Stewardship-A Personal Response
Dr. Clark’s doctoral research centers around Max Weber’s The Protestant Ethic and the “Spirit” of Capitalism, and in this blog I hope to share a few ideas on stewardship as a response to Weber’s unanswered question. Dr. Clark cited Sedgwick and Weber, they “lead us, but do not answer the question “how are ascetics ordered around desire and the material?” [1]
In this blog, I will look at the money mindset that I was taught growing up. I will then propose a different way of looking at Cambridge Platonism and explain how free agency is a powerful position to establish stewardship. Stewardship is not a concept found in reading Weber and Clark. I found the concept of stewardship in Vincent Miller’s book Consuming Religion: Christian Faith and Practice in a Consumer Culture, and I look forward to reading this book further. [2] I agree with Clark as he states, “I do not seek the undoing of market economies per se, but rather how Evangelical identity might be nourished within market economies.” [3] It is my hope that my blog will put some legs and feet to Dr. Clark’s desire for Evangelical Consumerism.
Money Mindset
My hourly wage when I had my first job was $3.35. This does not seem like a lot of money, but God viewed my small income as honorable. Weber states, “the entire ascetic literature of all denominations is imbued with the attitude that faithful work, even for low wages, by those to whom life has dealt no other opportunities, is highly pleasing to God.” [4] My income has increased as I have pursued a professional career and this income is honoring to God as well but I will never forget the lessons learned in managing smaller amounts.
What I have is God’s, and this includes the wages that I am able to earn. The command in I Timothy 6:17 is clear: “Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.” If it is God who richly provides everything, what should my view be towards the wealth I acquire?
Cambridge Platonism revisited
Dr. Clark’s research outlines Cambridge Platonism. [5] I believe Cambridge Platonism may require an additional interpretation, one separate from consumerism. The following outline has provided grounds for consumerism.
1) The image of God in humanity is the goodness and love of God for humanity.
2) This goodness sprang from feelings, and these were divine in quality.
3) There was inherent pleasure in taking action around those emotions.
I believe this outline would also provide justification for a relational response to money management. How can Cambridge Platonism leave one to believe that consumerism is the end of the matter? I make these conclusions from the previous outline:
1) If we have received the goodness and love from God in humanity, this calls for a relational response in how I might use what God has given.
2) Out of the good feelings which we have experienced from God(having divine quality)I have the desire to love him in return, so I ask: how might I steward what God has given?
3) Inherent pleasure in emotions prompts a believer to action which is not found primarily in consumerism but in stewardship and giving.
Clark quotes Weber who states that this justifies consumerism as “the fusing of aesthetic and ethic is seen as indispensable to consumer behavior.” [6] I would add that Cambridge Platonism is an impetus to the believer to not only be a consumer but prompts principled stewardship and giving.
Free Agents
In the Bible, we find examples of how different people stewarded their wealth. In Luke 15:11-32, we find the father of two sons dividing his estate between his two sons. The wealth between the two of them was used differently; one son squandered his inheritance. The focus of this parable is the extravagant love of the father. In Luke 10:25-37, we read about the Good Samaritan’s example. The Good Samaritan puts a battered man on his own donkey and takes him to an inn. This man pays for multiple days for his respite care. This parable provides an example of how people are to treat others, caring for them with personal expense. The wealthy father and the Good Samaritan both chose to use their wealth to be generous to family and to strangers. They were free agents in their use of wealth.
I am curious as to how Weber personally saw himself as a consumer and able to influence those in his community/nation. Clark states that Weber, “in his own context of struggle for German national identity, was seeking an empowered self, one able to master the rationalized world and “generate selves with power.”[7] I wonder how Weber spent money from the beliefs he held. Clark writes, “Weber’s desire was to see people as free agents, able to structure actions around beliefs in resistance to the forces of political authorities.” [8] I agree with Weber’s claim about individual responsibility but I am hesitant to fully agree with his theologically justified consumerism. Weber’s position is powerful as everyone must choose how to steward their wealth from their personal beliefs.
It is wise to consider a theological view of money and how God intends for monies to be appropriated. With a scriptural view, acting as a free agent empowers the consumer to operate from a heart that loves God.
