A Biblical Woman is a Good Steward

by Jennifer Ponder-Pepper

“She rises while it is yet night and provides food for her household and portions for her maidens. She considers a field and buys it; with the fruit of her hands, she plants a vineyard. She perceives that her merchandise is profitable. Her lamp does not go out at night.” -Proverbs 31:15-16, 18

The words “good steward” can sound a little old fashioned. Stewardship is not a word you hear thrown around a lot unless it’s at church, and they’re talking about giving money. However, there is so much more to being a good steward than this.

To steward something, according to a Christian worldview, simply means “utilizing and managing all resources God provides for the glory of God and the betterment of His creation.” (Charles Bugg, Holman Bible Dictionary) So, it’s important for us to realize that everything we have – our money, time, talents, resources, energy, and words – is a gift from God, and these are gifts we must use wisely.

You can see from the woman in Proverbs 31:15-16, and also Colossians 3:23-24, and 1 Peter 4:10, that you have many things over which you can

be a good steward. Did you know that you have been entrusted with incredible and unique gifts? God created you with specific interests, talents, and abilities. He placed you in a particular school, family, and community. Within this framework, you can model the same stewardship outlined in these scriptures.

The woman in Proverbs 31 makes the most of her time and resources. She works to use her time wisely, without wasting it. However, that does not mean she works herself to death! Being a good steward is just as much about realizing your limits, as it is about being productive. You can better serve the Lord, yourself, and others when you take care of yourself.

You have the power to be a good steward of your body: physically, mentally, and spiritually. Being mindful of how you care for your health, what you watch and listen to, where you allow your mind to dwell, how you invest in your prayer life and Bible study, and with whom you spend your time are all important areas you can be a good steward of.

Being a good steward means making wise decisions and surrounding yourself with the kind of people who will help you do that. Like the woman in Proverbs 31, it means recognizing the gifts and responsibilities you have been given, and recognizing how using those can impact not just you, but your family, your church, and your community.

Journaling Page for Stewardship

What talents and abilities has the Lord blessed you with? How can you use those for His glory?

How are you managing your time?

How could you better make the most of it?

What are you listening to/watching/reading? Is it helping you to be the kind of person you want to be?

If you’re struggling with being a good steward of these things, who is one person you can talk to and ask for help in this area?

Other thoughts and scriptures about stewardship: