Simple and biblical ways to show you are a good financial steward
Biblical financial stewardship isn’t a phrase to throw around just to sound spiritual, profound, or self-righteous. Financial stewardship places an obligation on you to manage money and other resources and to act as God’s steward. As you can see, this isn’t a small undertaking or something to be taken lightly if you are a Christian who wants to honor God with their finances.
As a financial steward, you need passion and discipline to manage your finances according to biblical principles. Now, I have to be honest with you. Applying biblical financial principles isn’t the easiest thing to do, but knowing it pleases God is what should inspire and motivate you to try.
Remember what Jesus said in Luke 6:46 “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you?”
Honoring God with your finances is one area many Christians fall short, but it can be done if you are really committed to following and obeying God’s word. So if you need some biblical principles of financial stewardship, here are a few to get you started.
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7 Practical Ways to Demonstrate Biblical Financial Stewardship
1. ACKNOWLEDGE GOD OWNS IT ALL
“The earth is the LORD’s and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein.” (Psalm 24:1)
The Bible makes it clear in Haggai 2:8, that the gold and silver belong to God. Also, in Psalm 50:10, God declares that every beast of the forest and the cattle on a thousand hills are his. So what does this mean for your finances?
It means you should acknowledge God as the owner and source of your money and possessions. I know it’s very easy to think everything you own belongs to you because you worked for it or earned it. But we know every good and perfect gift comes from God, and he’s the one who gives us the power to get wealth.
Without God we are nothing and can do nothing, that’s why the first way to demonstrate biblical financial stewardship is to acknowledge that God owns it all.
Once you acknowledge God’s ownership of your finances, it becomes easier to manage your finances using biblical principles.
Think about it, most times you tend to be more careful with other people’s possessions and handle them with a bit more care because you know you have to return them in a good condition. Similarly, when you think of your money as belonging to God, there’s a change that happens within you.
Instead of thinking you can do whatever you like with your money, you start thinking,” how can I honor God with my finances?” Do I spend my money like a good steward or am I careless and wasteful?” As soon as you start thinking like this, you’ll notice a change in your spending habits and what you invest your resources into.
Biblical financial stewardship can become a part of your life if you’re willing to accept God’s sovereignty over every area of your life.
2. INCREASE AND MULTIPLY YOUR RESOURCES
“His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant.You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.” (Matthew 25:21)
The “Parable of the Talents” in Matthew 25:14-30 is very familiar to most Christians but many of you don’t think of it in practical terms or how it relates to your life.
As God’s steward, we are called to make the best use of our gifts and talents, and yes, that includes our finances. Biblical financial stewardship includes finding ways to increase and multiply your finances because the more you have, the more you can give.
While you don’t have to be rich to give, it certainly helps if you’re not struggling financially or struggling to make ends meet. So think about your finances, are you doing anything to increase it? Are you making good financial decisions and investments like the servants who received two and five talents?
I know many of you think stewardship is all about how you spend your money but that’s only one part of it. Thinking of ways to increase and multiply your finances is also an essential part of biblical stewardship.
So what can you do to maximize your income? What can you do to make five talents more or two talents more from what you currently have?
3. BE FAITHFUL AND HONEST
“Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful.” (1 Corinthians 4:2) “Wealth gained hastily will dwindle, but whoever gathers little by little will increase it.” (Proverbs 13:11)
As stewards of God, we are called to be faithful and honest, unfortunately, many Christians drop the ball when it comes to being faithful with their finances.
While it’s true you should seek to multiply and increase your finances, you should do so in a way that honors God. Which means, everything you do should be above board.
Don’t cheat or take advantage of people to increase your wealth. Don’t use dishonest scales or dishonest means to get rich, instead, focus on being diligent and seeking out opportunities you can capitalize on through honest means.
Make smart financial decisions, spend your money well, and always tell the truth no matter what. This is how to be a good financial steward and a steward who pleases and honors God.
4. PUT YOUR FAITH IN GOD AND NOT YOUR POSSESSIONS
“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)
I won’t lie, being financially stable makes you feel secure but the danger arises when your finances and possessions become your source of security or when you put your faith in your possessions instead of God.
