Beloved Community Through the Eyes of Stewardship
Indianapolis First Friends Quaker Meeting
Pastor Bob Henry
November 2, 2025
Good morning, Friends, and welcome to Light Reflections. This morning we return to our series on Beloved Community and this week look at it through the eyes of Stewardship. The scripture I have chosen to support my message is from 1 Peter 4:10 from the New Revised Standard Version.
Like good stewards of the manifold grace of God, serve one another with whatever gift each of you has received.
Growing up in the church, I heard a lot about Stewardship. Most of the time, I noticed that the word made people uncomfortable, especially when it came from our pulpit. Often it was synonymous with giving to the church or that word we as Quakers do not talk much about – tithing – giving a percentage of what one makes to the church – usually at least 10%.
When I became serious about being a Quaker, I began having more questions and expanded my understanding of what stewardship really means. I had a Quaker mentor who taught me that early Quakers refused to pay compulsory tithes to the Church of England and believed the practice to be based on the Old Testament Mosaic Law. Early Quakers understood this practice under Old Testament Law to be abolished by Jesus. My mentor also informed me that instead of a fixed 10% tithe which was commonly accepted among many churches, Quakers practice what we call “financial stewardship” by freely and voluntarily giving what we believe is needed to support our religious community – and it doesn’t have to be just financial.
What I have learned in my 30 years of ministry is that to understand stewardship in this perspective, we need to consider it from a much larger, all-encompassing perspective; one that drives us to see the entirety of our lives within the context of stewardship. This is why Quakers have always included it in our testimonies and even added it as the final “S” in our SPICES.
Dr. Phil Gelatt of CACE a group that studies new perspectives on stewardship enlightened me on what stewardship from a much larger, all-encompassing perspective would look like.
Unfortunately, when we consider stewardship this way, we often tend to fall on one side or the other as it relates to the concept of self.
On one side are those who focus on their own desires and what is best for them. In other words, they act selfishly.
And on the other side are those who attempt to eliminate any consideration of self and act completely altruistically.
Those seem to be our two choices: selfishness or selflessness.
The first choice comes into conflict with what we see in scripture and especially the life Jesus modeled for us to follow.
The second seems out of reach and unrealistic, but it also denies the truth about each of us – that we are to live and serve out of the unique mix of gifts, strengths, passions, and experiences that God has gifted us with and called us to use.
To live selflessly might indeed eliminate the very thing or things about us that lead to a fulfilling, fruitful, and God-glorifying life.
This is where Dr. Gelatt offers a new and important perspective. He says,
“Not “selfishness” versus “selflessness.” Rather “self-fullness” – “the simultaneous pursuit of reasonable self-interest and reasonable concern for the common good”
It is “fully developing and utilizing one’s God-given talents, but it also accommodates the desire to serve.”
It is “living fully” and “serving fully.”
This idea of stewardship is found in 1 Peter 4:10 (our scripture for today) “As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.”
Paul, in 1 Thessalonians 4:11, writes that we are to “attend to our own business,” a warning against being busy-bod, but also an encouragement to a…transformed view of self-awareness. We are called to live lives of self-fullness, to bring all that Christ has made us to be to each and every situation that we find ourselves in – at home, at work, in our neighborhoods, and at our churches.”
Not selfishness or selflessness, but self-fullness – bringing all that God has made each of us to be and bringing our FULL SELVES to every endeavor. Whether it's our profession, our creativity, our leadership, even our acts of kindness, in all that we do we are being called to utilize our full selves.
I think to understand this, we may need to take a look at an example. Matt Holderness helped shape my understanding of what all it means to embrace our self-fullness. He uses Christ as an example – going as far as calling him, “Jesus the Good Steward.” He pointed out 5 things that I want to share and expand upon this morning.
1. Use your God-given abilities
Christ taught a lot about how we should steward everything in life. One such example is the ‘Parable of the Talents’ in Matthew 25:14-30. It’s a powerful narrative illustrating the key principles of stewardship. In the parable, a master entrusts his servants with talents (a form of currency) before going on a journey. The servants who wisely invest and multiply their talents are praised upon the master's return, while the one who buries his talent is rebuked.
Christ uses this parable to convey the importance of using one's God-given abilities and resources for the benefit of the Beloved Community.
The lesson goes beyond financial matters; it extends to the skills, time, and opportunities we have generally in life – this is embracing the self-fullness of stewardship. Christ encourages us to actively engage with these gifts bestowed upon us by God and to use them responsibly for the growth of his Beloved Community.
2. Serve the needs of others
Christ’s act of washing his disciples’ feet in John 13 shows us that stewardship is about serving others, no matter how lowly the task.
Philippians 2:5-11 reminds us that Jesus’ whole life, from birth to death, was one of self-giving service. In the same way, true stewardship isn’t about status or recognition, but about humbly caring for others.
Christ’s life not only demonstrates humility but also the essence of being a good steward. Jesus, the ultimate steward of humanity exemplifies the importance of selfless service. In stewarding the basic ability of washing another’s feet he sets the example of serving others with deep love and humility that mirrored his entire mission – a true picture of self-fullness manifest in our world.
3. Make the most of your time
Throughout the Gospels, Christ consistently shows compassion and care for the marginalized, the sick, and the needy. He primarily does this by making time for them. Jesus made time for the marginalized and hurting, showing that good stewardship isn’t just about talents or money, but how we prioritize people in our daily lives. We never read about Jesus wasting a moment, everything is always carried out with impeccable timing.
