What is your life? Who gave it to you? For what purpose? How you answer to these will shape how you manage your physical body and the necessities of life. Let’s explore being a good steward of the living capital God has given you to manage for His glory.
Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”
Genesis 1:26–28
The foundation is laid in the very beginning for understanding who you are as a member of mankind. This text is critical to forming the principles of life by which to conduct yourself on a daily basis. Scripture is replete with references to Genesis 1-11.
The “Imago Dei” says that all of mankind, including me and you created in the image of God, will have dominion over the earth and every other living thing. This means we are to manage well our physical body, the earth and all the creatures, to the glory of God.
Though you may not be the first man or woman, you were created by Him nonetheless, with a like nature to the first. Every creature comes into being through the sovereign act of the wonderful Creator.
For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.
Psalm 139:13–14
Thank the Lord for and take good care of what has been fearfully and wonderfully made. The miracle of life is on display every time a newborn baby is welcomed into this world. Stand in awe of the creator and thank Him for every breath you take each and every day. He formed your inward parts, so don’t abuse them or neglect them, but rather nourish them through good diet, exercise and proper rest.
In his hand is the life of every living thing and the breath of all mankind.
Job 12:10
No Idols
Don’t turn His creation into an idol. View it as a gift and tool to be used for His glory. Your body is the vessel through which you glorify God and work to promote His kingdom.
Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.
1 Corinthians 6:19-20
Remember you brought nothing into this world, and you can take nothing out. While you’re here, God has given you a body, which was bought with a price. If you are a Christian, you belong to Christ. Therefore be a good steward of your body and your life to glorify God.
The Whole Steward starts by caring for self. Wait just a minute. That may sound counter intuitive, unbiblical or even anti-Christian. Aren’t we supposed to deny ourselves in serving Christ and others?
Or maybe you think family is more important, or serving at your church or in your business comes first. But let me ask you, how will you serve others if you don’t care for yourself? How will you bend over to wash your neighbor’s feet if you neglect your own? How will you lead your children into what’s good if you don’t do what’s good? How will you teach them good habits if you continue in your own bad habits?
This does not mean having an inflated self-image. It does not mean being selfish, vain or egotistical.
The Good Life
Being a good steward of your physical life and living capital means nurturing your body to be healthy, pure and self-controlled both physically and mentally. It means maintaining physical strength to serve others. It means growing and eating good food. It means caring for your animals well. It means understanding even the diverse life forms like bacteria essential to our existence.
I’m speaking of walking in integrity and self-control, learning and doing the things which make you best fit to serve the Lord and others. Neglecting these things will end up requiring others to serve and care for your physical infirmities instead.
The intricacies of life and the spiritual stewardship principles surrounding them go very deep and The Whole Steward strives toward nurturing, growing and managing all the living things God has put under your care with excellence.
In the future, The Whole Steward will dive deeper into the following areas of stewardship:
Diet
Exercise
Animals
Bacteria
For further study see: Rom 12:1-2, 1 Thessalonians 4:4, Luke 13:8, Proverbs 12:10
Reflect
- Is there an area of your physical life you’ve been neglecting or abusing which you should instead be nurturing?
- Who does your physical life belong to and how does that affect how you manage it’s various aspects?
