Want To Be a Good Steward? Start With Getting Organized

With Earth Day this past weekend, I’ve been reflecting upon the concept of stewardship and how it relates to both our planet and our personal lives. To be a good steward is to be responsible with resources. And not just because it’s the right thing to do, but because the resources aren’t ours to begin with. Our resources—time, money, stuff, etc.—are gifts from God, and He has entrusted us to manage them. Good stewardship means using resources wisely and leaving a positive legacy for future generations.

Why Does Stewardship Matter?

1. Our resources are not our own.

“The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it.”

Psalm 24:1

God created everything, and everything is His. Simple as that. These are resources with which we’ve been entrusted, so we ought to live as if we’re trustworthy with them.

2. God calls us to steward well.

“Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops.”

Proverbs 3:9

All throughout the Bible, God commands his people to steward resources well. Even if the benefits of good stewardship weren’t clear, we can trust that God knows what’s best for us and that God’s ways are best. So when he commands something, we can trust that it is good.

3. Good stewardship leads to success.

“Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else’s property, who will give you property of your own?”

Luke 16:10-12

Good stewardship leads to more resources, which provides an opportunity for more stewardship. You can start cycling up or cycling down. Good stewardship often leads to better circumstances simply because of its nature of reducing waste.

4. Good stewardship leads to gratitude.

“But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand.”

1 Chronicles 29:14

Far more important than positioning yourself well, good stewardship leads to a grateful heart. By recognizing that everything we have is a gift from God and holding loosely to these gifted resources, we can more easily feel gratitude that leads to generosity. And that, my friends, is God’s good design for us. Our joy will be found in Him, not in our possessions.

How Can I Be A Good Steward?

Start Small

In episode 137 of The Minimalist Moms Podcast, Anne Marie Bonneau says, “We don’t need a handful of people doing zero waste perfectly. We need millions of people doing it imperfectly.” This quote resonated with me so much, because it is the fear of imperfection that caused me to write-off eco-friendly efforts in the past. The concept of zero waste sounds impossibly difficult to me. And because of that, I usually just stop trying. But that’s not helpful.

As my heart has softened to God’s call to be a better steward of His resources—planet included—I have been considering the ways in which I can change. Being a good steward of our planet starts with our personal lives. And yes, there are some eco-friendly products that can come in handy, but reusable bags aren’t going to solve everything.

Minimalism and Organization

Last week I wrote a piece on decluttering in which I frequently advocated for throwing things away. While I don’t want stuff filling up our landfills, decluttering is an important step on the path to understanding your home and your needs in order to prevent future waste. And sometimes producing some extra garbage is the only way to realistically get there.

The key to good stewardship is what comes next: maintaining a minimal and organized environment. Minimalism does not need to mean aggressively withholding things from yourself; rather, it can mean only keeping what is actually necessary for you and your family. A minimal home is easier or organize, and an organized home prevents over-consumption. Because you know exactly what you have and where it is, so you can actually use what you have and thus avoid buying more.

Buy less, and you’ll be a good steward of your money. Use what you already have at home, and you’ll be a good steward of your stuff. Simplify your possessions and your systems, and you’ll find yourself able to be a good steward of your time.

Good stewardship starts with an organized home. It’s doesn’t have to be perfect, just organized enough. 🙂

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Don’t know where to start? Check out the rest of my blog for tips on decluttering and getting organized!