Stewardship and Faithfulness - Chris Dupre
Stewardship and Faithfulness
Chris Dupre
Stewardship is one of the most important, yet often misunderstood, callings for followers of Jesus. At its core, stewardship is the careful and responsible management of something that has been entrusted to us. Biblically, it is not optional—it is our responsibility, our duty, even our obligation as Christians. God has placed His creation, His resources, and His people in our care, and He expects us to manage them well.
This isn’t about raising more money for the church. It’s about taking an honest look at all God has given us—our time, our energy, our talents, our finances—and asking, what are we doing with it?
Stewarding Our Relationship with God
In Matthew 25, Jesus tells two parables that both highlight stewardship.
The first, the Parable of the Ten Virgins (Matthew 25:1–13), reminds us that wise stewardship begins with our relationship with God. The five wise virgins had extra oil—symbolic of a life prepared, nurtured, and rooted in intimacy with the Bridegroom. Without that oil, their gifts and calling would have run dry. Before anything else, we must steward our relationship with God.
Stewarding Our Talents
The second parable, the Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14–28), teaches us that God has entrusted each of us with different levels of responsibility. Some receive five talents, some two, some one—but all are expected to use what they have.
Our talents are more than money; they include our time, energy, resources, and opportunities. God calls us to invest these for the sake of His Kingdom, not just for our own success. Faithful stewardship brings increase—not just in resources, but in influence. Jesus said that those who are faithful will be made rulers “over many things.” Stewardship is a divine partnership: God provides the resources, and we bring faithfulness and obedience.
At the end of Matthew 25, Jesus ties stewardship directly to how we treat others: feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, visiting the sick and imprisoned. Every act of kindness is an act of stewardship—done unto Him.
Stewardship Requires Faithfulness
Stewardship cannot exist without faithfulness. Faithfulness is not about what we say; it’s about what we do. In Matthew 21:28–31, Jesus tells of two sons—one who said “no” but obeyed, and another who said “yes” but never followed through. Faithfulness is proven by action, not words.
Faithfulness also gives stewardship its power. We are made in the image of a God who is perfectly faithful, and His faithfulness flows through us when we walk in obedience.
Scripture reminds us:
“The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning.” (Lamentations 3:22–23 NLT)
“But you, O Lord, are a God of compassion and mercy, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness.” (Psalm 86:15 NLT)
“What if some were unfaithful? Will their unfaithfulness nullify God’s faithfulness? Not at all!” (Romans 3:3–4 NIV)
“The One who called you is completely dependable. If he said it, he’ll do it!” (1 Thessalonians 5:24 MSG)
Stewardship is not just about money. It’s about how we use every resource God has placed in our hands. It’s about how we steward relationships, opportunities, and even moments of kindness. And at the heart of stewardship is faithfulness—a daily, repeated, unfailing loyalty to the God who has been endlessly faithful to us.
When we are faithful stewards, we reflect His character to the world and bring increase to His Kingdom.
