Our lifestyle emerges from a worldview that affirms the harmony of all creation—a worldview shaped by Indigenous wisdom, integral mission theology, and peacebuilding ethics. From this worldview grow ten ethical values: love, justice, peace, truth, respect, humility, compassion, community, stewardship, and service. These values serve as guiding principles for living a life that integrates faith, ethics, and daily practice. When embodied in how we manage our time, talents, and treasures, these values become visible, practical, and transformative.
1. Stewardship of Time: Chronos and Kairos
Time is both chronos—quantitative, measurable, and scheduled—and kairos—qualitative, opportune, and grace-filled. The responsible use of chronos reflects respect for order and productivity (Covey, 1989), while attentiveness to kairosrepresents wisdom and discernment, recognizing sacred moments in the flow of life (Tillich, 1963). Sociological research links effective time stewardship to greater well-being and social participation (Kahneman et al., 2004). When we apply both dimensions, time becomes not a burden but a medium of purpose—where diligence meets discernment.
2. Stewardship of Talents: Capacities for the Common Good
Our talents—skills, education, creativity, and leadership—are not possessions but entrusted capacities meant for the common good. Stewardship of talent involves nurturing one’s abilities through lifelong learning and offering them in service to others. The UNESCO (2015) Education for Sustainable Development framework emphasizes that education must cultivate competencies for justice, peace, and sustainability, aligning with the ethical values of stewardship and service. In this way, professional excellence becomes a spiritual discipline (Drucker, 1999), a means to love one’s neighbor and sustain community well-being.
3. Stewardship of Treasures: Responsible Wealth and Shared Prosperity
Stewardship of treasures encompasses material resources—finances, land, and privileges. It challenges us to move from ownership to trusteeship, consistent with the Indigenous concept of kapwa—shared identity and mutuality (Enriquez, 1992). Economic studies show that communities grounded in cooperative models—such as social enterprises and fair trade initiatives—achieve more equitable growth and resilience (Yunus, 2017). Thus, wealth becomes a tool for justice and solidarity rather than domination. The practice of stewardship transforms consumption into contribution, privilege into empowerment, and possession into partnership.
The Harmony of Practice and Belief
Living by these ten ethical values is not merely idealistic—it is profoundly practical. Through the stewardship of time, talents, and treasures, each person participates in the regeneration of society and the healing of creation. Rooted in a worldview that sees life as interconnected, stewardship becomes a lifestyle of love in action. It harmonizes spiritual insight with social responsibility, making peace and justice tangible in daily life.
References
- Covey, S. R. (1989). The 7 habits of highly effective people. Free Press.
- Drucker, P. F. (1999). Management challenges for the 21st century. HarperBusiness.
- Enriquez, V. G. (1992). From colonial to liberation psychology: The Philippine experience. University of the Philippines Press.
- Kahneman, D., Krueger, A. B., Schkade, D. A., Schwarz, N., & Stone, A. A. (2004). A survey method for characterizing daily life experience: The day reconstruction method. Science, 306(5702), 1776–1780.
- Tillich, P. (1963). The eternal now. Charles Scribner’s Sons.
- UNESCO. (2015). Education for sustainable development goals: Learning objectives. UNESCO Publishing.
- Yunus, M. (2017). A world of three zeros: The new economics of zero poverty, zero unemployment, and zero net carbon emissions. PublicAffairs.
