All Bible verses in this article are English Standard Version (ESV).
As Christians, we’re called to be good stewards of the resources God has entrusted to us. But what does this look like in practice? How can we ensure we’re managing our finances and other resources in a way that honors God? In this blog post, we’ll explore examples of faithful stewards in the Bible, discuss the basic principles of stewardship, and even look at what we can learn from examples of bad stewardship in the Bible.
What Is a Biblical Example of Stewardship?
One of the most powerful examples of faithful stewards in the Bible comes from the Parable of the Talents, found in Matthew 25:14-30. This parable provides a clear illustration of how God expects us to manage the resources He’s given us.
In this story, a master entrusts his wealth to three servants before going on a journey:
- To one servant, he gives five talents (a significant sum of money)
- To another, he gives two talents
- To the third, he gives one talent
The first two servants invest their talents wisely, doubling their master’s money. When the master returns, he praises them, saying, “Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!” (Matthew 25:21, 23)
However, the third servant, fearing loss, simply buries his one talent. The master rebukes this servant, calling him “wicked and lazy” (Matthew 25:26).
This parable teaches us that God expects us to use our resources—whether money, skills, or time—wisely and productively. He doesn’t want us to fearfully hoard what He’s given us, but to invest it for His kingdom.
What Are the Basic Principles of Stewardship?
From this parable and other scriptures, we can derive several basic principles of stewardship:
- Acknowledgment of God’s Ownership: Everything we have ultimately belongs to God (Psalm 24:1).
- Responsibility: We are responsible for managing what God has entrusted to us (1 Corinthians 4:2).
- Accountability: We will one day give an account to God for how we’ve managed His resources (Romans 14:12).
- Multiplication: Good stewardship involves using resources in a way that increases their value or impact (Matthew 25:20-21).
- Generosity: Faithful stewards are generous with what they’ve been given (2 Corinthians 9:6-7).
What Are 3 Examples of Stewardship?
Let’s look at three practical examples of stewardship that we can apply in our daily lives:
1. Supporting Local Church Ministries:
- Tithing: Many Christians contribute a portion of their income, often referred to as a tithe (typically 10% of their earnings), to their local church. This practice is rooted in biblical principles (Malachi 3:10).
- Purpose: This financial contribution helps fund the church’s ministries, outreach programs, and the salaries of clergy and staff.
- Impact: By tithing, we demonstrate our commitment to supporting God’s work in our community and fulfill our role as stewards of the resources God has provided.
- Practical step: Set up automatic transfers to your church each month to ensure consistent giving.
2. Budgeting and Responsible Spending:
- Create a detailed budget: List all sources of income and categorize your expenses. Include categories for giving, saving, and spending.
- Track spending: Use apps or spreadsheets to monitor where your money is going. This helps identify areas where you might be overspending.
- Live within your means: Ensure your expenses don’t exceed your income. If they do, look for areas to cut back.
- Avoid excessive debt: Distinguish between necessary debt (like mortgages) and consumer debt. Work on paying off high-interest debt as quickly as possible.
- Make informed financial decisions: Before major purchases, research options, compare prices, and consider if the purchase aligns with your values and financial goals.
- Practical step: Have a “waiting period” for non-essential purchases over a certain amount (e.g., wait 48 hours before buying anything over $100) to avoid impulse spending.
3. Saving and Investing Wisely:
- Emergency fund: Save 3-6 months of living expenses for unexpected events.
- Retirement planning: Contribute to retirement accounts, taking advantage of any employer matching if available.
- Ethical investing: Consider investing in companies or funds that align with Christian values.
- Diversification: Don’t put all your eggs in one basket. Spread investments across different asset classes to manage risk.
- Practical step: Set up automatic transfers to your savings account each month to build your emergency fund.
By practicing these aspects of financial stewardship, we not only honor God with our resources but also ensure we’re financially equipped to support our families, meet our obligations, and contribute to charitable causes as needed. Remember, good financial stewardship isn’t about accumulating wealth for its own sake, but about managing resources wisely so we can be generous and impactful in God’s kingdom.
Examples of Faithful Stewards in the Bible
Beyond the servants in the Parable of the Talents, the Bible provides several other examples of faithful stewards:
- Joseph: As Potiphar’s servant and later as Pharaoh’s second-in-command, Joseph demonstrated excellent stewardship, managing resources wisely and saving many lives (Genesis 39-41).
- Daniel: Even in exile, Daniel faithfully stewarded his position of influence, serving with integrity and wisdom (Daniel 1-6).
- Priscilla and Aquila: This couple used their home and business to support Paul’s ministry and teach others about Christ (Acts 18:2-3, 18-26).
What Is an Example of Bad Stewardship?
While it’s important to learn from positive examples, we can also gain insights from examples of bad stewards in the Bible. One clear example is the rich fool in Luke 12:16-21.
In this parable, a wealthy man has an abundant harvest. Instead of using this blessing to help others, he decides to build bigger barns to store it all for himself. God calls him a fool, saying, “This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?” (Luke 12:20)
This parable warns against greed and self-centeredness, reminding us that true wealth is not measured by how much we accumulate, but by how faithfully we use what God has given us.
Benefits of Faithful Stewardship
Practicing faithful stewardship brings numerous benefits:
- Spiritual Growth: As we learn to trust God with our resources, our faith grows.
- Increased Responsibility: God often entrusts more to those who prove faithful with little (Luke 16:10).
- Joy and Fulfillment: There’s deep satisfaction in knowing we’re using our resources in line with God’s will.
- Eternal Rewards: While not our primary motivation, the Bible does speak of rewards for faithful stewardship (Matthew 25:21).
- Positive Impact: Good stewardship allows us to bless others and make a difference in our communities.
Becoming a Faithful Steward
At Cornerstone Financial Advisory, we’re committed to helping you grow as a faithful steward of all God has entrusted to you. Whether it’s managing your finances, investing wisely, or using your resources to impact God’s kingdom, we’re here to guide you on this journey.
Our program offers:
- Biblical financial education
- Guidance on faith-based investing
- Tools for responsible money management
- Support in aligning your financial decisions with your faith
Remember, stewardship is not just about money – it’s about faithfully managing all the resources God has given us for His glory. As we strive to be good stewards, we reflect God’s character and participate in His work in the world.
If you want to learn more about biblical stewardship and how you can faithfully manage your resources, our Let’s Plan to Thrive program is here to help. Together, we can explore what the Bible says about stewardship and how you can apply these principles in your daily life.
Let’s embark on this journey of faithful stewardship together, using all we have been given to honor God and bless others.
The mission of Cornerstone Financial Advisory is to be an engine of blessing to our clients, families, and community. Our method of accomplishing our mission is by practicing servant leadership.
We will serve and create compelling value for our clients by leading and inspiring clients to reach their goals. With their permission, we will hold clients accountable on keeping their best intentions. We, in turn, translate our client’s needs, goals, and values into a strategy, helping align their actions with their values.
