Now that you have completed this list of attributes, compare them to the attributes we identified here.
The Stewardship parables (The Parable of the Talents, Matthew 25:14-30; The Parable of the Ten Minas, Luke 19:11-27) present several clear perspectives concerning a wise steward, as shown in the list below. How does this list compare to the one you developed in your discussion of Matthew 25:14-30 on the previous page? Check the attributes below that you identified in your discussion list.
1. Convinced that God owns it all.
2. Steward, not owner – the steward clearly sees self as a caretaker.
3. Appreciates that stewardship is about more than just money.
4. Accountable – the steward understands that he or she will be accountable to the Owner for how he or she invested the Owner’s resources. The steward is only accountable for his or her investment of what the Master left in their stewardship.
5. Faithful – investment decisions are made with the Master’s objectives and best interests in mind.
6. Hardworking – the returns that please the Master come only through diligence and concerted effort.
7. Wise – each investment is a choice, one that must be made with careful thought, balancing potential loss due to high risks on one hand and the loss of opportunity on the other.
8. Expectant – assumes the Master will return today and acts that way.
9. Knows and understands the Master – his purposes, priorities, and expectations.
10. Single-minded – the steward has one consuming interest: to please his or her Master. Therefore, he or she refuses to be distracted by or entangled in anything that would dilute their performance as a steward.
11. Pursues excellence in the results of their work.
* Adapted from The Treasure Principle by Randy Alcorn