In his Gospel coalition article “Be Faithful Over Little: A Different Vision for a Life That Counts,” Chase Krug states that faithfulness isn’t about conquering the world or becoming a spiritual celebrity, but steady obedience to God in the ordinary and unseen. In the same way, this article explores what it means to live as stewards of all God has given, recognizing that He is the Owner, the Giver, and the Entruster of every good thing.
It’s easy to think our jobs and efforts provide homes, cars, and comforts we enjoy. We often view our abilities, whether physical strength, intellect, or creativity, as the product of hard work, education, or good planning. But beneath it all lies a deeper truth: everything we have is a gift from God.
I think of my own musical ability. My dad could play nearly any instrument by ear, piano, guitar, steel pedal, accordion, violin in two parts, and even my alto sax. He sang tenor beautifully without a single formal lesson. I’m thankful some of that talent passed to me. From an early age, I was drawn to the piano. My mom said I was always at the bench, playing by instinct.
But that gift wasn’t just inherited, it was entrusted. Neither my dad’s ability nor mine is ultimately ours. They are gifts from God meant to be used for His glory.
Whatever we’ve been given---talents, resources, opportunities---they are sacred trusts. We are stewards, not owners. And the highest purpose of every gift is to point back to the Giver.
I grew up in a home filled with music and ministry. My parents led a music group that served in various churches around town, and many rehearsals took place in our living room. Their love for music and dedication to using it for the Lord made a lasting impression on me. Music became more than sound---it became a way to serve, to worship, and to connect with others in faith.
Everything we have in life is ultimately a gift from God. He gave us the breath of life and shaped us with intention. Scripture reminds us that He was intimately involved in forming us in our mother’s womb and has scheduled each day of our days with care: “We are fearfully and wonderfully made” (Psalm 139:15). As John Wesley, the great revivalist and founder of Methodism, once said, “When the possessor of heaven and earth brought you into being and placed you in this world, He placed you here not as a proprietor, but as a steward. “
We do not own our gifts, our talents, or even our time. We are stewards of all that God has entrusted to us, called to use every part of our lives for His glory.
Even King David, wealthy and appointed by God to lead Israel, recognized this foundational truth. As he prepared to gather resources for the construction of the Temple, a dwelling place for the God of heaven, he humbled himself before the Lord and declared: “But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this?
”Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand.” - 1 Chronicles 29:14
God – the Owner of Everything
“The earth is the Lord’s, and the fulness thereof; the world, and everything in it.” --- Psalm 24:1.
This verse became a lifeline during a difficult four-year battle with city, state, and county authorities over our land. Construction on our home was halted when the county claimed asbestos was buried on the property, which was never disclosed in the deed. They demanded that we purchase a dump license and threatened exorbitant fines and taxes. We feared we might lose our retirement savings just trying to keep what was rightfully ours.
But through it all. Psalm 24:1 kept resurfacing in our prayers: “The earth is the Lord’s.” Even the dirt beneath our feet belonged to Him. That truth sustained us. At the eleventh hour, just before we would have been forced to pay thousands of dollars, we saw God’s provision. He brought the right people into our lives, and in the end, the responsible parties were held accountable for the waste they had buried. God made a way.
Those long, discouraging days taught us to hold fast to the truth that everything really does belong to the Lord. Not only the heavens and the majestic mountains, but the soil under our home. And yes, even us.
Through those challenging days that seemed impossible to win, this Psalm 24 verse reminded us that everything was the Lord – even the dirt, and yes, us, too.
Genesis 1 tells us God created everything: the heavens, the earth, the sky, the waters, animals, birds, fish, and ultimately humanity. He breathed life into Adam and Eve, forming them from the dust of the ground. Even today, we witness the same miracle when a baby takes its first breath outside the womb. Who gives that breath? It is God, present at every birth, sustaining every soul.
We are not self-made. We are God-breathed. From the ground beneath us to the breath within us, all of it is His, and that changes everything about how we live, give, and trust Him through life’s hardest tests.
We’ve reflected on musical talent in our family, but stewardship extends to every ability God entrusts to us, learned skills, creative insights, mechanical know-how, or conceptual thinking. All of it has its roots in him. It is no wonder that the One who owns everything also delights when we gratefully offer our best back to Him. After all, God is not only the Owner. He is the giver of all good things.
God - the Giver
“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights” (James 1:17). He provides all the gifts and abilities.”
Some are gifted in architecture. Others in artistic design – whether playing an instrument, painting, room design, interior decorating, or creative room design. Still others are drawn to the sciences - biology, oceanography, or even cartography, the detailed study of maps. Teachers who love to learn and share knowledge, craftsmen who shape with their hands, and thinkers who solve complex problems all reflect the diverse spectrum of talents God gives.
Each gift is God-given, not self-earned. Stewarding these abilities means devoting them to honor the One who gave them. As Paul reminds us, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters…It is the Lord Christ you are serving” (Colossians 3:23-24).
Jesus underscored this principle in the parable of the unjust in Luke 6:1-13. Though the steward mismanaged his master’s wealth, he acted shrewdly when faced with accountability. Jesus uses this story to remind us that how we handle our resources matters and reveals where our true loyalty lies. He warns, “No servant can serve two masters…You cannot serve both God and money.” This contrast highlights our call to honor God, not be consumed by what we possess.
Tithing, the practice of giving the first portion of our income to God, is a tangible way of saying we trust Him and acknowledge that all provision ultimately comes from His hand. Generosity begins with the recognition that we can never out-give the One who owns it all.
“Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing.” - Proverbs 3:9-10
God, the Entruster
In another parable, Jesus teaches about the stewardship of talents. A master entrusted his servants with different amounts of money before leaving on a journey. Two of the servants wisely invested and doubled their portions, while the third, driven by fear, buried his talent. Upon his return, the master rewards the faithful servants but punishes the one who did nothing. This story underscores the principle that God’s gifts come with responsibility, and wise stewardship leads to greater blessings. Matthew 25:21 declares, “
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. Come and share your master’s happiness!’
Stewardship extends beyond our finances. It encompasses our entire lives: our work, talents, abilities, and even our physical bodies. Paul reminds us in 1 Corinthians 6:19-21, “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore, honor God with your bodies.”
Our bodies, as vessels of God’s Spirit, are entrusted to us, and we are called to care for them with reverence. Sexual immorality and other forms of misuse are violations of this divine stewardship. By honoring God with our bodies, we are not our own, but belong to Him, purchased by the precious blood of Christ, who died to save us from the sin that would eternally separate us from God.
We Owe God Our All
We owe everything to God, not only our physical being, but also our spiritual and emotional well-being. As Matthew 6:33 reminds us, “Seek first the kingdom of God and all these things shall be added unto you.” Everything we need to live a godly life comes from God’s generosity.
We belong to God, our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19), and our lives are meant to reflect His purpose. Acts 17:28 says, “In Him, we live and breathe and have our meaning.” Our families also belong to God, and we are entrusted to steward their care, our responses, our words, and the training we provide them, guiding them in His ways. Our money, too, belongs to God, and we honor Him by giving the first portion of our income to support our local church, missions, and ministries.
God is the Owner of everything, and we are stewards of what He has entrusted to us. He is the Giver of all talents, abilities, and resources, calling us to use them with gratitude and purpose. As the Entruster, He expects faithful stewardship in every area of our lives, our time, money, bodies, and families, to bring Him honor.
Photo Credit: ©Getty Images/Delmaine Donson
