Being a Good Steward in a Consumeristic Culture
“Whatever you do, do from the heart, as for the Lord and not for others, knowing that you will receive from the Lord the due payment of the inheritance; be slaves of the Lord Christ” (Colossians 3:23-24).
In the Gospel of St. John, Jesus says, “I gave them your word, and the world hated them, because they do not belong to the world any more than I belong to the world. I do not ask that you take them out of the world but that you keep them from the evil one.” (John 17:14-15).
The current culture in the United States can be described as consumeristic. Consumerism is defined by the Merriam-Webster Dictionary as “the theory that an increasing consumption of goods is economically desirable. also : a preoccupation with and an inclination toward the buying of consumer goods.” The latter part of this definition is where we, as Catholics, clash with the world.
When we become preoccupied or inclined toward something that is not God or of God, we are not living the life God intended for us. While goods are necessary to survive, becoming preoccupied or overly concerned with buying lots of them can be associated with the vice of greed.
Yet, God put us in this time and place for a reason. How do we live within this consumeristic culture and still follow his commandments with intention? I think the answer lies within reframing ownership into stewardship.
What is Ownership vs. Stewardship?
When we see ourselves as the owner of something, we believe it is rightfully ours and that no one should be able to take it from us. As owners, we can essentially do with our possessions whatever we see fit.
On the other hand, if we are the stewards of something. We are put in charge of caring for that item for another person. We are still responsible for it, but we do not own it. The owner could take it from us at any time.
When we begin to think about being God’s steward, we reframe our attitude toward all the possessions we have and all the people we are responsible for. Our possessions aren’t just things we have for our pleasure; they are gifts from God that He is asking us to care for during a specific period. We can do what we please with our things, but we will have to account for our actions toward or with that object (or person) to God.
How does stewardship allow us to live in the world but keep our focus on God?
As lay people in the United States, we need to have possessions, and I would argue are probably called to work toward ownership of certain possessions like a car and home among other things. We are called to be responsible and prudent with the resources God gives us. While we should not find ourselves trying to “keep up with the Joneses,” we do need to provide for those God has placed or will place in our lives.
Even if ownership is a necessity due to the way our society operates, we can still view this “ownership” as “stewardship.” If we believe that God has given us everything we have ever had (because He has), we know that we are simply stewards of all our possessions. As stewards, we will be asked to account for all that we have been entrusted with upon our death.
Reframing our thoughts on ownership can be hard, but it is also freeing. Sure, it may sometimes feel like more is at stake: “Why is God trusting me with all of this?” “How can I manage this as well as He wants me to?” “Why does he trust me with this?” are just a few of the questions that might circle our minds. Stewardship, however, also invites us to reframe “I deserve this” to “God gave this to me.” When we look at the things we have as gifts from our Heavenly Father, we feel cared for and loved. We are less likely to grasp at things and more likely to simply receive what He wants to give us.
There will be times when we discern that we should pass on something we really want, but there will also be times when we receive something we never would have imagined. As we care for the blessings God places in our lives, we become more of the person He is calling us to be. We must surrender. We must discern. We must let go and stop grasping. All of these actions are hard to do. It will be a slow process, but it will lead us closer to Him. Everything we do that leads us closer to God ultimately brings us more joy and fulfillment.
Erica Mathews is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ Professional with Financial Counseling Associates, a family-owned financial planning and investment management firm. She helps relieve financial stress with organization, automation and a plan, helping others manage their finances so they can live as God is calling them to. She lives in Colorado with her husband and four kids; they love CrossFit, rock climbing, gardening, and exploring nature. Erica’s email is erica@fca-inc.com