Facing the Master: Why We Must Give an Account of Our Stewardship
As the final days of 2025 slip through our fingers, a natural sense of reflection settles upon the heart of the believer. We have recently celebrated the incarnation, that miraculous moment when the infinite Creator narrowed Himself down to the size of a human heart so that we would never have to walk this world alone. We have basked in the amazing grace that brought the glory of God down to dwell within us. Yet, with great grace comes great responsibility. If we have been entrusted with such heavenly wealth, we must eventually stand before the Owner to provide a report.
The closing of a year is much like the closing of a chapter in a ledger. In the Gospel of Luke, chapter sixteen, verse two, we find a command that rings with both authority and solemnity: “What is this that I hear about you? Give an account of your stewardship, for you can no longer be steward.” This is not merely a suggestion for a well-managed life; it is a divine mandate for every soul that has been bought with the blood of Christ.
What is the true biblical meaning of stewardship?
Biblical stewardship is the recognition that God is the absolute Owner of all things, and man is the appointed manager of His resources. A steward possesses nothing of his own but is responsible for managing the property, interests, and affairs of the Master according to His will and for His ultimate glory.
In our modern world, we understand the concept of an audit. In professional fields such as pharmaceuticals or finance, an audit is a period of intense scrutiny. One might prepare for months to ensure that the books are clean and that there are no “findings” that could lead to ruin. However, a spiritual audit is far deeper. As we consider our lives, we must realize that our bodies, our time, our careers, our children, and our very influence are not our own. They are a trust. Because we are totally depraved by nature and unable to choose God apart from His sovereign grace, the fact that He has entrusted us with anything at all is a testament to His mercy. We must account not only for what we have done with these gifts but for the motives behind our actions.
How do we practice the stewardship of our time?
The stewardship of time is the intentional dedication of every moment to the purposes of God, recognizing that time is a non-renewable resource granted by the Creator. We are commanded to redeem the time because the days are evil, ensuring that our fleeting hours are invested in things of eternal value.
Time is the only resource that cannot be replenished. While money can be lost and earned back, a second once spent is gone forever. There is a famous clock at Christ Church College in Oxford that features a figure of a grasshopper. With every passing second, the grasshopper appears to “eat” the time. This is a vivid illustration of our reality; our lives are being consumed moment by moment. Much of the past year may have been swallowed by the “screen time” of modern entertainment or the vanity of worldly pursuits. We must ask ourselves how much of our time was spent in the presence of the Lord, in the study of His inerrant Word, or in the service of His Kingdom. If we have wasted the Master’s time on trifles, we must seek His grace to set our priorities right before the year concludes.
What does it mean to be a steward of our talents?
The stewardship of talents involves the active employment of the spiritual gifts and natural abilities God has bestowed upon the believer for the edification of the Church and the glory of God. It is a matter of surrender, where the value lies not in the possession of the gift but in its exercise for the Master’s benefit.
Every person who has tasted the grace of God has been given something to contribute. Some may feel they have few talents, but God measures our faithfulness, not the scale of our abilities. Consider a beautiful violin kept locked away in a dark case. No matter how exquisite the instrument, it has no value if it is never played. God did not give you gifts so that you could admire them in the mirror or hide them in a locker of self-preservation. He gave them so that you could serve others. To possess a gift and refuse to use it for His purposes is a form of spiritual disobedience. Our talents are the tools of our trade as managers of God’s household, and we must be prepared to show the fruit of our labor.
Why is the stewardship of treasure so critical for the believer?
The stewardship of treasure is the acknowledgment that all financial resources and material possessions belong to God, and the believer is called to manage them with wisdom, generosity, and a heart focused on the Kingdom. It transcends the concept of a tithe, encompassing the totality of one’s economic life.
Scripture reminds us that where our treasure is, there our heart will be also. Many people mistakenly believe that only ten percent of their income belongs to the Lord, while the remaining ninety percent is theirs to do with as they please. This is a theological error. One hundred percent of what we have belongs to Him. We are merely the managers. In our financial decisions, are we investing in “gold, silver, and precious stones,” or are we spending the Master’s wealth on “wood, hay, and straw”? The way we manage our bank accounts is often the clearest indicator of our spiritual health. As we enter a new year, we must audit our spending habits to see if they reflect a heart that loves God or a heart that loves the world.
How does our influence factor into our divine account?
The stewardship of influence is the realization that our lives are a public testimony, and we are responsible for how our actions, words, and attitudes draw others toward or repel them from the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Believers are called to be the light of the world, reflecting the holiness of God in every sphere of life.
