CHAPTER 6

Stewarding Where We Are

“Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.” 1 Corinthians 4:2 (KJV)

We are all in different places, and we all have different things to grow in. That is true individually, relationally, and spiritually.

The question is not whether everyone around us has reached the same place. The question is whether we are faithfully stewarding where God has us.

We Are All Growing in Different Areas

Someone may know Scripture deeply and still be learning communication. Someone may be generous and struggle with boundaries. Someone may be compassionate and avoid difficult truth. Someone may be disciplined and need gentleness.

We tend to notice the areas where we are stronger and the other person is weaker. That can make us feel more mature than we are.

But maturity creates responsibility, not superiority.

If God has taught me something, that should make me more patient, more useful, more humble, and more able to help. It should not make me more eager to stand over someone else.

Steward What God Put in Your Hands

Sometimes stewardship means speaking.

Sometimes teaching.

Sometimes modeling.

Sometimes setting a boundary.

Sometimes asking a question.

Sometimes praying and waiting while God works.

We cannot become the Holy Spirit in another person's life.

We can be faithful with what God gives us to do without taking responsibility for what belongs to Him.

Stewarding Growth in the Body of Christ

Chapter 3 established that the church is a body made of people who are still growing. That truth matters here because stewardship changes the question we ask when another believer is immature, judgmental, struggling, or simply in a different place than we are.

Instead of making their growth our project, we ask what faithfulness requires from us. Sometimes we speak. Sometimes we encourage what is already growing. Sometimes we establish a boundary. Sometimes we pray and give the Holy Spirit room to work. Grace does not call sin good, and truth does not give us permission to condemn.

We also go to church for more than evaluating how everybody else is living. We go to worship Christ, learn, fellowship, serve, encourage one another, rejoice together, weep together, and grow as part of His body. Another person’s immaturity does not remove our responsibility to steward our own place there.

That is part of walking together: telling the truth about what is harmful without trying to become the Father, the Gardener, or the Holy Spirit for another believer.

Leaders Carry Greater Responsibility

Those who lead are watched more closely.

That is not always fair, but it is real, and Scripture treats leadership seriously.

A leader does not have to be sinless. None of us would qualify.

But leaders should be drawing close to Christ, practicing what they teach, receiving correction, and understanding that their choices can cause others to stumble.

When a leader fails, accountability matters.

Prayer matters too.

We do not need to attack someone simply because they stumbled. We can protect people, require accountability, and still pray for the leader who failed.

Leaders also need people who minister to them. Serving is exhausting. The person who carries others needs prayer, encouragement, truth, and rest too.

Stewardship Includes Giving

Everything God entrusts to us was His first.

Giving back to God is an act of faith and trust. Scripture tells us that God loves a cheerful giver in 2 Corinthians 9:7.

But there is another kind of giving we need to understand in relationship: giving to another person because we see a need.

Not every legitimate need is personally our assignment.

Giving from guilt, fear, approval-seeking, pressure, or the need to be indispensable can produce resentment and scorekeeping.

Performance can look like generosity.

We do not want to be performance led. We want to be Spirit led.

We cannot outgive God, but faith and wisdom belong together. Stewardship includes the responsibilities already in our hands.

Give freely when love and obedience lead. Do not give as leverage, identity, proof of goodness, or something to hold over another person later.

Faithful Where We Are

We are all growing.

The person beside us is growing.

The church is full of growing people.

The leader is growing.

The person who hurt us may need growth.

And so do we.

Stewardship asks us to stop measuring everyone by where we think they should be and ask what faithfulness requires from us where we actually are.

Speak when God gives us something to say.

Be quiet when we have already spoken and need to let Him work.

Give when He leads.

Set a boundary when wisdom requires it.

Encourage what is growing.

Tell the truth about what is harmful.

And remember that God is the One who gives the increase.