Biblical stewardship, as a term, has taken on a life of its own. When Christians hear the term Biblical stewardship they involuntarily clutch their purses and wallets. Why? Pastors often think of stewardship as a way to increase the contribution amounts to the local church. Is there more to stewardship than making charitable contributions?
Yes, Biblical stewardship is more than giving money.
Giving money is only one element of Biblical stewardship. Stewardship is the financial management of God’s resources. It all begins with earning money. One cannot give what one does not have. We then must balance all of our financial decisions by making tradeoffs. Income is used to buy needed things, save for the future, invest in the future, pay down existing debt, and give.
Churches are often in need of additional financial resources. As such, it’s easy to focus on the one area of stewardship that has a positive impact — giving.
Recently, I’ve felt that stewardship needs to be reimagined. Are you prepared to consider some new possibilities?
Winning at wealth is inevitable for the person who patiently and persistently develops about a dozen biblically-based stewardship habits. You may or may not become rich. Excessive riches are not the goal. Faithful stewardship is our goal.
Earn More Than You Spend
Making more money is easier today than it’s ever been. Businesses that were unthinkable just five or ten years ago are creating positive income for thousands and thousands of families today.
Are you currently financially underwater? Spitball ideas to increase your income. Here are some side hustle ideas for your consideration.
Are you currently above water? Then resist the urge to keep up with the Joneses. That particular Jones family will lead you financially astray.
Biblical stewardship begins with money earned.
Genesis 26:12-14 Isaac planted crops in that land and the same year reaped a hundredfold because the Lord blessed him. The man became rich, and his wealth continued to grow until he became very wealthy. He had so many flocks and herds and servants that the Philistines envied him.
Spend Less Than You Earn
Cutting expenses is a limited adventure. Technically, we all could earn much more than we’re currently earning. Expenses can only be cut to a certain extent.
Rent and mortgage payments are inflexible. Debt payments all have a minimum amount due.
Variable expenses can be trimmed but cannot be fully eradicated.
Dave Ramsey reminds us to “act our wage!” Others state to live below your income.
Trouble is inevitable when expenses exceed income.
Before you go crazy on your expenses attempt to increase your wages. If you’re still in need of some wiggle room begin attacking expenses.
Groceries, gasoline, utilities, and entertainment are all areas that can be challenged.
Every dollar that is recklessly spent is one that cannot be used to save, invest, pay down debt, or give. Tradeoffs are required.
A person practicing faithful Biblical stewardship will plan and execute accordingly.
Proverbs 21:20 (NLT) The wise have wealth and luxury, but fools spend whatever they get.
Continue to Develop Self Control
Saving money for something is so last century. Why delay the purchase of an item when it can be had today and paid over the next year or two?
Instant gratification is the name of the game, baby!
Biblical stewardship requires self-control. Wants and desires and instant gratification need to be crucified.
It’s important to have an emergency savings account. Name it what you want. We call ours a peace of mind fund. It’s a stash of cash to be used only if the unthinkable happens.
Sinking funds are also beneficial. A sinking fund is a bucket of money set aside to replace items that we all know will eventually go kaput. Cars need to be replaced. Furniture gets old. Appliances stop working properly.
We also can save money for a special treat instead of using plastic. If you can’t afford to pay cash for vacations, restaurants, and hobbies then you really can’t afford them.
Start saving well in advance and when you have enough money enjoy the treat without guilt or worry.
Hebrews 13:5 (CSB) Keep your life free from the love of money. Be satisfied with what you have, for he himself has said, I will never leave you or abandon you.
Get Debt Under Control
Debt can be dangerous and it can be risky. I won’t state that debt is dumb like some. It is risky, though.
Some of you will never get out of debt. Others will go gazelle crazy and eradicate debt in full.
My recommendation? Determine your debt appetite. Many will always have a mortgage and car payments. Are you okay with them? If so, then focus on other things.
Credit card debt is never a wise financial decision. If you’re unable to pay your credit card in full before interest accrues you need to stop using it.
Determine which debts you would like to eradicate. Complete a debt snowball or debt avalanche and declare war on debt.
Deuteronomy 15:6 For the Lord your God will bless you as he has promised, and you will lend to many nations but will borrow from none. You will rule over many nations but none will rule over you.
The above verse is not prohibitive. Borrowing money is not a sin. It’s just not a best practice.
Establish Proper Risk Parameters
We all take risks every day. When I walk across the street I risk being hit by a car. I don’t need to buy insurance to lessen that risk. Looking both ways before crossing fixes that issue.
Biblical stewardship mandates that we investigate and evaluate financial risk.
Proverbs 27:12 (NASB) A prudent person sees evil and hides himself, but the naive proceed and pay the penalty.
Most people are naive and overly optimistic. Sticking our heads in the sand is not the answer.
Do you know your company’s severance policy? If they closed the doors tomorrow would you get anything other than the phone number to the unemployment office?
Is your will up-to-date?
When was the last time you spoke to your insurance agent?
Do you have adequate life insurance if you die?
These are the things that are often ignored but vital when it comes to Biblical stewardship.
Put on your big boy and big girl pants and get busy.
Think Beyond Tomorrow
Tomorrow is on the way. We all will one day reach a point in our lives when we can no longer work and actively earn money.
Our assets will hopefully continue to generate cash. Hopefully, social security will be liquid.
Too many well-intentioned Christians are “hoping and praying” for a decent retirement. That plan rarely pays out well.
I know far too many families who spent or gave all of their money away without investing a penny for the future. Don’t make that mistake. Preachers that speak about moths and rust without speaking about the future are short-sighted.
Investments are not expenses. When I die all of our investments go to my wife. When she dies they will go to our children and to others.
The money wasn’t flushed. It was spent on sushi and avocado toast.
Modern Christians are myopic. We’re building crappy-looking churches and recklessly spending every cent on things that are not eternal.
It must change.
Maximize contributions to your 401(k) if you have one. Open a Roth IRA if you do not have a 401(k). Contribute as much as you can to a Health Savings Account.
Proverbs 13:22 (CSB) A good man leaves an inheritance to his grandchildren, but the sinner’s wealth is stored up for the righteous.
Solomon encouraged us to think generationally.
Make Friends In High Places
Giving should be radical and revolutionary. When it’s all said and done I believe that we will give an account for our stewardship.
Jesus modeled radical generosity while on earth. Paul used it to provoke us to do the same.
2 Corinthians 8:9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake, he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.
We can build an empire of dirt on earth. Or we can make friends in high places.
It’s not my job to judge how you steward God’s resources. That between you and Him. I can provoke or hopefully inspire you.
God will judge you and He will judge me.
That terrifies me on most days. I am constantly working on ways to open new giving doors.
Jesus gave us permission to practice lavish giving in the sixteenth chapter of Luke. The master praised the unjust manager for being wasteful. Jesus encouraged us to practice giving with the same lavish intensity.
Luke 16:9 I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings.
Stewardship Reimagined
Stewardship is more than giving money away. We should be one of the top performing persons at our place of employment. God expects us to leave a financial inheritance to future generations. Whatever we spend cannot be saved, invested, spent, or given away.
Spend some time thinking about stewardship. Allow God to speak wisdom to your heart and mind and take your stewardship to the next level.