Financial Stewardship
Updated: Jan 25, 2022
A financial steward is a person who has the passion and "discipline" to create and protect the long-term financial interests for themselves and others. Financial stewardship includes spending resources wisely. Resources include time, money, people, and property.
In contrast, antonyms of stewardship is ignorance, negligence, squandering, and waste. If you do not have knowledge and understanding about finances, you will indeed squander and waste resources that have been given to you from God.
So what does it mean to have financial stewardship in God's kingdom?
Kingdom Steward
A kingdom steward is a Christian who faithfully oversees the protection and expansion of the assets God has entrusted to them to manage...for themselves and/or others. Everything we have—our time, our abilities, our resources, our money—should fall underneath God’s overarching rule.
Giving first to God and His work is our recognition that He already owns everything and that we are tasked with wisely managing these resources for His purposes. We’re living in His kingdom (Psalm 24:1). It’s His house. And, given that we are Born Again, we are His house.
Most people don’t live by this principle. They act as if they own what they really don’t own simply because they are in close proximity to it. But God has established a world where we are the managers. He gave us authority in this world and has given us responsibilities in it.
Before we can steward what God gives us, we need to have a healthy relationship with money. Take a look at these bible verses about managing finances.
1. Whoever loves money never has enough (Ecclesiastes 5:10)
“Whoever loves money never has enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with their income. This too is meaningless.”
2. It is God who gives you the ability to produce wealth (Deuteronomy 8:18)
“But remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your ancestors, as it is today.”
3. You cannot serve God and money (Matthew 6:24)
“No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.”
4. Don’t be greedy for money (1 Peter 5:2)
“Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, serving as overseers-not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve;”
5. Whoever is greedy troubles his household (Proverbs 15:27)
“Whoever is greedy for unjust gain troubles his own household, but he who hates bribes will live.”
6. Pay what you owe to others (James 5:4-6)
“Look! The wages you failed to pay the workers who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty. You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourselves in the day of slaughter. You have condemned and murdered the innocent one, who was not opposing you.”
7. A wise man thinks ahead (Proverbs 13:16)
“A wise man thinks ahead; a fool doesn’t, and even brags about it!”
8. The plans of the diligent lead to profit (Proverbs 21:5)
“The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty.”
9. It is wise to store up wealth (Proverbs 30:24-25)
“Four things on earth are small, yet they are extremely wise: Ants are creatures of little strength, yet they store up their food in the summer;”
10. Provide for your household (1 Timothy 5:8)
“But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.”
11. Honor the Lord from your wealth (Proverbs 3:9-10)
“Honor the LORD from your wealth and from the first of all your produce; So your barns will be filled with plenty and your vats will overflow with new wine.”
12. It is a good thing to receive wealth from God (Ecclesiastes 5:19)
“And it is a good thing to receive wealth from God and the good health to enjoy it. To enjoy your work and accept your lot in life—this is indeed a gift from God.”
13. Don’t fix your hope on the uncertainty of riches (1 Timothy 6:17-19)
“Instruct those who are rich in this present world not to be conceited or to fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy. Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is life indeed.”
How Can 3LS Global Help
Assessing You Kingdom Stewardship Level
What ability has God given you to produce wealth (Deuteronomy 8:18)
Assess are you serving God and money (Matthew 6:24)
Determine if you are obtaining money dishonestly (Proverbs 13:11)
What are your plans with the resources that God has given you (Proverbs 21:5)
Do you budget your resources (money, time, tangible resources) (Luke 14:28)
Do you provide for your household (1 Timothy 5:8)
Do you know 'when' you receive resources from God vs. the devil (Ecclesiastes 5:19)
Is your hope on certain riches (1 Timothy 6:17-19)