A good definition of stewardship is responsibility for and/or care of something. We are all stewards of numerous things, whether our job at work, our children, our homes, or our finances. The Bible lays out wise principles for good stewardship of our resources, particularly our possessions and finances. Without good stewardship of our resources we can fall into a number of financial pitfalls such as going into debt, failing to save money for emergencies or retirement, or even going bankrupt. Having the right attitude toward our finances (contentment, seeing money as a tool) leads to good stewardship. Good stewardship, in turn, leads to responsible activities we’ve already discussed such as budgeting, saving, avoiding debt, and giving, and is therefore very important when dealing with our personal finances.
The following are some passages from the Bible that emphasize the importance of good financial stewardship:
“Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches?” — Luke 16: 10-11
“The servant who knows the master’s will and does not get ready or does not do what the master wants will be beaten with many blows. But the one who does not know and does things deserving punishment will be beaten with few blows. From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.” — Luke 12:47-48
The Lord answered, “Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom the master puts in charge of his servants to give them their food allowance at the proper time? It will be good for that servant whom the master finds doing so when he returns. Truly I tell you, he will put him in charge of all his possessions.” — Luke 12: 42-44
Here are a few concepts we can take away from these verses:
Clearly, good stewardship of our finances is important regardless of how much we own or how much money we make. When you show yourself faithful with what you have, even if it’s not that much, you show those around you that you’re capable of handling more. This can lead to promotions at work and in the case of finances, finding willing investors for your business endeavor or volunteer project. Not only this, but the principles of good stewardship themselves will benefit your financial situation and, ideally, build wealth and increase your span of stewardship. Don’t be discouraged if you don’t have much; we all have to start somewhere.
Wealth can be demanding; good stewardship is vital. With greater resources comes greater responsibility. Wealth can be quickly burned up if not handled responsibly; good stewardship entails knowing how to save as well as invest in stocks, bonds, and mutual funds to create even more wealth.
Good stewardship can make the difference between poverty and wealth. It can also make the difference between ‘just getting by’ in life or reaching and exceeding your financial goals. What’s more, showing responsibility in your finances reveals character that can be entrusted with greater wealth and more important things in life.
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