Stewardship

Stewardship is faithfully managing what God has entrusted, since everything belongs to him and each person will give account. This page lists verses on God's ownership of all things, faithful stewards, the parables of entrusted money, the unjust steward, stewarding God's gifts, and giving account.

Everything belongs to God

• Psalm 24:1
  The earth is the LORD’s, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.The earth is the LORD’s, and the fullness thereof, the world and all who dwell therein.
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• 1 Chronicles 29:11-14
  ¹¹Thine, O Lord, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine; thine is the kingdom, O Lord, and thou art exalted as head above all.Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the splendor and the majesty, for everything in heaven and on earth belongs to You. Yours, O LORD, is the kingdom, and You are exalted as head over all. ¹²Both riches and honour come of thee, and thou reignest over all; and in thine hand is power and might; and in thine hand it is to make great, and to give strength unto all.Both riches and honor come from You, and You are the ruler over all. In Your hands are power and might to exalt and give strength to all. ¹³Now therefore, our God, we thank thee, and praise thy glorious name.Now therefore, our God, we give You thanks, and we praise Your glorious name. ¹⁴But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able to offer so willingly after this sort? for all things come of thee, and of thine own have we given thee.But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? For everything comes from You, and from Your own hand we have given to You.
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• Haggai 2:8
  The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, saith the Lord of hosts.The silver is Mine, and the gold is Mine, declares the LORD of Hosts.
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• Deuteronomy 8:17-18
  ¹⁷And thou say in thine heart, My power and the might of mine hand hath gotten me this wealth.You might say in your heart, “The power and strength of my hands have made this wealth for me.” ¹⁸But thou shalt remember the Lord thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day.But remember that it is the LORD your God who gives you the power to gain wealth, in order to confirm His covenant that He swore to your fathers even to this day.
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• 1 Corinthians 4:7
  For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?For who makes you so superior? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?
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Faithful in what is entrusted

• 1 Corinthians 4:1-2
  ¹Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God.So then, men ought to regard us as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. ²Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.Now it is required of stewards that they be found faithful.
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• Luke 12:42-44
  ⁴²And the Lord said, Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his lord shall make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of meat in due season?And the Lord answered, “Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom the master puts in charge of his servants to give them their portion at the proper time? ⁴³Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.Blessed is that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns. ⁴⁴Of a truth I say unto you, that he will make him ruler over all that he hath.Truly I tell you, he will put him in charge of all his possessions.
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• Luke 16:10
  He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.Whoever is faithful with very little will also be faithful with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much.
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• Genesis 39:4-6
  ⁴And Joseph found grace in his sight, and he served him: and he made him overseer over his house, and all that he had he put into his hand.Joseph found favor in his sight and became his personal attendant. Potiphar put him in charge of his household and entrusted him with everything he owned. ⁵And it came to pass from the time that he had made him overseer in his house, and over all that he had, that the Lord blessed the Egyptian’s house for Joseph’s sake; and the blessing of the Lord was upon all that he had in the house, and in the field.From the time that he put Joseph in charge of his household and all he owned, the LORD blessed the Egyptian’s household on account of him. The LORD’s blessing was on everything he owned, both in his house and in his field. ⁶And he left all that he had in Joseph’s hand; and he knew not ought he had, save the bread which he did eat. And Joseph was a goodly person, and well favoured.So Potiphar left all that he owned in Joseph’s care; he did not concern himself with anything except the food he ate. Now Joseph was well-built and handsome,
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• 1 Timothy 6:20
  O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called:O Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to you. Avoid irreverent, empty chatter and the opposing arguments of so-called “knowledge,”
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The parables of entrusted money