To the watching world, you may be the only Bible they ever read. Your influence in the marketplace, in your neighborhood, and within your family is a talent for which you will give an account. When people see your life, do they see the transforming power of the Holy Spirit, or do they see the same corruption and despair found in the world? Every reaction to suffering, every word spoken in anger or grace, and every work of integrity is being recorded. We must let our light so shine before men that they may see our good works and glorify our Father who is in heaven. Our influence is a powerful tool for the Kingdom, and to mismanage it is to fail in our primary mission as ambassadors of Christ.
Why is personal accountability necessary for growth?
Accountability is necessary because it provides the framework for spiritual rectification and growth, keeping the believer prayerful and vigilant against the schemes of the enemy. It reminds us that our stewardship has a definitive end, prompting us to live with an eternal perspective rather than a temporal one.
An audit is not intended solely to find fault; it is intended to help us rectify what is wrong. If a business discovers a failing in its books, it has the opportunity to fix it before the company collapses. Likewise, as we examine our hearts, we have the opportunity to repent and realign ourselves with God’s will. We need this accountability because we have an enemy, Satan, who seeks to steal our time, our talents, and our trust. He wants us to be careless managers. Furthermore, we must remember that a “termination order” is coming for every one of us. We do not know when our health, our positions, or our very lives will be required of us. Living in constant awareness of our accountability to God drives us to a deeper life of prayer and a more committed walk in holiness.
What is the Bema Seat of Christ?
The Bema Seat of Christ is a foundational biblical doctrine referring to the judgment seat where believers will stand to be rewarded for their faithful service and stewardship during their earthly lives. It is not a judgment of condemnation for sin, but an evaluation of the quality of one’s works for the sake of eternal rewards.
As the Scripture states in Second Corinthians, we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ to be recompensed for the deeds done in the body. The term “Bema” refers to the raised platform in the ancient Olympics where the judges sat to award prizes to the victors. This is not the Great White Throne judgment where the lost are condemned; rather, it is a celebration of service for the redeemed. However, there is a sobering side to this event. First Corinthians teaches that our work will be tested by fire. If we have built with gold, silver, and precious stones, our work will survive, and we will receive a reward. If we have built with wood, hay, and straw, our work will be burned up. While the soul is saved through the finished work of Christ, the loss of reward is a serious reality. We should not wish to arrive in heaven as mere spectators who have nothing to lay at the feet of the King.
What eternal rewards are available to the faithful steward?
The Bible describes various crowns available to believers as rewards for faithfulness, including the Incorruptible Crown, the Crown of Life, the Crown of Righteousness, the Crown of Glory, and the Crown of Rejoicing. These rewards symbolize the different ways a believer has honored God through suffering, service, and holiness.There is the Incorruptible Crown for those who exercise self-control; the Crown of Life, often called the Martyr’s Crown, for those who endure temptation and trial; the Crown of Righteousness for those who love His appearing; the Crown of Glory for those who faithfully shepherd God’s flock; and the Crown of Rejoicing for those who win souls for Christ. Some may think that being in heaven is enough, but imagine a grand championship celebration where you are sitting on the sidelines while others are participating in the victory. We are called to be fellow workers with God, not just spectators. The rewards we receive at the Bema Seat are our opportunity to demonstrate that we took our stewardship seriously and lived for the glory of the One who saved us.
How can we live a life of victorious stewardship?
Victorious stewardship is only possible through a total surrender to the Lordship of Jesus Christ and a reliance on the power of His blood and the indwelling Holy Spirit. It requires an intentional rejection of worldly distractions to ensure that Christ has the preeminent place in the heart.
Many people struggle because they are “trying their best” to be better managers of their lives. But on our own, we are unable to achieve anything of eternal value. Our only hope is in the cross of Jesus Christ. It is at the cross that we find the power to live a victorious life. We must move beyond a “surface-level” Christianity that is more concerned with the comforts of life than the impact of the Kingdom. There is a story of a hospital administrator who was so focused on the snacks for a celebration that he ignored the life-saving impact of the work being celebrated. How often do we focus on the “samosas” of life while ignoring the “gold and silver” of God’s purposes?
We must also be careful not to be like the innkeeper in the Christmas story. We often judge him for having no room for the Savior, but our own lives are frequently just as crowded with the things of this world. Our hearts are full of career ambitions, social obligations, and material desires, leaving no room for the King to reign. We are often like the man who promised to give half of a million dollars to the church only because he thought he was dying, yet lived with a closed hand while he was healthy. True stewardship requires an intentional, daily recommitment.
As this year ends, let us deeply introspect. Where have we failed in our prayer lives, our study of the Scriptures, or our fellowship with the saints? Where have we been careless with the resources the Master has placed in our hands? The termination of our stewardship is certain, but the timing is unknown. Let us not reach the shores of eternity with empty hands. May we use the remaining time to set things right, surrendering our lives once more to the power of the cross. Let us ask the Lord to find us faithful, so that on that day, we might hear the words: “Well done, good and faithful servant.”
