Have you ever dreaded something? I mean to the point where you physically grumble the entire time leading up to doing it? Yeah, that was me several years ago during my sophomore year of college, walking through the doors of my 8 am class. Of all the thoughts rushing through my mind the main one was, “why did I do this to myself?” I glanced around the room to find a seat amongst the unfamiliar faces. Once I sat down and began to chug my first cup of coffee, I glanced up to see a smiling professor eager to start the class. I thought to myself, “ugh, he’s going to be one of those professors.” As eight o’clock hit, the professor began writing: “PERSONAL FINANCIAL STEWARDSHIP.” Little did I know that this class, that I did not want to be in, with this friendly professor, that I did not want to see smiling so early would end up radically changing my understanding of how I used both my money, time, and my talents.
What is stewardship?
Merriam Webster’s Dictionary describes stewardship as “the job of supervising or taking care of something, such as an organization or property.”
In Genesis Chapter one, we see God create humans, and almost immediately, He gives us the responsibility of stewarding the animals and the plants. In Genesis 39:4, Joseph becomes the steward of his Egyptian master’s house and possessions. As humans, we are created in the image of God. As people who bear the divine image, we are gifted with skills that we can use to serve God in a variety of ways.
Stewardship of Time
When we become followers of Christ, our sense of time changes. What we once saw as an earthly lifetime becomes an eternity. However, the years that we are on earth are significant. Each day, we have only 24 hours to share the Gospel through both word and deed. Peter tells us that for the Lord “…a single day is like a thousand years with the Lord and a thousand years are like a single day” (2 Peter 3:8). Unlike our creator, we are time-bound. However, this did not stop Him from seeking to identify with us in human form. We understand how we should view our time on earth when we look at Jesus’ ministry. Jesus had a 3-year jam-packed schedule (you can read about that in Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John), yet He was always fully present in each moment. We see this in Mark 6, where Jesus is tired and seeking an isolated place to rest with the disciples. When they arrive, they find a huge crowd. Rather than shooing them away, “…He had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So He taught them many things” (Mark 6:34). After that, He proceeded to feed all five thousand of them.
Action Step: This week, pray for God to reveal ways for you to be good stewards of your time. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you be present in each moment so you can see opportunities to share the Gospel.
Stewardship of Talents
“As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace.”
-1 Peter 4:10
When I would hear the word “talent”, I would immediately picture singing and playing the guitar. It only took me a few months of guitar lessons and newly formed calluses on my fingers for me to discover that I did not like playing the guitar, and I was terrible at it. I also realized that I don’t like singing. I thought of myself as a “talentless Christian.” A bit extreme, I know. It took me several years to realize that God has blessed each of us with our own unique talents to further the kingdom. While I couldn’t sing or play guitar, God blessed me with the ability to relate to others, teach, and learn. I am blessed to serve the church by leading a student ministry group, writing, and helping with Financial Peace University.
Action Step: Pray that God will reveal your talents to you, and the unique ways that you could use them to serve Him. Take the first step towards serving in the area where you feel called.
Stewardship of Money
Money is a five-letter word that is deeply personal. Each person has their own distinct values when it comes to money and how it should or should not be saved, spent, or given. The Bible has a lot to say about money, and more specifically, how we should steward it. There are three ways that we can do this:
1. Tithe: In the bible, we are introduced to the word “tithe,” which ironically is also five letters, and also deeply personal. To tithe means to give one-tenth of your earnings to God. The first time that we see a clear reference to the concept of tithing is in Genesis 14: 18-20. In this passage, Abram (Abraham) tithes to Melchizedek, who was a priest of God Most High.
I know some of you are reading this and thinking, “how could I possibly give 10 percent of my income to the church when I can’t make ends meet in my home?”
2. Money Management: What we spend our money on, reveals what is important to us. As Christians, we must steward the financial resources God has given us. Jesus discusses the parable of Talents (money) in Matthew 25:14-30. In this parable, the master gives three servants different amounts of money. Two of them doubled the amount given to them through wise money management. However, the one given the least merely buried the money he was given and made no effort to grow it. The master was pleased with the individuals who were wise with their money and cast out the one who did the bare minimum out of his lack of faith. God gives us the jobs and money that we have. While we all have differing amounts, we must be wise with how we manage it.
Action Step: Pray that God reveals to you how you can serve Him with your money and create a budget. Before you spend ANY money, tithe the amount that God has decided for you if you cannot start at 10 percent. This is giving God your first fruits. If you are struggling financially, seek guidance from a fellow believer. Financial Peace University is a faith-based program that helps you manage your money. Due to the pandemic, you can currently obtain a 14 Day Free Trial of Financial Peace University.
As I exited my college classroom and entered adulthood, I took each of these lessons to heart. I still find days where I waste time, hide my talents, and spend my money on pointless things. But I do know one thing, this season of life gives us a fresh opportunity to make God the center of our time, talents, and finances. I pray that you will steward all that God has given you for His glory.
