Stewardship

Erik Raymond, an Ordinary Pastor, writes about "Stewarding Technology Well". Good article. He deals with important things like the moral neutrality of an iPhone, the problem of technology as master rather than tool, and the interruptions of "alerts". He touches on a somewhat odd premise: "My phone (and technology in general) must be seen through the lenses of stewardship."

Really? Stewardship? Of phone use? Or technology in general? Hey, pastor, aren't you mixing the sacred and the secular? I mean, sure, you don't want to use your technology sinfully or even unwisely, but stewardship?

He writes

A steward is someone who is not the owner but the caretaker. He is the one who has been given something for the purposes of using it faithfully, even improving upon it in view of giving an account. We are stewards of our lives. Therefore, everything we do should be seen in light of the reality of stewardship. Nothing, even when there appears to be nothing to do, escapes this reality.

Yes, yes indeed. Stewardship. If stewardship is taking care of someone else's property and all that we have and are belongs to God, then our lives, our families, our friends, our jobs, and, yes, even our technology fall under that concept.

Imagine a life lived with the notion that "The earth is the LORD's and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein (Psa 24:1). What would that be like?

Paul repeats the claim in 1 Cor 10:26. What does Paul conclude?

So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. (1 Cor 10:31)

"Whatever you do, do all to the glory of God." Quite an expansive statement. Whatever you do. Really? Whatever? Because you do a lot. You sleep at night and dress in the morning. You eat and work and talk to people and do a lot of stuff in private, both physically and mentally. Whatever?

Imagine a life, then, lived in stewardship, where everything belonged to God and you were merely the caretaker to the glory of God. I submit this would be a life radically lived. We might be able to see some things without difficulty. Doing your job for the glory of God seems easy to figure out. Letting your speech be seasoned with grace (Col 4:6) would make sense. Loving your spouse, your kids, your neighbor would seem obvious. But the vast majority, I think, would seem odd to us. Dressing for the glory of God may not be an easy thought. Eating for the glory of God isn't a common notion. The romance and sexual relationship of husband and wife to the glory of God seems strange in our minds. But Paul's prayer was that "the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely" (1 Thess 5:23), so I would submit that this is the principle. I would suggest that your phone must be seen through the lenses of stewardship ... along with everything else in your life. Imagine such a life.