Living like it’s God Stuff
Will Puckett // UGA Student & College Ministry Intern
“The Kingdom of God is here”. When I first heard our college pastor, Jon Channell, speak on stage these words my interest was peaked. As we study Matthew together this semester and learn about God’s kingdom, I’ve been asking myself if I’m truly living as if this is real. Am I using what God has given me to expand His kingdom on Earth? Am I stewarding my time, money, friendships, and talents in ways that glorify God? Or am I selfishly clinging to temporary comforts, when I should be living with an eternal mindset?
In Matthew 25, we see a practical example of Biblical stewardship in the Parable of the Talents. Verses 14-15 read: “For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property. To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability.” The first two servants took responsibility for what they’d been given, doubling their amounts. The master praised them, saying in verse 21, “Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.” But the last servant, out of fear, buried his talent, missing the opportunity to steward it well. This parable challenges us to follow the example of the first two servants—to be faithful stewards of all we have been given.
To understand stewardship, we must first understand who God is. God is the Creator of the heavens and the earth; nothing exists apart from Him. When we see life through this lens, we approach stewardship with the right attitude: we are managing, not owning, the gifts He’s entrusted to us. Let’s live like it’s God stuff.
You might wonder why I’m so passionate about stewardship. I would have to honestly confess that I have struggled in this area my whole life, and God convicted me during a conversation with my discipler last year. He shared a verse that changed my perspective forever. 1 Corinthians 4:7 reads, “What do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it?” This verse helped me realize that nothing I have is truly mine. My body, my time, my abilities—all are on loan from God, meant to be used for His purposes. Like a car lease driving off the dealer’s lot, the body I operate is not my own. Recognizing this changed how I approach every aspect of my life. Now, I want to share with you what I’ve learned about stewardship.
When most people think about stewardship, they think of tithing. While giving financially is very important, biblical stewardship goes far beyond that. Stewardship is ultimately our obedient witness to God’s sovereignty and His provision. How we handle our resources reflects the true condition of our hearts. Do you want to know the best part? Through stewardship, we get to partner with God in His eternal work of sharing the Gospel and expanding his eternal Kingdom!
If you are Jesus and you’re given five loaves of bread and two fish, you’ll probably feed 5,000 people. If you can figure out how to do that please let me know. That being said, I believe our first step in stewardship is to spend time alone with God. Praise Him for what He’s given you—whether a lot or a little. Pray that He’ll help you use it well. Here are some practical ways that come to mind in which we can steward what we’ve been given:
Financial Stewardship: Even as college students, it is important for us to give cheerfully. Tithing is an act of worship that enables ministry and helps meet the needs of others.
Time Stewardship: Serve in your church! Start a Bible study. Set aside time for Sabbath, and invest in relationships. Prioritizing time with God and others is a powerful way to steward the gift of time.
Talent Stewardship: God has given each of us unique talents to honor Him. Use yours, whether in art, teaching, sports, or the outdoors. My connection with others through sports and nature is a way I worship God.
Relational Stewardship: Share your faith, encourage others, and build community. Open your home up to host others, and use your vehicle to transport people who need help. See a need and meet it.
Physical Stewardship: Practice healthy habits! Keeping your body healthy will allow you to have more energy to do God’s work :)
A verse that sums stewardship up beautifully is 1 Corinthians 6:19-20: “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.” These verses are challenging because they contradict much of what we hear in our American culture, which promotes the freedom to do as we wish. Whatever we want, whenever we want, with whoever we want. God’s Word tells us otherwise; our bodies, time, and talents are His. It’s black and white; we either steward them well, or we don’t.
Let’s follow the example of the first two servants in Jesus’ parable, who were faithful with what they were given. I know confidently that when I see Jesus face-to-face, I long to hear the words, “Well done, my good and faithful servant” So, how can you be faithful today?
Will Puckett is a junior at the University of Georgia, who is studying Commercial Real Estate and Finance. He is an intern who serves in the college ministry at Watkinsville. He loves traveling and adventuring in the outdoors, especially when it’s with his friends!
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Will Puckett // UGA Student & College Ministry Intern