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Your Stewardship: A Gift from God
Heavenly Father gives us gifts to bless us and others.
Photograph by Christina Smith
In ancient times, a steward was a special type of servant with the job of managing a large household or keeping track of their master’s belongings. Some stewards were even put in charge of kingdoms while the king was away. That’s a lot of trust!
The Lord has said that “whoso is found a faithful, a just, and a wise steward shall enter into the joy of his Lord, and shall inherit eternal life” (Doctrine and Covenants 51:19). He’s not talking about overseeing someone else’s finances, though—the Lord said that everyone will be accountable for their stewardship (see Doctrine and Covenants 104:12), and most people don’t work for a king.
So, what does that mean for us today? What’s your stewardship? What has God entrusted you with?
What You’ve Been Given
One example of good stewardship is the parable of the talents, where a rich man gave each of his servants a certain number of talents, which were a type of money. Two of those servants used their gifts well and multiplied their talents, and their master praised their work (see Matthew 25:14–30). Those servants were good stewards.
Any gift from God is part of your stewardship (see 1 Peter 4:10). Your stewardship may include your body, your spiritual gifts, your skills, your Church callings, and even your knowledge of the gospel. Those are great blessings, but God wants to help all of His children. Your stewardship is “not for [your] benefit only but to bless others.”
The Lord has said, “It is my purpose to provide for my saints. … But it must needs be done in mine own way” (Doctrine and Covenants 104:15–16). The way He has chosen includes us! You can be a wise and just steward by using all the “talents” He’s given you to serve and bless other people.
A Blessing for You
While your stewardship can help you serve others, those gifts are also a great blessing for you. Remember, Heavenly Father promised eternal life to all faithful stewards. He wants to bless you, too!
Heavenly Father trusts you, and He loves your effort. Relying on Jesus Christ in doing your best to be a good steward now will bring you closer to Him and prepare you to be a good steward in eternity.