In an earlier post, we defined stewardship as taking responsibility for the things the Lord has entrusted to us. We also noted that this responsibility includes such things as our time, talents, and treasure.
For our purposes today, we will equate treasure with money. Can our treasure include more than money? Of course, it can. But our use of money is certainly a big indicator of what we treasure.
Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Matthew 6:19-21
The Bible makes it clear. The way we use our money is a window into our heart. For instance, a perusal of our bank and credit card statements will show just where our money is going. This tells us what we truly treasure. In other words, it’s an indication of our allegiance and devotion.
This being the case, let’s take some time to remind ourselves of some biblical principles for stewarding our finances well.
Five Biblical Principles for Stewarding Our Treasure Well
UNDERSTAND THAT YOUR MONEY DOES NOT BELONG TO YOU
The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, declares the Lord of hosts.
Haggai 2:8
Yes, many of us do work hard for our money. We put in long hours and often are required to perform hard labor. If we didn’t, we wouldn’t receive a paycheck. That said, there is certainly an element of truth in the thought that the money we earned is ours.
But the Bible reveals a bigger picture, a deeper truth – the source of everything we earn is a sovereign God. We can, in fact, trace everything we have back to His hand. We are not owners. We are stewards of the resources God has given us. This means that the primary determination of how we use our money should be God’s word not our own personal desires.
GIVE IN SUCH A WAY THAT FAITH IN GOD’S PROVISION IS DEMONSTRATED
And he sat down opposite the treasury and watched the people putting money into the offering box. Many rich people put in large sums. And a poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which make a penny. And he called his disciples to him and said to them, “Truly, I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the offering box. For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.”
Mark 12:41-44
This widow’s gift reveals something very important about her that we should note. It reveals that she trusted in God’s provision. In striking contrast to all the rich people around her, hers was an offering of major sacrifice. One which demonstrated her faith in God in a remarkable way.
Many today fear giving because they fear the future. Unsure of what lies ahead, they hang onto their money, just in case. By doing this, they are basically saying that their security lies in their money. This flies in the face of our good stewarding principle and Jesus, Himself, warns against this thinking (Matthew 6:19-21).
Giving is a distinct indication of how much we trust God to provide for our needs.
The truth is that money cannot buy security or peace. The truth is that God is sovereign over the future and everything that we fear. Rather than living in fear and hoarding the finances that ultimately do not belong to us, may we be those who give, showing that our hope is not in the world or its wealth but in the God of the universe.
GIVE SACRIFICIALLY AND GENEROUSLY
We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia, for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord, begging us earnestly for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints— and this, not as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us.
2 Corinthians 8:1-5
The type of giving we are talking about here is typified in Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians when he writes of the Macedonian Christians.
Like the widow in Mark chapter twelve, these Macedonian Christians were not rich. Yet they gave sacrificially and generously. Sacrifice comes with a cost. It causes us to give up or delay things we want for the sake of giving to God’s Kingdom. For giving to be sacrificial, it needs to affect the way we live, influence the decisions we make, and most likely be an inconvenience.
Those who steward their treasure well are willing to give up a little comfort and convenience for the sake of God’s Kingdom viewing their finances through the lens of eternity.
GIVE CHEERFULLY
Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
2 Corinthians 9:7
God is concerned with our giving – that it be done sacrificially and in demonstration of our faith in His provision. But more than that, He is concerned with the heart behind our giving.
As He examines our hearts, He is looking not for duty but delight, not in “What’s in it for me?” but in “How can I be a blessing?” not for restraint but freedom and joy.
God wants us to enjoy giving.
GIVING IS AN APPROPRIATE RESPONSE TO READ NEEDS
And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need.
Acts 2:45
As Christians in the local church, we are called to give regularly. We are also called to give in response to specific needs as they arise.
The book of Acts is rich with examples of loving Christian congregations doing just this (Acts 2:45, 4:32-35). Each recorded instance is a beautiful picture of Christian community.
Sometimes the needs are right within our own biological families (1 Timothy 5:8). Other times they arise with our spiritual family. No matter where, we would do well to keep our eyes open for any specific need we might be able to meet. And when necessary, be willing to humble ourselves enough to let others know when we have a need. This selfless care for one another is a wonderful testimony of the gospel to those who do not yet know Christ.
So What?
These, of course, are not the only principles found in the Bible concerning money and giving. But they are a good beginning place as we think about what it takes to steward our treasure well.
I encourage you to take some time with week for self-reflection in this area. And as you do, remember that just as it is with each of the other spiritual disciplines, stewardship of our treasure is an act of worship – a response to who God is and all that He says and does.
