“If we view ourselves as owners, we will live with a certain set of values. If we view ourselves as stewards, we will likely live with another set of values…
Owners value taking possession of, holding title to, and having control over. And the more possessions one amasses, the more property one takes title to, and the more things one maintains control over, the more powerful an owner one becomes.
Stewards, on the other hand, value a different set of things. For instance, stewards take joy not in what they possess, but in what they have been entrusted with; not in how much they lay title to, but in what they have access to use; and not in what they control, but in what they have available at any one time to manage most effectively on the owner’s behalf and in the owner’s best interests…
Ownership is a tremendous value in the society we live in as Americans. In fact, it is part of our American dream. Interestingly, however, it’s not particularly a value for people in the Kingdom of God. Know why? Because in the Kingdom, ownership is the sole privilege of the King. It all belongs to Him.”
Denny and Leesa Bellesi in The Kingdom Assignment: What Will You Do With the Talents God has Given You? (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2001) 69-70.