Being a Good Steward

God has made all of us stewards on this earth, and all of us will be held accountable for what we do with what we have been given. One definition of a steward is “a person morally responsible for the careful use of money, time, talents, or other resources, especially with respect to the principles or needs of a community or group (http://www.yourdictionary.com)/.” We need to make wise choices, when it comes to stewardship, which means we need to manage our finances, time, families, health, ministries, job’s, and all other things that have been entrusted to us responsibly.

Let’s first take a look at what it means to be a good steward of our finances. As an American, I see how my country is obsessed with attaining more. Honestly, I would have to say that Americans as a whole can be extremely greedy and selfish. Our culture has idolized the lifestyle of the rich and famous and emphasized its importance by claiming that we should aim to attain such things. Many of our leader’s and icon’s have forgotten that our country was founded on Biblical principles, and the fact that so many Americans have forsaken God leaves no question in my mind as to why we are now in a bind in so many areas. Millions of Americans are in debt because of their desire to have more, with little concern about their future. Our country is in debt because of constant borrowing and an unwise mentality that says, “I’ll worry about it tomorrow.” Being bad stewards of our finances has gotten many people in major financial trouble that has affected their health, families, futures, and even the jobs of others. I’m not claiming that it is wrong to enjoy the fruits of our labor. God does sometimes bless us and show us His favor in our finances. However, the important thing to be aware of is that we don’t take the blessing’s of God for granted by over indulging, over spending, becoming greedy, or making wealth and possessions an idol. We have to be mindful and make wise financial decisions.

When it comes to being a good steward of our finances, we need to know the important things that God tells us about money. First of all, we need to be content and make sure that Jesus is the One that we treasure. The Bible tells us that we are to be content in Christ. 1 Timothy 6:6-8 says, “godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.” At the end of our life here on earth, eternal things are what will truly matter. We need to store up treasure in Heaven and make sure that Jesus is the treasure of our heart, because where our treasure is, there our heart will also be (Luke 12:33-34).

Second, we need to guard our heart when it comes to money. If we don’t find contentment in Christ, then the attainment of earthly possessions is only a trap that will ensnare and ruin us. 1 Timothy 6:9-10 says, “People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.” While there is nothing wrong with working hard to provide for your family, or enjoying the blessing’s and favor that God has bestowed on you financially, the Bible is very clear that we are not to love money or have a greedy heart. Ecclesiastes 5:10 says, “Whoever loves money never has money enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income.” Being a lover of money is a vicious cycle that will only perpetuate greed.

Thirdly, when we are not content in Christ, have a love of money or possess a greedy heart, then money becomes our idol. In Matthew 6:24, Jesus said, “No one can serve two masters. 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 both God and Money.” Everything that we have comes from God. We cannot fool ourselves into thinking that we have what we have because of anything that we have done. If we earned our money because of our skills and talents, we need to remember that God is the One who blessed us with our life, our gifts, and our talents. If we have fallen into fortune because of an inheritance or because of the monetary blessing’s of our relatives, then we need to remember that God is the One who chose to bestow that kind of favor upon us. “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows (James 1:17).”

When it comes to being a good steward of your finances, “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 forefathers, as it is today (Deuteronomy 8:18).” Any financial gain that we have attained has come from God and belongs to God. We are only borrowing from Him, so we need to be wise in our spending. Put money into saving’s, and consider your future and the future of your family. It’s never too late to start saving! Pay off your debts and get your finances in order. Don’t overspend or be greedy, when it comes to money. Give to others in need. Tithe on a monthly basis. If you have the ability to bless others with your finances, then do it. Make wise financial decisions, and don’t put yourself in a position where you and your family will be in debt. Be content in Christ, guard your heart from greed, and do not make money an idol in your life. This is what it means to be a good steward of your finances.

When it comes to being a good steward, there are so many things that we have to consider. Being a good steward of our finances is only one area of our lives. We also have to be good stewards of other responsibilities that we have been entrusted with. Tomorrow we will talk about what it means to be a good steward of our time.