4/3/2023 0 Comments Steward definition![]() And to each the owner replies, “Well done good and faithful servant.” They each give the owner back double what they were given. The first two stewards invest their talents and double what they are given. In the story, three stewards each receive an allotment of money to manage on behalf of the owner. In what is referred to as “the parable of the talents” ( Matthew 25:14-30), Jesus identifies the qualities of good stewards. It’s the person who behaves like he is a servant who will be held accountable for his care of others. In other words, a good steward is a servant who is mindful that Jesus will return anytime. Jesus himself asks, “Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom the master puts in charge of his servants to give them their food allowance at the proper time? It will be good for that servant whom the master finds doing so when he returns” (Luke 12:42-43, NIV). But what makes someone a “good steward” according to the Bible? What is biblical stewardship? If you’ve worked under or over a manager you may have some specific ideas about what makes a good manager. According to Helps Word Studies, a steward was usually a free servant worker, not a slave. This role is that of a “middle man.” A manager or steward has authority but works for the owner, and so is also a servant. Read our full affiliate disclosure here.Ī manager is someone who is given the responsibility to take care of something on behalf of someone else. When you shop through the links on this page, my favorite charity, Finally Family Homes, may earn a small commission to support foster youth in need at no extra cost to you. So, whenever we see the word “steward” we can replace it with the biblical synonym, manager. In fact, many Bible translations now use the term “manager.” The managers mentioned in scripture were often like managers in today’s world – overseeing accounts, households, and businesses. ![]() This word most closely correlates in modern English to manager. The word, steward, translates in Greek as οἰκονόμον (pronounced “oikonomon”). However in the Bible, when we are told to be a good steward, it’s not telling us to sign up as housekeeping staff on a boat. On boats, the word, steward, is still acceptable. Side note: On airlines, it’s more proper these days to use the term flight attendant. Its most common usage describes the position of a person who works on a ship or airplane, serving the passengers. It’s a word that has been on a decline in usage in the English language since the 1800s. Stuart is a French spelling, attested from 1429 and adopted by Mary, Queen of Scots.8 Additional Resources for Being a Good Steward in the Bible The Definition of A Good Steward in the Bibleįirst let’s examine this word, steward. The Scottish form (with terminal -t attested from late 14c.) is reflected in Stewart, name of the royal house descended from Walter (the) Steward, who married (1315) Marjorie de Bruce, daughter of King Robert. Meaning "person who supervises arrangements" at a meeting, dinner, etc., is from 1703. This was the title of a class of high officers of the state in early England and Scotland, hence meaning "one who manages affairs of an estate on behalf of his employer" (late 14c.). The sense of "officer on a ship in charge of provisions and meals" is first recorded mid-15c. ![]() Meaning "overseer of workmen" is attested from c. Used after the Conquest as the equivalent of Old French seneschal (q.v.). Old English stiward, stigweard "house guardian, housekeeper," from stig "hall, pen for cattle, part of a house" (see sty (n.1)) + weard "guard" (from Proto-Germanic *wardaz "guard," from PIE root *wer- (3) "perceive, watch out for"). ![]()
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