• Matthew 25:14-18
  ¹⁴For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods.For it is just like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted them with his possessions. ¹⁵And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey.To one he gave five talents, to another two talents, and to another one talent—each according to his own ability. And he went on his journey. ¹⁶Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents.The servant who had received the five talents went at once and put them to work and gained five more. ¹⁷And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two.Likewise, the one with the two talents gained two more. ¹⁸But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord’s money.But the servant who had received the one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground, and hid his master’s money.
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• Matthew 25:19-23
  ¹⁹After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them.After a long time the master of those servants returned to settle accounts with them. ²⁰And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more.The servant who had received the five talents came and presented five more. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with five talents. See, I have gained five more.’ ²¹His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Enter into the joy of your master!’ ²²He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them.The servant who had received the two talents also came and said, ‘Master, you entrusted me with two talents. See, I have gained two more.’ ²³His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Enter into the joy of your master!’
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• Matthew 25:24-30
  ²⁴Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed:Finally, the servant who had received the one talent came and said, ‘Master, I knew that you are a hard man, reaping where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. ²⁵And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine.So I was afraid and went out and hid your talent in the ground. See, you have what belongs to you.’ ²⁶His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed:‘You wicked, lazy servant!’ replied his master. ‘You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed. ²⁷Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury.Then you should have deposited my money with the bankers, and on my return I would have received it back with interest. ²⁸Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents.Therefore take the talent from him and give it to the one who has ten talents. ²⁹For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. But the one who does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him. ³⁰And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.And throw that worthless servant into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
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• Luke 19:12-13
  ¹²He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return.So He said, “A man of noble birth went to a distant country to lay claim to his kingship and then return. ¹³And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come.Beforehand, he called ten of his servants and gave them ten minas. ‘Conduct business with this until I return,’ he said.
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• Luke 19:15-17
  ¹⁵And it came to pass, that when he was returned, having received the kingdom, then he commanded these servants to be called unto him, to whom he had given the money, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading.When he returned from procuring his kingship, he summoned the servants to whom he had given the money, to find out what each one had earned. ¹⁶Then came the first, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained ten pounds.The first servant came forward and said, ‘Master, your mina has produced ten more minas.’ ¹⁷And he said unto him, Well, thou good servant: because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities.His master replied, ‘Well done, good servant! Because you have been faithful in a very small matter, you shall have authority over ten cities.’
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The unjust steward

• Luke 16:1-2
  ¹And he said also unto his disciples, There was a certain rich man, which had a steward; and the same was accused unto him that he had wasted his goods.Jesus also said to His disciples, “There was a rich man whose manager was accused of wasting his possessions. ²And he called him, and said unto him, How is it that I hear this of thee? give an account of thy stewardship; for thou mayest be no longer steward.So he called him in to ask, ‘What is this I hear about you? Turn in an account of your management, for you cannot be manager any longer.’
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• Luke 16:8-9
  ⁸And the lord commended the unjust steward, because he had done wisely: for the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light.The master commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly. For the sons of this age are more shrewd in dealing with their own kind than are the sons of light. ⁹And I say unto you, Make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness; that, when ye fail, they may receive you into everlasting habitations.I tell you, use worldly wealth to make friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, they will welcome you into eternal dwellings.
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• Luke 16:11-13
  ¹¹If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?So if you have not been faithful with worldly wealth, who will entrust you with true riches? ¹²And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another man’s, who shall give you that which is your own?And if you have not been faithful with the belongings of another, who will give you belongings of your own? ¹³No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.No servant can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”
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Stewards of God's grace and gifts

• 1 Peter 4:10-11
  ¹⁰As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.As good stewards of the manifold grace of God, each of you should use whatever gift he has received to serve one another. ¹¹If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.If anyone speaks, he should speak as one conveying the words of God. If anyone serves, he should serve with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen.
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• Romans 12:6-8
  ⁶Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;We have different gifts according to the grace given us. If one’s gift is prophecy, let him use it in proportion to his faith; ⁷Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching;if it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; ⁸Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is giving, let him give generously; if it is leading, let him lead with diligence; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.
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• Titus 1:7
  For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre;As God’s steward, an overseer must be above reproach—not self-absorbed, not quick-tempered, not given to drunkenness, not violent, not greedy for money.
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• 2 Timothy 1:14
  That good thing which was committed unto thee keep by the Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us.Guard the treasure entrusted to you, with the help of the Holy Spirit who dwells in us.
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Giving account

• Luke 12:47-48
  ⁴⁷And that servant, which knew his lord’s will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes.That servant who knows his master’s will but does not get ready or follow his instructions will be beaten with many blows. ⁴⁸But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.But the one who unknowingly does things worthy of punishment will be beaten with few blows. From everyone who has been given much, much will be required; and from him who has been entrusted with much, even more will be demanded.
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• Romans 14:10-12
  ¹⁰But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.Why, then, do you judge your brother? Or why do you belittle your brother? For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat. ¹¹For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.It is written: “As surely as I live, says the Lord, every knee will bow before Me; every tongue will confess to God.” ¹²So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God.
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• 2 Corinthians 5:10
  For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive his due for the things done in the body, whether good or bad.
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See also

• Stewardship of creation
• Money
• Accountability
• Spiritual gifts
• Generosity
• Faithfulness

Notes

1. Verses are quoted in the translation chosen in the Translation menu at the top of the page. See Translations for sources and copyright notices.
2. Each reference links to the full chapter so the verse can be read in context.