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The Stewardship of Beauty: Reflecting God’s Glory in Our Spaces

When God created the world, He didn’t just make it functional. He made it beautiful. From the vibrant colors of a sunset to the intricate patterns of a flower, every part of creation points to His glory. As His stewards, we are called to care for the spaces He has entrusted to us—our homes, churches, and communities—in a way that reflects His beauty and order.

But what does this look like in practice? How do we cultivate beauty while also exercising wisdom, avoiding both stark utilitarianism and self-indulgent excess? Scripture offers powerful guidance.

In Exodus 28:2, God instructs Moses to make garments for Aaron “for glory and for beauty.” This shows us that beauty in our stewardship is not frivolous—it is a reflection of God’s own character.

1. Stewardship Beyond Utility: Reflecting God’s Glory

Being a good steward does not mean cutting corners or settling for “quick, cheap, and ugly.” God’s creation is both functional and beautiful, and as His image-bearers, we are called to reflect that in the spaces we manage, whether it’s a church building, our home, or our workplace.

The Problem with Pure Utility

A purely utilitarian approach that focuses only on function can lead to neglect. A cluttered home or a run-down church building may still “work,” but it fails to reflect the glory of God. Psalm 96:6 reminds us:

“Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and beauty are in his sanctuary.”

Maintenance Matters

Caring for our spaces is not just about appearances. A well-maintained home or church communicates that we value what God has entrusted to us.

Thinking Generationally

Some say, “Jesus is coming back tomorrow, so just focus on saving souls!” While urgency in mission is vital, Scripture calls us to plan for the long term as well. In Haggai 1:4–6, God rebukes His people for neglecting His house while prioritizing their own. Faithful stewardship means acting now with an eye on the generations to come.

Caution: Beauty can be misused. Some churches build opulent worship centers to elevate their own brand rather than glorify God. The heart behind our efforts matters as much as the results.

Takeaway: Dominion stewardship rejects a “just get by” mentality. It seeks to reflect God’s beauty in every corner of life.

2. The Impact of Beauty on Our Souls

Beauty is not a luxury, it is a God-given gift that shapes our minds, bodies, and spirits.

The Cost of Clutter and Neglect

Disorder and unattractive environments take a toll:

  • Stress and Health: People in cluttered, visually unappealing spaces experience cortisol spikes of 15–22%, increasing stress levels (Evans & English, 2002).
  • Cognitive Impact: Children in neglected neighborhoods score lower on cognitive tests and show measurable changes in brain structure (Hackman et al., 2019).
  • Moral Effects: The “broken windows” theory shows that visible disorder can triple petty crime rates in hours (Keizer et al., 2008).

The Benefits of Beauty

  • Mental Clarity: Workers in well-lit, aesthetically pleasing offices perform 18% better on cognitive tasks (Harvard, 2020–24).
  • Physical Healing: Hospital patients with garden views recover faster and need 23% less pain medication (Ulrich, NEJM).
  • Spiritual Connection: Sacred spaces, like those with stained glass, lower stress during prayer by 27% (Catholic Health System, 2023).

C.S. Lewis, in The Screwtape Letters, observed that enjoying simple beauties—like a walk in nature—draws us closer to God. Philippians 4:8 urges us to focus on “whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable.”

Takeaway: Our environments shape us. By cultivating beauty, we nurture our souls and draw closer to God.

3. Balancing Beauty and Wisdom

Beauty in stewardship is not about opulence for its own sake, nor is it about bare functionality. It’s about creating spaces that glorify God and serve people well.

Avoiding Extremes

  • The Danger of Opulence: Lavish buildings in impoverished settings can signal misplaced priorities. Haggai 1:9 warns against such misalignment.
  • The Tabernacle Example: God commanded the use of gold and fine materials for the Tabernacle (Exodus 25:3–7), but each detail pointed to His holiness—not to human pride.
  • Fitting Beauty: Beauty should fit the context. Grandeur in the wrong setting can be distracting, while a barren space can fail to inspire. Ecclesiastes 3:11 reminds us, “He has made everything beautiful in its time.”

Practical Principles

  • Purpose First: Function drives design, but form shapes experience.
  • Context Matters: Match beauty to the setting and resources available.
  • Spend Wisely: Affordable, second-hand items can enhance a space without overspending.
  • Think Long Term: Build for durability and future generations.

Takeaway: True beauty in stewardship is intentional, context-appropriate, and purpose-driven.

4. Where Beauty Fits Financially

Beauty is not a separate budget category—it weaves into all our financial priorities as stewards:

  • Giving: A beautiful worship space can be an offering to God, reflecting His worth (1 Chronicles 29:14).
  • Saving: Maintaining a home’s beauty preserves its value and protects your family.
  • Spending: Allocate for aesthetics after necessities. Small upgrades, like fresh paint, can transform a space.
  • Helping Others: Beauty should never replace care for the poor (Galatians 2:10).
  • Enjoying God’s Gifts: Enjoying a beautiful home or car is fine when it fits your budget and honors God (1 Timothy 6:17).

Takeaway: Stewarding beauty means aligning it with biblical financial priorities. Beauty and budget can work together.

Closing Thoughts

God is the ultimate artist, and the beauty of creation points directly to Him. Revelation 21:2–3 describes the New Jerusalem as a radiant city where God dwells with His people. Every effort we make to beautify our spaces—whether painting a wall, planting flowers, or decluttering a room—is a foretaste of that eternal home.

As Psalm 27:4 says:

“One thing I ask from the Lord… that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the Lord.”

Let’s steward beauty well today, so that one day we can forever gaze upon His.

 

 

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