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The Entrusted Life
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Bible Verses

Bible Verses About Stewardship

25 Scriptures on managing what God entrusts. A 7 minute read.

Stewardship is the call to manage everything God has entrusted to you for His purposes, because none of it was ever yours. These are the key stewardship verses in Scripture, grouped by what He places in your hands.

Read one group a day, or start with the area where you feel the most pressure right now. For the full explanation, see What Is Biblical Stewardship?

God Owns Everything

"The earth is the LORD's, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it" (Psalm 24:1, NIV).

"Yours, LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours. Yours, LORD, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all. Wealth and honor come from you; you are the ruler of all things. In your hands are strength and power to exalt and give strength to all." (1 Chronicles 29:11-12, NIV)

"The silver is mine and the gold is mine," declares the LORD Almighty. (Haggai 2:8, NIV)

"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, NIV)

Every other stewardship verse rests on these. If God owns it all, you are never the owner. You are the manager.

The First Assignment

"God blessed them and said to them, 'Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.'" (Genesis 1:28, NIV)

"The LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it." (Genesis 2:15, NIV)

Before there was sin, there was stewardship. To rule under God is to work and to care, not to exploit.

Faithfulness Is the Requirement

"Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful." (1 Corinthians 4:2, NIV)

"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." (Luke 16:10, NIV) Read the meaning of Luke 16:10.

"The Lord answered, '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)

"From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked." (Luke 12:48, NIV)

God does not ask for brilliance or size. He asks for faithfulness, and more trust brings more responsibility.

The Parable of the Talents

"Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his wealth to them." (Matthew 25:14, NIV)

"His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!'" (Matthew 25:21, NIV)

Jesus' clearest stewardship story ends with a celebration for those who put the master's wealth to work. Read the parable of the talents explained and what "well done, good and faithful servant" means.

Your Gifts

"Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God's grace in its various forms." (1 Peter 4:10, NIV) Read the meaning of 1 Peter 4:10.

"We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us." (Romans 12:6, NIV)

Your abilities were handed to you for the good of others. Using them is stewardship. Burying them is not.

Your Work

"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters" (Colossians 3:23, NIV). Read the meaning of Colossians 3:23.

"Be sure you know the condition of your flocks, give careful attention to your herds; for riches do not endure forever, and a crown is not secure for all generations." (Proverbs 27:23-24, NIV)

Careful attention to what is in your care is part of faithfulness, whether it is a business, a budget or a team.

Your Time

"Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom." (Psalm 90:12, NIV) Read the meaning of Psalm 90:12.

"Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil." (Ephesians 5:15-16, NIV)

Your hours are entrusted too. See the Stewardship of Time guide.

Your Money

"But remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your ancestors, as it is today." (Deuteronomy 8:18, NIV)

"Honor the LORD with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine." (Proverbs 3:9-10, NIV)

"Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment." (1 Timothy 6:17, NIV)

For more, see Bible verses about money and Bible verses about giving.

Your Body

"Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies." (1 Corinthians 6:19-20, NIV) Read the meaning of 1 Corinthians 6:19-20.

Your Leadership

"Since an overseer manages God's household, he must be blameless" (Titus 1:7, NIV).

Leaders in the church are called managers of God's household. Every leader, at work or at home, holds influence that belongs to Him. See Bible verses about leadership.

The Gospel Itself

"This, then, is how you ought to regard us: as servants of Christ and as those entrusted with the mysteries God has revealed." (1 Corinthians 4:1, NIV)

The greatest trust is the message of Christ. Every believer carries it.

The Final Accounting

"So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God." (Romans 14:12, NIV)

Stewardship is lived in light of the day we hand everything back. For the faithful, that day is a celebration.

A Closing Prayer

Father, everything I have is Yours: my life, my work, my money, my time, my body and my faith. Forgive me for living as an owner. Make me a faithful steward of all You have placed in my hands, so that one day I hear You say, "Well done." In Jesus' name, Amen.

Go Deeper

Facing a real decision as a steward? The Steward Leader app gives you biblical counsel for your exact situation, with NIV Scripture and next steps. Start your free trial.