Steward Other People Well
One of our greatest wants and desires as people is to be heard… for our voices to matter… for us to matter.
So, one of the greatest things we can do for others is slow down and be attentive to them the same way Christ was. In stewarding other people well, it is our responsibility to listen to them. Like, really listen to them. Try to hear their hearts, and then respond in a way that shows them they’ve been heard, what they say matters, who they are matters, that they have value, and that we want to help meet their needs. This is what it means to steward others and love them well.
He told many stories in the form of parables, such as this one: “Listen! A farmer went out to plant some seeds. As he scattered them across his field, some seeds fell on a footpath, and the birds came and ate them. Other seeds fell on shallow soil with underlying rock. The seeds sprouted quickly because the soil was shallow. But the plants soon wilted under the hot sun, and since they didn’t have deep roots, they died. Other seeds fell among thorns that grew up and choked out the tender plants. Still other seeds fell on fertile soil, and they produced a crop that was thirty, sixty, and even a hundred times as much as had been planted! Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand.” Matthew 13:3-9
“The seed that fell on good soil represents those who truly hear and understand God’s word and produce a harvest of thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times as much as had been planted!” Matthew 13:23
Stewardship is not just of our time, talents, and treasures. It is, most importantly, of other people. This seems to be what God cares most about when teaching us lessons on stewardship. After all, the treasures God stores up in Heaven are PEOPLE!
Webster’s dictionary defines stewardship as “the careful and responsible management of something entrusted into one’s care.” So, when we act in the role of a steward, it means we’ve been entrusted with something that doesn’t belong to us. According to Christianity.com, in Biblical terms, stewardship is "utilizing and managing all resources God provides for the glory of God and the betterment of His creation."
We have an impact on those around us, and good stewardship of people, and the other resources God provides, is how we can be sure to have a loving impact on them.
Our mission at Kitchen One for One is to feed our neighbors in need, or “Fill and Be Filled”. We accomplish it with delicious food and the love of God. We accomplish it by taking care of others. We accomplish it by stewarding other people well.
