Pillar
Stewardship
Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful (1 Corinthians 4:2, KJV).
The earth is the LORD'S, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein (Psalms 24:1, KJV). The silver is His, and the gold is His (Haggai 2:8, KJV). It is required in stewards that a man be found faithful (1 Corinthians 4:2, KJV).
Key passages: Psalms 24:1 · Luke 16:10-12 · 1 Corinthians 4:2 · Romans 14:12
What does the Bible say about stewardship?
The Bible states that the earth and the fulness thereof belong to the LORD (Psalms 24:1, KJV), and that God giveth power to get wealth (Deuteronomy 8:18, KJV). It states that it is required in stewards that a man be found faithful (1 Corinthians 4:2, KJV), and that he that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much (Luke 16:10, KJV). It states that every one of us shall give account of himself to God (Romans 14:12, KJV).
The Earth Is the LORD's
The earth is the LORD'S, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.
— Psalms 24:1 (KJV)
The earth, the world, and they that dwell therein are the LORD'S (Psalms 24:1, KJV).
The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, saith the LORD of hosts.
— Haggai 2:8 (KJV)
Behold, the heaven and the heaven of heavens is the LORD'S thy God, the earth also, with all that therein is.
— Deuteronomy 10:14 (KJV)
11 Thine, O LORD, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine; thine is the kingdom, O LORD, and thou art exalted as head above all.
12 Both riches and honour come of thee, and thou reignest over all; and in thine hand is power and might; and in thine hand it is to make great, and to give strength unto all.
— 1 Chronicles 29:11-12 (KJV)
10 For every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills.
11 I know all the fowls of the mountains: and the wild beasts of the field are mine.
12 If I were hungry, I would not tell thee: for the world is mine, and the fulness thereof.
— Psalms 50:10-12 (KJV)
Who hath prevented me, that I should repay him? whatsoever is under the whole heaven is mine.
— Job 41:11 (KJV)
# The land shall not be sold for ever: for the land is mine; for ye are strangers and sojourners with me.
— Leviticus 25:23 (KJV)
Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine:
— Exodus 19:5 (KJV)
The heavens are thine, the earth also is thine: as for the world and the fulness thereof, thou hast founded them.
— Psalms 89:11 (KJV)
The heaven, even the heavens, are the LORD'S: but the earth hath he given to the children of men.
— Psalms 115:16 (KJV)
For the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof.
— 1 Corinthians 10:26 (KJV)
Faithfulness in Little
10 He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.
11 If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?
12 And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another man's, who shall give you that which is your own?
— Luke 16:10-12 (KJV)
He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much (Luke 16:10, KJV).
His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
— Matthew 25:21 (KJV)
His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
— Matthew 25:23 (KJV)
And he said unto him, Well, thou good servant: because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities.
— Luke 19:17 (KJV)
Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.
— 1 Corinthians 4:2 (KJV)
42 And the Lord said, Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his lord shall make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of meat in due season?
43 Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.
44 Of a truth I say unto you, that he will make him ruler over all that he hath.
— Luke 12:42-44 (KJV)
47 And that servant, which knew his lord's will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes.
48 But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.
— Luke 12:47-48 (KJV)
For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre;
— Titus 1:7 (KJV)
As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
— 1 Peter 4:10 (KJV)
The Talents and the Pounds
14 # For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods.
15 And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey.
16 Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents.
17 And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two.
18 But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord's money.
19 After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them.
20 And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more.
21 His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
22 He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them.
23 His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
24 Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed:
25 And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine.
26 His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed:
27 Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury.
28 Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents.
29 For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.
30 And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
— Matthew 25:14-30 (KJV)
A lord delivered talents unto his servants, and after a long time reckoned with them (Matthew 25:14-19, KJV).
12 He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return.
13 And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come.
14 But his citizens hated him, and sent a message after him, saying, We will not have this man to reign over us.
15 And it came to pass, that when he was returned, having received the kingdom, then he commanded these servants to be called unto him, to whom he had given the money, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading.
16 Then came the first, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained ten pounds.
17 And he said unto him, Well, thou good servant: because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities.
18 And the second came, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained five pounds.
19 And he said likewise to him, Be thou also over five cities.
20 And another came, saying, Lord, behold, here is thy pound, which I have kept laid up in a napkin:
21 For I feared thee, because thou art an austere man: thou takest up that thou layedst not down, and reapest that thou didst not sow.
22 And he saith unto him, Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee, thou wicked servant. Thou knewest that I was an austere man, taking up that I laid not down, and reaping that I did not sow:
23 Wherefore then gavest not thou my money into the bank, that at my coming I might have required mine own with usury?
24 And he said unto them that stood by, Take from him the pound, and give it to him that hath ten pounds.
25 (And they said unto him, Lord, he hath ten pounds.)
26 For I say unto you, That unto every one which hath shall be given; and from him that hath not, even that he hath shall be taken away from him.
— Luke 19:12-26 (KJV)
Giving Account
So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.
— Romans 14:12 (KJV)
Every one of us shall give account of himself to God (Romans 14:12, KJV).
1 And he said also unto his disciples, There was a certain rich man, which had a steward; and the same was accused unto him that he had wasted his goods.
2 And he called him, and said unto him, How is it that I hear this of thee? give an account of thy stewardship; for thou mayest be no longer steward.
