There's a cultural upsurge with the 'soft life' conversations and behaviors. I'm almost certain that you have either heard about it, or see reels, videos, and even tutorials about how you can enjoy the 'soft life'. But...if you're truly building something expansive, impactful, and influential, is the 'soft life' even a real thing? I say, NO! So, let's change the narrative. Let's start pursuing a life of stewardship. There'll be challenges and hurdles, but at least we'll be equipped to better manage them.
Now, let's be honest! We all haven't always been effective stewards. I say 'we', because although we may be excelling in one area of our lives, other areas may be catastrophic, resulting in frustration, debt, anxiety, depression, loss, stagnancy, and regression. Even I, stop to question whether I am being a good steward over the resources, tools, and gifts God has given me at times. Do you?
Perhaps, you're still struggling to accept the above because you've managed to have an okay bank account, build a house, attend university or college, start a business, or find yourself smack dabbed in the family you've always envisioned. However, I challenge you to pay attention to the prayers you frequently pray. Interesting, right? Ask yourself the question, "why am I praying these prayers?" This question is asked as we repeatedly pray for 'things' that God has repeatedly blessed us with. In most cases, it is as a result of ineffective stewardship why we end up multi-tasking, and not multiplying (yes! You'll learn more about this in our upcoming blog). Why? We've become preoccupied scrambling with the fragments of the promises, prophecies, and dreams we hold on to, but are unable to manage.
Think about it!
While we're here, I believe it's the best place to dissect stewardship, the principles of stewardship, benefits of stewardship, the don'ts of stewardship, and the relationship between stewardship and success.
What Is Stewardship?
Stewardship refers to the responsible management and protection of something, such as natural resources, finances, or property. It involves making decisions that consider the long-term effects and sustainability of those resources for future generations.
Principles of Stewardship
The principles of stewardship involve managing and taking care of resources, whether they are natural, financial, or human, in a responsible and sustainable way. This includes being accountable, transparent, and ethical in one's actions, as well as considering the long-term impacts and benefits of decisions. The principles also emphasize the importance of collaboration and community engagement in achieving common goals.
Benefits of Stewardship
Stewardship has several benefits, including:
Conserving natural resources for future generations;
Reducing environmental damage and pollution;
Promoting sustainable use of resources;
Encouraging responsible behavior and ethical decision-making;
Creating a sense of community and social responsibility, and
Providing economic benefits through the development of eco-tourism and other sustainable industries.
The Don'ts of Stewardship Stewardship is the responsible management of resources. The following are some 'don'ts' to keep in mind when practicing good stewardship:
Don't waste resources;
Don't harm the environment;
Don't ignore the needs of future generations;
Don't prioritize short-term gains over long-term sustainability;
Don't neglect maintenance and upkeep of resources;
Don't overlook the impact of your actions on others, and
Don't assume that someone else will take care of the problem.
The Relationship Between Stewardship and Success
As communicated earlier, stewardship refers to the responsible management and protection of something, often resources or assets. In the context of business, good stewardship can lead to success by ensuring that resources are used wisely and sustainably, and that the interests of stakeholders are taken into account. A company that practices good stewardship is likely to be respected by customers, employees, and investors, and may be better positioned to achieve long-term success.
Are you sold on the importance of stewardship just yet?
One of the major observations of this age has been that many persons fail in the area of stewardship; owing to self-sabotage. Is this an area that you desire to improve on? Wooooow. That was a loud, resounding, yes!
Register for our upcoming course on How To Overcome Self-Sabotage to learn:
The 'I AM' Factor;
Identifying the Root of Self-Sabotage;
Self-Esteem vs. Self Confidence;
Developing a 'Personal Winning Action Plan' and Mindset, and
Learning how to Dominate with Authority in the Earth.
Sounds like something that would set you up to win in every area of your life in this year and beyond? Register by clicking the button below:
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Love, Dr. E
"Stewardship refers to the responsible management and protection of something, often resources or assets." My head is spinning from all of this. Spin both positively and negatively. Negatively, I can identify every aspect of my life where I haven't "managed" or "protected" my resources, particularly my finances. Positively, I now have the chance to make it right.
You emphasized stewardship in terms of assets and resources; making it personal, these also included my job, my appearance, my speech, my marriage, my children, my manner of driving and cooking, among other things. There will be a lot of reflection on this subject, as well as quick action.
Grateful!
Reading this blog over and over has opened my eyes even more to being a poor steward and not managing well. I sometimes about living the 'soft life' but I think about it more and more I firgured it is better to work for what I need. We can live the 'soft life' but if we are not good Stewards and manage well what we have been given, then what's the use?
It has made me seriously evaluate my stewardship and I know I have work to do. I don't want to waste what God has given me to use to advance His Kingsom here on earth.
The blog has also enlighten me on how much I spend frivolously and…
Wooow! A light bulb turned on in my head. Honestly, the first thing I thought about doing after reading about stewardship was, I need to go meditate just to stir up the hunger to learn more on the topic of stewardship then I thought about how impactful and life-Changning this could be for me in its entirety I have read it more than once with each time there was something fresh to gleam from this article. Thank you, CEO Esther, for sharing the application in the now MOVE! LORD THANK YOU FOR OPENING THE EYES OF MY UNDERSTANDING!
Thank you for this, I am grateful for the topic and the understanding and reality that it opens up our eyes to when it comes to our individual journey so far. It is surely true that at some point we all would have made some poor and foolish decisions and steps that would have resulted in us now praying to God to help us with, to deliver us from and show up for us in.
I can personally say I have failed my now and future self in many ways, found myself at rock bottom and have been on a journey these years and praying to God for increase and change. But I came to realize he had to tak…
Thank you for this post, Dr. Esther. I knew that stewardship involved the management of the resources provided but I have always questioned the efficacy of the methods I used to do so. You have listed some key ways to embody effective stewardship by "being accountable, transparent, and ethical". I agree and I also see how these can be applied personally and professionally.
I have not always been a good steward of my resources especially time and financial resources. However, the increased understanding and awareness of the concept of taking responsibility have shifted my perspective. I appreciated you highlighting our environmental stewardship and responsibility to future generations. Thank you.