Stewardship

Let’s start with what does the stewardship of money mean? It is basically someone entrusted you to manage their money. This shows a lot of trust in you. This is exactly what Christ has done for us. Like we covered in the last lesson all money belongs to God, but he has allowed us to have a part in using it to further his kingdom. 1 Chronicles 29:14 says, “But who am I, and who are my people, that we could give anything to you? Everything we have has come from you, and we give you only what you first gave us.” There is nothing we can offer God that he hasn’t already given us. As a Christian I am managing Gods money that he gave me for him. It’s as simple as that.

It is very important to keep in mind that we own nothing. As Christians we believe that everything comes from God. With that in mind it makes us a lot more cautious with money. When we know that we don’t own our money it makes us a lot more willing to give it away. What does good stewardship look like? It looks like making the money go as far as it can. Make a plan with your money and budget for things. Don’t waste your money on things that don’t have any long-term benefit. Before every purchase think to yourself, does this purchase point glory to God, or is this something to satisfy my fleshly desires.

Investing money is another way to show good stewardship. Investing will help you grow the amount of money so that you can use it to further God’s kingdom. Let me be clear do not invest your money so that you can have a better life. The motives behind your investment are very important. Our goal in life should not be to strive to have as much money as possible. Our goal should be to glorify God to the best of our ability. Remember It’s not about the amount we have but how we used it that counts in Gods eyes.

We have spent a lot of time talking about money, but stewardship is more than just managing money. It is managing all the resources God has given you. How do you manage your time? In my personal life this is the area I struggle the most. I waste a lot of time that I could spent investing in the kingdom of God. God has given us each unique abilities and platforms to glorify him with. What are you doing with the gifts and talents he has given you? Don’t waste it. Don’t just say I will do it later. We aren’t promised later. James says, “Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will travel to such and such a city and spend a year there and do business and make a profit.” Yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring—what your life will be! For you are like vapor that appears for a little while, then vanishes. Instead, you should say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.” But as it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil. So it is sin to know the good and yet not do it.” (James 4:12-17, CSB).