— Luke 16:1-2 (KJV)
After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them.
— Matthew 25:19 (KJV)
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.
— 2 Corinthians 5:10 (KJV)
For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.
— Ecclesiastes 12:14 (KJV)
But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?
— Luke 12:20 (KJV)
Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.
— Hebrews 4:13 (KJV)
Managers of God's Gifts
17 And thou say in thine heart, My power and the might of mine hand hath gotten me this wealth.
18 But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day.
— Deuteronomy 8:17-18 (KJV)
It is the LORD thy God that giveth thee power to get wealth (Deuteronomy 8:18, KJV).
For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?
— 1 Corinthians 4:7 (KJV)
Every man also to whom God hath given riches and wealth, and hath given him power to eat thereof, and to take his portion, and to rejoice in his labour; this is the gift of God.
— Ecclesiastes 5:19 (KJV)
Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;
— 1 Timothy 6:17 (KJV)
John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven.
— John 3:27 (KJV)
The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it.
— Proverbs 10:22 (KJV)
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.
— James 1:17 (KJV)
But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able to offer so willingly after this sort? for all things come of thee, and of thine own have we given thee.
— 1 Chronicles 29:14 (KJV)
O LORD our God, all this store that we have prepared to build thee an house for thine holy name cometh of thine hand, and is all thine own.
— 1 Chronicles 29:16 (KJV)
7 The LORD maketh poor, and maketh rich: he bringeth low, and lifteth up.
8 He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill, to set them among princes, and to make them inherit the throne of glory: for the pillars of the earth are the LORD'S, and he hath set the world upon them.
— 1 Samuel 2:7-8 (KJV)
1 Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.
2 It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep.
— Psalms 127:1-2 (KJV)
So the LORD blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning: for he had fourteen thousand sheep, and six thousand camels, and a thousand yoke of oxen, and a thousand she asses.
— Job 42:12 (KJV)
12 Then Isaac sowed in that land, and received in the same year an hundredfold: and the LORD blessed him.
13 And the man waxed great, and went forward, and grew until he became very great:
14 For he had possession of flocks, and possession of herds, and great store of servants: and the Philistines envied him.
— Genesis 26:12-14 (KJV)
Faithful Stewards in Scripture
4 And Joseph found grace in his sight, and he served him: and he made him overseer over his house, and all that he had he put into his hand.
5 And it came to pass from the time that he had made him overseer in his house, and over all that he had, that the LORD blessed the Egyptian's house for Joseph's sake; and the blessing of the LORD was upon all that he had in the house, and in the field.
6 And he left all that he had in Joseph's hand; and he knew not ought he had, save the bread which he did eat. And Joseph was a goodly person, and well favoured.
— Genesis 39:4-6 (KJV)
Joseph found grace in his master's sight, and all that he had was put into Joseph's hand (Genesis 39:4, KJV).
39 And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, Forasmuch as God hath shewed thee all this, there is none so discreet and wise as thou art:
40 Thou shalt be over my house, and according unto thy word shall all my people be ruled: only in the throne will I be greater than thou.
41 And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, See, I have set thee over all the land of Egypt.
— Genesis 41:39-41 (KJV)
Moreover they reckoned not with the men, into whose hand they delivered the money to be bestowed on workmen: for they dealt faithfully.
— 2 Kings 12:15 (KJV)
Howbeit there was no reckoning made with them of the money that was delivered into their hand, because they dealt faithfully.
— 2 Kings 22:7 (KJV)
And I made treasurers over the treasuries, Shelemiah the priest, and Zadok the scribe, and of the Levites, Pedaiah: and next to them was Hanan the son of Zaccur, the son of Mattaniah: for they were counted faithful, and their office was to distribute unto their brethren.
— Nehemiah 13:13 (KJV)
1 And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration.
2 Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables.
3 Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.
— Acts 6:1-3 (KJV)
1 And he said also unto his disciples, There was a certain rich man, which had a steward; and the same was accused unto him that he had wasted his goods.
2 And he called him, and said unto him, How is it that I hear this of thee? give an account of thy stewardship; for thou mayest be no longer steward.
3 Then the steward said within himself, What shall I do? for my lord taketh away from me the stewardship: I cannot dig; to beg I am ashamed.
4 I am resolved what to do, that, when I am put out of the stewardship, they may receive me into their houses.
5 So he called every one of his lord's debtors unto him, and said unto the first, How much owest thou unto my lord?
6 And he said, An hundred measures of oil. And he said unto him, Take thy bill, and sit down quickly, and write fifty.
7 Then said he to another, And how much owest thou? And he said, An hundred measures of wheat. And he said unto him, Take thy bill, and write fourscore.
8 And the lord commended the unjust steward, because he had done wisely: for the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light.
— Luke 16:1-8 (KJV)
Questions answered with Scripture
Who owns the earth, according to the Bible?
The earth is the LORD'S, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.
— Psalms 24:1 (KJV)
What is required of a steward?
Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.
— 1 Corinthians 4:2 (KJV)
What did Jesus say about faithfulness in little things?
He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.
— Luke 16:10 (KJV)
Who gives the power to get wealth?
But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day.
— Deuteronomy 8:18 (KJV)
Whose are the silver and the gold?
The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, saith the LORD of hosts.
— Haggai 2:8 (KJV)
Will each person give account to God?
So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.
— Romans 14:12 (KJV)