My Personal Response
Pappy’s: this is the name of the restaurant where I had my first job and earned that meager $3.35 an hour. As a teenager, I had my eyes set on the latest clothes which my parents refused to buy. So, with some determination, I pursued a job as a dishwasher. The owner had little hope that this 14 year old girl with lots of blonde hair could keep up with the steamy hot dishes and muster the grit it would take to clean the greasy hoods above the industrial stoves. I was bound and determined to prove my boss wrong. I moved up to hostess and then waitress as I earned money during my high school years. Paychecks became a tangible reward. How would I manage the money that I was earning? My parents introduced me to the envelope system. It is a money management system that would begin a life of stewardship of what God gave me. I learned to set aside money to give, spend, and save. I was a consumer but most importantly I began to be a steward.
[1] Jason Clark, “Evangelicalism and Capitalism: A Reparative Account and Diagnosis of Pathogenesis in the Relationship” (Faculty Publications, Portland Seminary, 2018), p.107
[2] Vincent Miller, Consuming Religion: Christian Faith and Practice in a Consumer Culture, 2008
[3] Jason Clark, p.104
[4] Max Weber, Talcott Parsons, and R.H. Tawney. The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism. (Mineola, NY: Dover Publications, 2003), p.119
[5] Jason Clark, p.105
[6] Ibid, p.104
[7] Ibid. p.88
[8] Ibid. p.91
About the Author
Kristy Newport
8 responses to “Stewardship-A Personal Response”
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I like this framework you laid out of being “stewards.” I wonder if within the Evangelical context, we need to emphasize stewardship in order to keep us from falling into the capitalistic trap that the money we make we simply have a right to. There’s a fine line between stewardship and consumerism.
David
I agree with you
It is good to put an emphasis on stewardship in order to stay away from the trap that Capitalism can bring.
I agree that there is a fine line between consumerism and stewardship. I think this is a good conversation about what one might need verses what one wants. I know personally, I can justify purchasing something that I want even though I do not need it! ouch
Kristy, Thank you for your post and for the focus on stewardship! I’m grateful for your angle on our readings and for pointing out that a Scriptural rooting in our spending might be a large part of the solution to our consumerism gone awry! I especially appreciated this quote, which drove home your point: “I was a consumer but most importantly I began to be a steward.”
How have you seen stewardship of God’s resources discussed in our churches and in your opinion, has this been positive and effective?
Thanks, Kristy!
Jenny
conversations on stewardship
Our church often promotes the Dave Ramsey class. It is offered at our church.
Dave Ramsey provides some great frameworks for stewardship BUT is this the end all/be all when it comes to money management?
I’m just thinking with you. Thx for asking
Hi Kristy, Thanks for your answer! Right, I’ve heard about the Dave Ramsey program and many people really seem to like it. Good point!
Kristy,
You did an excellent job of tackling the topic this week, and I especially enjoyed your focus on stewardship. It is a much-needed lesson for our younger generation I believe. I don’t often hear messages on this topic today. I too used the envelope system in the beginning and it helped me tremendously to sort things out properly.
I loved your post… my kids are just now in the stage of earning money for things so I want to draw on how you raised your kiddos and what your findings were: How can young people learn to become good stewards of the money that they earn? What would you recommend to new parents with kids in this stage to keep in mind?
Alana,
Thank you!!
It has been fun to see your postings on FB and seeing how your daughter likes to give away blankets for her bday. You are raising her to put others first, to give out of her abundance. I also love how you role model to your kids-bringing Sonic drinks to school (isn’t this something you do?) This and other examples of giving, generosity…will be apart of your children’s lives. I love how you have your kids working at Fred’s right along side you. I know how Ben has the kids working with him too. This good work ethic is a great foundation to then…spending, saving, giving!
Much like you have the kids plan their travel trips…I would encourage you to have your kids save for a specific goal.
I love the idea of matching funds. If our kids will give a certain amount to a charity-we have offered to match that gift.
I also like the idea of interest free loans (after kids have shown that they can pay off something). I believe they have proven themselves to have self discipline to pay off loans. So, why not reward this self discipline with no interest loans? My husbands parents have done this for my husband and I and we are exceedingly grateful for the savings that this gave us!!