of the Word, because they help us understand the Bible.  Our Sunday School teachers are stewards of our education.  We sometimes say that the people we elect to government positions are stewards of our democracy. In the Bible there are many examples of stewards.  For example, the Pharoah made Joseph a steward in Egypt. Joseph was responsible for managing resources to improve the lives of the people of the Pharoah's kingdom.  When He created them, God made Adam and Eve and their offspring stewards of the earth, and we still believe we have that role.   For Christians, being a steward means belonging to God, and living a life that reflects that life-giving relationship. We ask for God's guidance so we can manage the earth as a celebration of His glory, with respect for God’s creation. 

When we act as good stewards of God's kingdom, we respect the world around us, care for the environment and help improve the lives of the people of the world.  We believe what Jesus told us, that a kingdom divided against itself cannot stand, so we show respect for those with whom we disagree because we share the same world.  We need to find realistic ways to bring people together, not push them apart.  We should not try to separate ourselves from the world around us, but ask God for guidance so we can work in the world to make it a better place.  We should do this not just for ourselves, but for all those around us and for the next generations!  What we can do has a lot to do with how old we are and what skills and talents we have, but each of us can find ways to make the world a better place.  If we are truly thankful for our lives, our families and friends, the world God gave us, and the salvation given freely by Him through Jesus, we can call on the Holy Spirit to help us be strong stewards for our planet and our faith.