The word “stewardship” sometimes causes a sense of dread, kind of like when some people hear the word “work”. However, stewardship is not a 4-letter word! In reality, stewardship is a biblical principle that helps us to increase.
Being a good steward does not mean walking around with a lack mentality. We don’t look at every financial decision and say, “I can’t do that with my money. I can’t afford it because I’m trying to be a good steward!” Stewardship doesn’t mean always buying the scratchy toilet paper and reusing your dental floss. Stewardship isn’t using your empty whipped cream containers as your new tupperware set or turning your old pair of jeans into a stylish new handbag!
In truth, biblical stewardship is simply making financial decisions based on the leading of the Holy Spirit. Matthew 6:24 tells us that we can’t serve two masters, that we cannot serve both God and money. If our decisions are made based on whether or not we can “afford” to do something, we are being led by our finances, not by God.
For example, God says, “Go on a mission trip to Indonesia,” and you reply, “God, I can’t do that: I don’t have the money! My boss won’t give me two weeks off to travel to the other side of the world for a mission trip. I’ll get fired if I go! Then how will I pay my bills?” In this scenario, who is the master: God or money?
Stewardship Leads to Prosperity
“For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away.” – Matthew 25:29
When you look at the life of a believer who is walking in godly prosperity, you will see a person who is a good steward of what they have been given.
Yes, God is the God of abundance, of supernatural provision, the God of more than enough: El Shaddai not “El Cheapo”! God has unlimited resources for us. Yet, He is also a God of stewardship, and He doesn’t like waste. Let’s take a look at a few examples of God’s perspective of this principle:
Mark 8:19 – After Jesus fed the 4,000 and 5,000, they collected up all the fragments. Even though there was an overwhelmingly abundant supernatural provision, there was no waste either.
2 Kings 6:4-7 – When a borrowed axe broke, and the iron head fell into the river, Elisha tossed in a stick, and the axe head floated to the top!
Matthew 25:14-29 – The unjust steward took the money he had been given and buried it, rather than investing it. God wants us to use wisely what we have been given, not hide it in the ground in fear.
2 Kings 4:1-7 – A widow woman had a tiny jar of oil, but great financial need. The oil kept flowing until all the jars were full, and then it stopped. Not one drop of oil was wasted on the ground.
Grace to be a Good Steward
Now, we aren’t highlighting this principle of stewardship to bring condemnation! We want to encourage you that if you have not been the best steward of the resources you have been given you can start today. Rely on the grace of God to follow His direction and enable you to use wisdom in your finances and any other resources He has given you.
Philippians 2:13 says, “[Not in your own strength] for it is God Who is all the while effectually at work in you [energizing and creating in you the power and desire], both to will and to work for His good pleasure and satisfaction and delight” (AMPC).
God doesn’t want to take anything from you, He wants to get His limitless resources to you!
How to Attack Lack
God doesn’t want you to have any lack in your life! Your prosperity was paid for by Jesus as part of the atonement, but let’s face it-we don’t always experience it. If you’re experiencing lack, don’t feel condemned. It’s time to attack it! This 20-part series will give you practical and spiritual principles to help you get out of debt and lead a life of abundance with plenty left over to help others.
Buy USB
Buy MP3 Download
Listen or Watch Now!