While we may struggle to achieve a similar level, the principle to note is that good stewardship extends beyond personal talents, resources and even basic abilities. A compassionate and caring attitude towards others will often cost us the most in terms of our time. In imitating Christ, we’re called to be a good steward of love and justice by spending time actively engaging in the well-being of others around us.
4. Be prepared for sacrifice
The pinnacle of Jesus' stewardship is found in his sacrificial death – giving his life for the cause. In Mark 10:45, Jesus states, "For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many".
This profound statement encapsulates the sacrificial nature of Jesus' mission on Earth.
His death represents the ultimate act of being a good steward and embracing self-fullness. Stewardship isn’t always easy. Sometimes, it calls for sacrifice—putting others before ourselves and giving generously.
5. Care for the environment
As Quakers, we often say the last “S” in our SPICES or testimonies can also be seen as “sustainability” because stewardship encompasses everything –including the creation all around us.
In returning to the early chapters of Genesis we note that humans are given the responsibility to rule (or steward) the earth. This charge implies a role of caretakers or stewards, responsible for maintaining the harmony and balance of the created world. I bet that is not how you heard stewardship growing up.
Let me repeat that: You and I are responsible for maintaining the harmony and balance of the created world.
As Brian McLaren says so well in his poem, God’s Sacred Ecosystem:
Seek first God’s sacred ecosystem.
Stop being a king … become a creature in God’s pasture.
Stop being a neurotic suburbanite, rushing from one man-made box to another … return to your place in God’s sacred ecosystem.
Stop being a frantic consumer or political operator … return to your place in God’s sacred ecosystem.
Insanity … de-rangement. Out of range.
Like a polar bear in Sahara.
Like a dolphin in Kansas.
Like a Moose in Dupont Circle.
Like a Walrus in Texas.
Not where you belong.
Lost. Displaced. De-ranged.
We need to be re-ranged, re-arranged, put back in our right place, in relationship to God, our neighbor, stranger, and enemy – and in relation to all God’s creations.
Find our place not in humanity’s artificial systems, but in God’s sacred ecosystem.
A couple weeks ago, Jed Kay and I met up to catch up on our lives and families over a five and a half mile walk through Ritchey Woods Nature Preserve in Fishers. At first, the terrain and paths seemed a bit challenging to keeping a conversation going, but soon, we both found our rhythm, stride, and balance with the natural settings. We became re-arranged, put back in our right place, in relationship to each other, to God, and especially to nature. Afterward, we said how good it was and how being in nature opens us up to deeper connection without all the worldly distractions. This was an example of us embracing self-fullness, building beloved community, and learning to maintain the harmony and balance of the created world – and all we did was take a long walk and have a conversation together.
This is only one example, but I am sure you can think of many others.
Now, since, we are wanting to see the Beloved Community through the Eyes of Stewardship this morning, let’s take a brief look at what that entails.
Stewardship provides the practical and ethical framework for building the Beloved Community. Actually, it too is an umbrella over all of our testimonies or SPICES – in much the same way as I explained togethering or community. The act of stewarding is a way of actually enacting the values of simplicity, peace, integrity, community, equality within the Beloved Community.
Stewardship also helps align financial resources and actions with the core values of justice, equity, and compassion that also define the Beloved Community. When we take the time to focus on our neighbors and those in need around us, justice and equity, and our compassionate response become our way embracing our self-fullness.
In the end, what I am suggesting is that together, a shared responsibility, to care for one another and the world, ensuring that our actions are aimed at fostering a more just and loving society for everyone is not only the impetus for our stewardship but also for us embracing our self-fullness for the sake of the Beloved Community.
So, as I have done each week in this series, I now, want to offer you a set of practical things you can do to embrace your self-fullness and begin to take action in a manner that models faithful and compassionate stewardship.
1. Cultivate generosity: Stewardship in our lives should foster a spirit of generosity, where you and I use our resources to benefit others. This principle directly counters the greed and selfishness that is prevalent in our world today and is preventing Beloved Community from forming.
Advance justice: Stewardship calls us to oppose injustice and address the needs of the marginalized, such as the hungry, homeless, immigrant, widow, hurting, and wrongfully accused…and so many more.
Do your part in environmental healing: Practicing stewardship of creation means working to protect the environment and combat environmental racism. A healthy planet is a prerequisite for a flourishing community, and neglect of the environment impacts vulnerable communities first. If you want to know more about this ask Friend Mary Blackburn or someone from Indiana Friends Committee on Legislation (IFCL) more about what you can do.
Encourage hospitality and listening: Stewardship of relationships requires us to practice radical hospitality, listen to those from different backgrounds, and embrace diverse perspectives. This works to transform our communities from segregated groups into inclusive, harmonious spaces. I appreciate our Connections Committee for working on building relationships last week through our Connections Bingo – these are the first steps to transforming our communities.
Shift from ownership to management: Our mindset should acknowledge that all resources belong to God and that means replacing a posture of selfish ownership with one of responsible management. This framework promotes equality and sharing, ensuring resources are distributed fairly for the common good.
So now, as we enter a time of waiting worship and ponder what we will do to be better stewards in our world, take a moment to consider the following queries:
· Which one do I struggle with the most – selfishness, selflessness, or self-fullness? How might I bring all that God has made me to be and my FULL SELF to every endeavor?
· What gifts or resources is God calling me to utilize for the benefit of our Beloved Community?
· Where do I need to be re-ranged, re-arranged, put back in my right place, in relationship to God, my neighbor, stranger, and enemy – and in relation to all God’s creations?