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STEWARDSHIP:
The Paulinian Attitude of Caring God’s Creation

The book of Genesis states the ultimate reason why man is the pinnacle of God’s
creation: “God created man in his image; in the divine image he created him, male and female he
created them.”1 Yet, we know for the fact that this does not mean, we are equal to God.
But God bestowed on us the power to think and the power to will similar to his own
mind and will. What does it imply? How can this attestation explain our being steward?
These things can be easily understood if in our mind we inculcate and if in our heart we
remember that it is particularly important to enlighten and arouse our conscience about
all the requirements of our place in human society. This is so that our resources may be
joined together in common effort and undertaking with all people of goodwill, to
establish on earth a Kingdom of Justice, of Charity and of Peace.

Being stewards of creation has been our call since the beginning. Yet it also poses a
challenge on the manner we fulfill it. How do we exercise our being steward? What
attitude we need to acquire for us to realize such? St. Paul in his letter to the Romans
describes the link of man to creation: “For the creation waits with eager longing for the
revealing of the children of God; for the creation was subject to futility, not of its own but by the
will of the one who subjected it in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to
decay and will obtain the freedom of the Glory of the Children of God.”2 Paul simply says that
the connection between man and the rest of creation was anchored on man’s freedom to
hope. Yet, that freedom to hope finds its fulfillment in the responsibility of love: “For
you were called to freedom; only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for self-indulgence
but through love.”3

The value of COMMUNITY is always been regarded with high esteem by Paulinians. It
is an indelible mark that as we live our life, we will always be responsible family members
and citizens concerned with building communities, promotion of people, justice and peace and
the protection of the environment.4 This is not simply an (institutional) objective but the
vision of every Paulinian that its presence in our five core values (5 C’s) is an
affirmation of who and what we are. It is our being, our call and our fulfillment. It

1 Genesis 1:27.

2 Romans 8:19-21.

3 Galatians 5:13.

4 Student Handbook, 2011: St. Paul University Philippines.

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Promotions, Marketing & Admissions Officer
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always impels us to “action working through love.”5 Thus, as Paulinians, our being
steward is a communal calling. It is a communal responsibility wherein each one of us
has a particular role to fulfill. In his Letter to the Corinthians, St. Paul describes how a
community works for Christ by comparing it to our body: “As it is, there are many
members, yet one body… That there maybe no dissension within the body but the members may
have the same care for one another.”6

The source and strength of Christian stewardship is the salvation that is so richly and
daily given us in Christ. We are given a new purpose in life and a new hope. We are
given new hearts and renewed minds. We are set on new path of life. We are freed from
our former slavery to sinful patterns of thought and action. Moreover, to the Galatians
(4:5), he says: “God did this so he could buy freedom for those who were under the law and so
we could become his children.” Having redeemed and forgiven by our good and gracious
God, we now live in the reality of that salvation. We realize that life is not just about us,
but about God’s will for us. We live now in the awareness that all things belong to God.
We are called to be stewards of those things God has entrusted to us.

What is the steward’s highest priority? The Gospel relates that once there was a Master
who entrusted talents to his servants, each according to what they deserved. The two
utilized them and even went beyond the Master’s expectations. However, one of them
hid and buried the given talent to the ground. The Parable of the Talents7 reminds us that
we are not simply to bury our treasures; instead we are to make good use of them and
put them to work. We are accountable and responsible to God for the way we use our
talents. We are expected to steward or manage them for the One who owns and has
given them for us with purpose. This is our sacred trust and responsibility. Christ wants
us to share so that with it and through it, others may be one for him for all eternity:
“Christ died for all so that those who live would not continue to live for themselves”8 and it is
His will that none should perish, “but that all should be brought to faith.”9

5 Galatians 5:6.

6 1 Corinthians 12:20, 25.

7 Matthew 25:14-28.

8 2 Corinthians 5:15.

9 2 Peter 3:9.

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Promotions, Marketing & Admissions Officer
aplappay@spup.edu.ph
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What is Paulinian Stewardship? Paulinian stewardship anchors itself by the very words
of St. Paul: “We are allowed to do all things, but all things are not good for us to do. We are
allowed to do all things, but not all things help others grow stronger. Do not look out only for
yourselves. Look out for the good of others also.”10 St. Paul recognizes the fact that the
purpose of everything we do is always for the GOOD – not only for ourselves but for
others as well. Thus, it is also important to bear in mind that the goodness of our action
is in cognizant to the importance of others to us. Man is not a solitary being. His
development and fulfillment always take place in the presence and with others. St. Paul
when he heeded to God’s call for him to be his apostle totally changed his life from
being self-centered to others-centered. His concern and love for others is manifested in
the way he suffered for them yet he says: “it makes me happy to suffer for you.”11 Paul
knew in his heart, that love is always the basis for doing everything that is good: “Love
bears all things, believes all things, hope all things, and endures all things.”12 Thus, Paulinian
stewardship springs from goodness that is born out of love.