Don’t make the mistake of thinking you’re self-sufficient because your sufficiency is from God. Once you start elevating your gifts above the giver, you find you no longer put your trust in God with respect to your finances, that’s why the Bible in Matthew 6:20 says you should lay up for yourself treasures in heaven.
So keep your eyes and heart focused on God no matter your financial situation. Don’t allow your financial blessings to distract you from what is truly important– and that’s the kingdom of God.
5. DON’T BE GREEDY OR COVETOUS
“And he said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” (Luke 12:15)
There was a time when I couldn’t be happy unless I had what my friends had. No matter how much I had, I was angry and sad because I didn’t have as much as others. I am sure many of you reading this post can relate to that.
The constant quest for more can suck the joy out of your life and soul if you allow it, so always be on your guard and don’t allow greed or covetousness to live or thrive in your heart.
Biblical financial stewardship is more about what you do with the resources that you have been given or blessed with than how much you have. You must not lose sight of this very important distinction.
You can have a little and still be a faithful steward. So fix your eyes on Jesus. Celebrate with those who have more than you do but keep your desires in check because the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils and many have wandered away from the faith in pursuit of riches.
Remember, “Better is a little with righteousness than great revenues with injustice.” (Proverbs 16:8)
So if you have been coveting other people’s lives or trying to keep up with the Joneses, I want you to take a step back so you can refocus on what’s truly important.
6. GIVING IS GOOD STEWARDSHIP
“Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the Lord your God that he has given you.” (Deuteronomy 16:17)
Giving is an act of worship and biblical financial stewardship so it’s something I encourage you to do if you’re able.
Now, I do not subscribe to the way some people try to shame you into giving or make you feel guilty. The Bible is clear. Give as you are able, according to the blessing you have received from God.
Though the Bible says when you give, it will be given to you, I don’t want you to make that your sole objective. Instead, give because it pleases God or it helps someone. Give, knowing you’re making a difference in someone’s life or supporting the kingdom of God.
When you give, it helps you to stay focused and frees you from greed and selfishness. Finally, give because the Bible says you should give. How much you give is really up to you but don’t be tight-fisted or close-minded when it comes to giving.
If you like you can meditate on Proverbs 22:9. Keep it in your heart so whenever an opportunity arises to give and be a blessing, you can do so cheerfully.
7. BE PREPARED FOR EVERY CIRCUMSTANCE
“Precious treasure and oil are in a wise man’s dwelling, but a foolish man devours it.” (Proverbs 21:20) “Know well the condition of your flocks, and give attention to your herds.” (Proverbs 27:23)
One of the worst things that can happen to you is to face a financial crisis unexpectedly and not have the means to take care of it.
As a financial steward, one of your most important responsibility is to be prepared for financial emergencies. Don’t be caught cold when things go south financially.
Unfortunately, financial problems can occur at any time (though some people are responsible for their situation), so you need to be prepared. Have a plan for dealing with emergencies so they don’t destroy you financially or set you back many years.
Don’t be like the foolish virgins in Matthew 25:13 who didn’t have enough oil for their lamps when the master returned. Be wise with your finances. Have a contingency plan so you can continue to survive and even thrive during tough economic times.
Think about what you can do to make sure your finances are in order and readily available when you need it. Organize your finances, build an emergency fund, and stay disciplined.
Being prepared is a great way to demonstrate biblical financial stewardship, so I urge you to get your finances in order (if they are not in order right now).
Closing Thoughts on 7 Practical Ways to Demonstrate Biblical Financial Stewardship
Biblical principles of financial stewardship is all about following common-sense principles and managing your finances in a way that glorifies God.
Biblical financial stewardship is knowing that your life isn’t about how much you have, doing the best with whatever you have, and a willingness to share your financial blessings.
I hope the tips in this post will help you to look at your finances in a different way so you can be a good financial steward for the glory of God.
Which biblical principle of financial stewardship do you struggle with the most?
Here are some other financial stewardship Bible verses you can read:
- 2 Corinthians 9:7
- Luke 6:38
- Proverbs 21:20
- Proverbs 22:7
- Proverbs 13:11
Related biblical financial tips articles
6 Biblical Financial Principles For Wealth and Peace of Mind
6 Biblical Money Management Principles Every Christian Should Know
Thanks for good and helpful explanations on a lesson. I love it.