Written by Renate McDonald 

When I think about stewardship, I think about "management" and I think about it from the perspective that what I am stewarding does not belong to me. Therefore, it requires my best. Whatever the item, if I am entrusted with something that belongs to someone else, I take extra care in handling it. 

Money is no different.

I particularly like the definition of stewardship given in the Holman Bible Dictionary. It says, 

"Stewardship is utilizing and managing all resources God provides for the glory of God and the betterment of His creation".

We are temporary stewards of whatever we "have" on this earth. Psalm 24:1 tells us that:

"The earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof,
    the world and those who dwell therein" 

This serves as a reminder that everything belongs to God, even the money we earn, spend, invest, or give. In His infinite wisdom, He chose to give us the ability to produce wealth (see Deuteronomy 8:18) with what He has gifted us whether through talents (trade), time (service) or treasure (money). He has also provided us with the blueprint for how to manage money in a way that honours Him and serves the needs of His people while we are on this side of eternity. 

While this list is not exhaustive (there are certainly more verses that can be referenced), here are five (5) areas of stewardship that can help you to manage money God's way:

1. Mindset (see Prov 4:23; 1 Tim 6:9-10)
   • Protecting your heart from greed is vital in staying on track with God's plan - stay focused on Jesus and His way of doing life so that you do not get tossed about by every wind of change. Your state of heart and mind keeps you centred on this journey of financial management for God's glory. 
   • 1 Timothy 6:9-10 warns about the love of money and how chasing after it can lead us away from God and into destruction. Keep money in its rightful place; it is a tool to be used ultimately for God's glory. 
   • In a previous blog, "Seeing Money God's Way", mindset was heavily addressed so, I won't dive much deeper here. 
2. Tithing, First Fruits & Budgeting (see Prov 27:23-27; Luke 14:28; Mal 3:10; Prov 3:9)
   • Tithing (see Malachi 3:10) helps us keep God first. When we choose to obey God's command of returning to Him a portion of what we are given, we honour God. It also puts us in the best position to see His miracles and overflow in our lives.  
   • First Fruits (see Proverbs 3:9) means we give God our best, first! When considering Cain and Abel and their respective sacrifices offered to the Lord, one was accepted and the other was not. Cain's sacrifice was rejected by God because Cain chose to give what he thought was adequate instead of what God required, which was the first of his crop. Abel, on the other hand, gave God his first and his best, making his sacrifice pleasing to God. In today's terms, this may look like returning your offering (money) to the Lord's house before undertaking other endeavours.
   • Budgeting (see Proverbs 27:23-27; Luke 14:28-30) - Knowing the state of your finances and planning ahead honours what God has given you in your hands. A budget is a plan for your money, one that allows you to also track your actual expenditure against your planned amounts. By planning ahead, you are able to make adjustments as needed, putting you in the best position to accomplish what you have set out to do according to God's plan for you. Though Jesus was speaking of the cost of discipleship in Luke 14:28-30, the principle of counting the cost of your decisions and endeavours remains valid here.
   • Get our Quick Budgeting Guide here to help you get started.
3. Debt Management (see Proverbs 22:7; Proverbs 6:1-6)
   • Debt creates obligation and limits your options. True story: When the Lord led me to change jobs at one point in my life, my first response to Him was, "What's going to happen to my debts?!". It was the first concern I raised because the obligations for a mortgage and a car loan were significant and I knew that changing jobs would mean not qualifying for these types of benefits for at least another year. The thought alone gave way to anxiety and even to me doubting whether I was correct in hearing from the Lord. [Sidebar: Ultimately, I followed His leading and then learned that in His Sovereignty, God already had a plan for all of it, providing ways that I never thought of for the loans to be addressed. This was an exercise of His grace which taught me to trust Him completely.]  
   • Standing collateral for others binds you to them and their debt - we are warned against this in Proverbs 6:1-5. In this passage, the warning is urgent using wording like "hasten", "plead urgently", "give your eyes no sleep" and "save yourself". Putting up security for others is not noble, it is risky and in direct opposition to what the Word of God has said. This one tends to be tricky for persons to accept as we often get the question: "But what about our children who need student loans to go to school?". The verse speaks specifically about putting of security "for your neighbour" and some suggest that this gives room for parents to put up security for their children. My thought on it: seek the Lord for clarity for your specific situation, seek godly counsel and study the text for yourself to understand how it applies to you.
4. Saving and Investing  (see Matthew 25:14-30; Proverbs 13:22)
   • The Parable of the Talents in Matthew 25:14-30 teaches us the importance of managing well what we are given. This includes producing a profit and creating wealth. Two of the three stewards in the story doubled their allotment upon the master's return. They were commended and welcomed into the joy of the master. The third steward however, buried what he had been given out of fear that he would not have pleased the master. This action was deemed "wicked and slothful" and he was disciplined harshly for his lack of action. It is from this story that many are familiar with the phrase, "You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much". This parable teaches us principles of investing, stewardship, diligence and more! I encourage you to study it deeply if you desire to learn more about how God wants us to manage money. 
   • Saving and investing allow you to leave a financial inheritance for your children's children. Matthew 25:27 states "Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest". Not knowing how to invest is not an excuse for not taking action. Some versions of this verse say, "The least you could have done...", implying that if we are not equipped to make meaningful financial choices, then we should seek help from those who are.
   • Proverbs 13:22 says, "A good man leaves an inheritance for his children's children". While some debate whether this inheritance is spiritual or financial, I believe it is both. Our children learn from how we steward our lives and "our" money. Leaving an inheritance for future generations does not happen by accident. It requires planning and intentionality. 
5. Generosity (see Proverbs 19:17; Philemon 1:6; 1 Timothy 5:8)
   • Generosity reveals our heart towards God. Kindness is God's character, and if we aim to live as followers of Christ, bearing the fruit of the Spirit as seen in Galatians 5:22-23, then kindness cannot be ignored. If we truly believe that it is all His, then what stops us from being generous with what is in our hands? Include giving in your budgeting plans but also leave room in your heart for the Lord to guide your giving even outside of your plans. 
   • Providing for our families shows our faith in God. Our families are our responsibility. Being present and providing for them reflects God's love to them through us. 

As I close, I leave you with Matthew 6:33 which says:

"But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you."

God is the Creator of the heavens and the earth, the Alpha and Omega (beginning and end), the One who knows all and He sees you! As believers, we have been adopted into His family and He will provide for all our needs according to His riches in glory. Do not give in to the temptation to be anxious. Place your trust in the Lord and allow Him to guide your steps.