Paulinian stewardship finds fulfillment when our priorities in life is changed and takes
on a new perspective. It is when we no longer find ourselves living only for ourselves.
Rather, we recognize that we are part of the most dramatic, exciting and wonderful life
possible – life with God and life in service to Him for the sake of others. St. Paul puts it
so beautifully when he writes in Galatians (2:20): “I have been crucified with Christ; and it
is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live, I live by faith in the
Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself up for me.”

How does a Paulinian practice Care for Creation? St. Paul in his letter to the
Thessalonians gives an advice on the importance of leading by example: “We work to
take care of ourselves so we would be an example to follow.”13 Care for creation is already
imbedded in our hearts. It is in doing such that we preserve and conserve the gift of
God to humanity. What more could we ask for? God has given the best gift of nature to
his best creation, with the command to subdue it. However, God’s command to subdue
the earth is not to dominate it. Man’s notion to subdue the earth has already been taken
into the pretext of willful egoism. The only thing he cares about is himself, not knowing
that in doing such he is leading himself to his doom. He forgets that he is a part of

10 1 Corinthians 10:23-24.

11 Colossians 1:24.

12 1 Corinthians 13:7.

13 2 Thessalonians 3:9.
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Promotions, Marketing & Admissions Officer
aplappay@spup.edu.ph
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creation. Thus, the destruction of creation is also man’s destruction. “Corruptio optima,
pessima est” (The corruption of the best is the worst). What can we Paulinians do? St.
Paul gives us an answer however, it really requires sustained strength and grace to do
it: “Be an example with your words, your actions, your love, your faith and your pure life.”14 As
Paulinians, we do not claim that we have the answers in our hand. Yet it is through our
concerted effort to be examples to all that we become models for all. We cannot give
what we do not have – yet for us Paulinians, we care because we have been cared. Our
action of caring will definitely yield thousand of harvest. Our assurance is Paul’s own
words: “Be steadfast and persevering… You know that your toil is not in vain.”15

How do we exercise our stewardship? Everything that we own – all of them are God’s
possessions. Everything we have in this life is a SACRED TRUST from God. He allows
us to use His creation and intends it for our good. The Apostle Paul puts matters quite
clearly when he writes: “We brought nothing in this world, and it is certain that we can carry
nothing out.”16 Because this is true, we need to realize that those things we have are not
ours to use in any way we choose. When we talk about Christian and Paulinian
stewardship then, we are talking about a “big picture” view of how we manage and use
all that God has given us. Some have more, some have less, but all have the privilege,
duty and responsibility. It is the manifestation of the manner we give as we have
received and share as we have been blessed. St. Paul describes that the heart of the
stewardship is servanthood of which being trustworthy characterized a true servant
and steward: “This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the
mysteries of God. Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found trustworthy.”17

What awaits us in our stewardship? When we catch the vision of our being steward that
flows from a Christ-centered understanding, we are able to put issues of our wealth and
possessions in proper perspective. They are not ends but means. They are means by
which our Lord provides for our needs and the means by which He permits us to join
hands with fellow believers in supporting generously the communal work in reaching
out others with the message of LIFE and LOVE. A steward of God is a servant of God.
As a servant of God, the steward’s life and loyalty belong to God. He is responsible

14 1 Timothy 4:12.

15 1 Corinthians 15:58.

16 1Timothy 6:7.

17 1 Corinthians 4:1.

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Promotions, Marketing & Admissions Officer
aplappay@spup.edu.ph
 5

within the family of God and a vital part of loyal stewardship including the usage of all
the gifts of God gives us in service to one another. What is the price for this? The Epistle
of Paul to the Ephesians provides a rightful answer and at the same time strong
assurance: “It brings praise to God because of His wonderful grace. God gave that grace to us
freely in Christ, the one he loves.”18

How much we can give? How much are we to give? “We do not live under law, but under
grace.”19 Each of us needs prayerfully to determine what is most appropriate for our
own situation. Because of what Christ has done, we are called to a life of Christian
stewardship – a life that reflects the goodness of God. Christian stewards are privileged
by God to live their lives in grateful praise and thanksgiving to God. This is reflected in
the marvelous truth from God’s word through St. Paul: “For you know the grace of our
Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet, for our sake he becomes poor; that we, through
His poverty might become rich.”20 To fully appreciate the privilege we have as stewards,
we need to return to the bedrock of the truth of our faith so that we will continually live
in appreciation of such. St. Paul advises Titus: “In every way by an example of doing good
deeds. When you teach, do it with honesty and seriousness.”21

What is then our assurance as Paulinian stewards? St. Paul has these words: “Continue
to do those things; give your life to doing them so your progress may be seen by everyone. Be
careful in your life and in your teaching. If you continue to live and teach rightly, you will save
both yourself and those who listen to you.”22

18 Ephesians 1:6.

19 Romans 3:24.

20 2 Corinthians 8:9.

21 Titus 1:7.

22 1 Timothy 4:15-16.

ALLAN PEEJAY MAQUIRAYA LAPPAY

Promotions, Marketing & Admissions Officer
aplappay@spup.edu.ph