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Are You the Owner or the Manager?
- July 23, 2022
- Posted by: Marcel Sanchez
- Category: Developing Spiritual Disciplines
In ancient times there were owners and stewards. The owners had wealth and property such as animals, homes, and employees. The word steward is what we could call a modern-day manager. The steward did not own anything, but they oversaw everything for the business owner. The steward was responsible to manage the property of the owner in a way that pleased the owner. When the owner traveled to conduct business, the steward was expected to manage things according to the owner’s will rather than their own likes and preferences.
If you work for someone else, are you working in such a way as to please the business owner?
More importantly, are you working as a good manager to please God?
Treasures are the financial means entrusted to you by God to manage wisely for His purposes.
There’s a specific purpose—and eternal reward—for managing your finances according to timeless biblical principles. The steward’s treasure never belonged to him. He would never even think of claiming, “This is mine!” All his treasure—everything within his possession—belonged to the owner. When the steward needed something for the employees or for the maintenance of the home, it was the owner that provided the resources.
The steward was expected to be wise in his financial administration of the owner’s property. He was given the responsibility to manage what the owner had provided. Whenever possible, the steward would save, negotiate, give, spend, or cut expenses to make sure the owner would receive the maximum benefit.
The steward’s time—the limited window of opportunity provided to work for the purposes of the owner—was not his own to waste. The steward was to use his time wisely by serving the owner. The steward understood he would eventually have to give a report on the way he managed his time. The steward’s strength was not to be admired in a mirror. He was not to spend all his time at the gym either. He was not to be consumed with being comfortable or taking more time off than what was needed for his body to recover from his work. The steward was to use his strength and energy to do the work assigned to him with skill and great care.
Ability is the God-given capacity and power to do something well. All of us have different capacities. You may have an unusual capacity to write, influence others, or sell products. You may have an uncommon power to persevere through extreme physical conditions. We divide abilities into two primary categories: talents and skills.
Talents are extraordinary natural abilities given to you by God and originating from birth. These abilities stand far above the average; they’re exceptional in quality and very enjoyable to observe. With these things in mind, how do we define skills? Skills are learned abilities developed and mastered over time. Some skills may naturally complement your God-given talents, and some may not. As God’s manager, you’re expected to develop in all these areas.
Training matters. There’s certainly an educational component to your skills. To achieve mastery, your disposition must be that of a committed student. Many have said that it takes at least 10,000 hours of practice to master a specific skill. Your skills can be mastered over time as you increase your knowledge and practice what you’re learning as often as possible. As God’s steward, this is what’s expected. Getting better is not optional; it’s required for all God’s managers.
Are you intentionally getting better?
Personality is how God has wired you; it’s the invisible you made visible. It’s what people can observe, hear, and feel when you’re present. When you integrate your unique personality into every area of your stewardship, the combination is powerful and effective.
The steward’s treasures, time, abilities, talents, skills, training, and personality were not meant to be placed on display for others to admire and clap as in a great performance.
The steward was clear. He lived to leverage these gifts to protect, manage, and multiply the owner’s property whenever possible. The steward was the manager, not the owner. The steward would explore every opportunity and possibility to make things better. Whatever remained under his supervision, was the opportunity for the steward to protect, manage, and multiply for the owner. The steward lived to serve the owner—his singular purpose in life. Why? Pleasing the owner was the goal of his life and therefore, the goal of all his work.
What about you?
Are you a good manager of what God has provided you with?
What’s the goal of your life?
Your identity on this earth is defined by your Creator. God owns everything! You and I own nothing…nada. In Christ, you’re both God’s son and his manager, a steward of God’s resources. Your primary job is to please the owner—Jesus Christ—since he is the one who will judge the results, the quality of your work, and the true motives of your heart.
Marcel Sanchez, Imagine Coaching Academy Tweet
Summary
Let’s briefly review some of what we’ve covered so far:
- Treasures are the financial means entrusted to you by God to manage wisely for His purposes.
- Time is the limited window of opportunity provided to work for the purposes of the owner—
- Abilities are the God-given capacity and power to do something well.
- Talents are extraordinary natural abilities given to you by God and originating from birth.
- Skills are learned abilities developed and mastered over time.
- Training To achieve mastery, your disposition must be that of a student.
- Personality is how God has wired you; it’s the invisible you made visible.
Action Point
Circle one point from the summary list above where your commitment has been strong. Underline one point where your commitment has been much weaker than desired. Write down one action point to help you get from where you are to where you want to be—over the next five days—in this weaker area.
In our next blog post, we will plan to review the concept of Biblical Stewardship in more detail.
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