Imagine the owner of your local Chick-fil-A decides to go on a 12-month mission trip—completely off the grid, no Wi-Fi, no contact. Before leaving, he entrusts you, his trusted friend, with managing the restaurant in his absence.

Your mission?

• Serve customers with excellence
• Keep employees happy and turnover low
• Grow revenue
• Keep expenses in check

Before stepping into this role, you’d want to understand his vision, expectations, and maybe even seek advice from others who’ve managed before. Jumping in without preparation or intentionality would be careless.

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We Are Stewards, Not Owners

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As Christians, we have been given a special privilege and responsibility from the Creator of the universe: we are stewards (managers) of the resources that God has entrusted to us on this earth. We are not owners. We cannot claim anything as “mine”, but we’ve been given agency and freedom by a holy God.

Yet we often go astray.

If we are doing well financially, we echo Deuteronomy 8:17… “My power and the might of my hand have gotten me this wealth.’  

When we’re struggling, we often fall into fear and scarcity, forgetting that Jehovah Jireh (literally ‘the Lord will provide’) is our provider.

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A Biblical Framework for Money

Fortunately, God’s word offers incredible wisdom for how we earn, spend, save, grow, and give. When we align our financial lives with biblical principles, we resist the pull of the fear, greed, envy, and anxiety that constantly surrounds us in our 21^st century world.

1. Earning: Colossians 3:23-24 tells us “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters... It is the Lord Christ you are serving.” Our stewardship responsibility begins by using the time and talents we’ve been given to produce, create, and innovate to meet the needs of humanity. God creatively brings order out of chaos, and we are His image-bearers. Diligent work (whether you are in ministry or not) is a form of worship. Best of all… when we work with excellence, our children notice and learn.

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2. Spending: As a financial advisor, I’m aware that budgets are often ignored.  Instead, I recommend a simple practice: Pick one month out of the year, sit down with your spouse and your favorite beverage, and review every single expense together. This is not necessary every month, but doing it 2-3 times per year builds awareness and intentionality. Want to know what you value as a family? Open your banking app.

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3. Saving: Proverbs 6:6-8 tells us, “Go to the ant… It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest.” Life has seasons. In times of abundance, save wisely. The ant doesn’t wait for a crisis to prepare – it plans ahead.

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4. Growing: Imagine Chick-fil-A demand spikes 50% while your friend is away. But you’re too cautious to hire more staff, so sales stay flat. When he returns, he’s disappointed. Likewise, God expects us to grow what He’s entrusted to us. Wise, faith-filled growth (investment) honors the Giver.

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5. Giving: Giving breaks the power of money. It is an assault on the voices that tell you to close your fist on your resources.

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If you’ve never given before, start small. Be consistent. Increase over time. God loves a sacrificial and cheerful giver.

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The Fruit of Stewardship

A biblical view of money leads to:

• Joy in your work
• Peace and contentment in your lifestyle
• Diligence in your saving
• Unity in your marriage
• Generosity from your heart

When we loosen the grip on our resources and remind ourselves that God is the owner of and provider for ‘the cattle on a thousand hills’ (Ps. 50:10), we gain clarity, confidence, and contentment.

As our perspective shifts from owners to stewards, we pass on a legacy of faith and wisdom to the next generation.

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