There is a story in the Gospel of Luke entitled “The Wily Steward.” In this parable, Jesus talks about a steward who is misusing the resources entrusted to him. The owner of the property finds out about it and calls the steward in to account for everything. The steward then quickly tries to make friends with others who also owe the owner things so that he will not be alone when he is fired. Jesus tells His disciples that the steward is knowledgeable in the ways of the world, but we are called to be wise in the ways of heaven.

Stewardship comes with responsibility. What God has given us needs to be used properly. This includes properly caring for creation and natural resources, caring for ourselves by maintaining our health as best we can, caring for others, especially the vulnerable and weak, and properly caring for and using the material blessings we have been given. 

In North American society, we are used to throwing things away when we are “done” with them—even though they may still be of good use. Modern technology and manufacturing allow us to replace things much more easily than in earlier generations. Unfortunately, we can also discard people and relationships that we may not find “useful” as well.

But as stewards, it is our responsibility to not damage creation, nor to do away with things that still have use, nor to deliberately damage our health or hurt people with our words or actions. Good stewards take proper care of that with which they have been entrusted. 

This week, let us pay special attention to whether we are taking full responsibility for caring for God’s gifts to us, whether they are material things, relationships, our minds, bodies, and souls.