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Understanding Biblical Financial Stewardship

What does financial stewardship mean according to the Bible?

  • Financial stewardship, according to the Bible, refers to managing the resources God has entrusted to us in a way that honors Him. It recognizes that everything we have belongs to God (Psalm 24:1 -“The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it.”).
  • With this as our guide, you and I are called to be faithful stewards, using the resources in our care according to His purposes. In our caring of His resources, we have a responsibility to steward them for God’s purposes, not for personal gain.A handful of key passages are: 
    • Psalm 24:1 (“The earth is the Lord’s and everything in it…”), 
    • Matthew 25:14-30 (Parable of the Talents),
    • 1 Timothy 6:6-10 (teachings about the love of money)

Principles of Biblical Stewardship

God owns everything. Did you hear that? Do you believe it? More importantly, are you living in a way that reflects this truth to those around you? It’s easy to say, but truly believing—and living as though—God owns everything can be very different from simply “knowing” it.

We are stewards of His resources, caretakers of His belongings. Have you ever considered that your “stuff” and even your bank account belong to Him? God owns it all, and we are responsible as stewards to care for it well. One day, we will give an account of how we managed what was entrusted to us, as illustrated in the parable of the talents.

So, what principles should a good steward follow? Here’s a powerful framework based on Biblical financial priorities:

  1. Give – Support your local church out of gratitude.
  2. Save – Protect your family from debt and future hardships.
  3. Spend – Honor your creditors and maintain a good testimony.
  4. Share – Offer from your abundance to those in need.
  5. Enjoy – Finally, enjoy God’s blessings after fulfilling these priorities.

Learning Contentment

The Apostle Paul puts it beautifully:

“I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.” (Philippians 4:11–12, NIV84)

Like Paul, we should learn to live contently with what we have instead of pursuing constant accumulation. True contentment is being satisfied “in any and every situation.”

The ultimate goal of Biblical stewardship is a heart that honors and magnifies Christ—not money. We are called to pursue Christ and His holiness, not materialism and possessions. If financial prosperity doesn’t come in this life, that’s okay! God has promised us riches beyond imagination in the life to come. After all, in Heaven, God’s road-paving crew uses gold—not asphalt! If He uses gold for paving, imagine what more He has prepared for us in eternity!

 

Unpacking The Prosperity G0spel

See the last episode for a more detailed explanation. But here are the key ideas, originally explained by Ligonier Ministries.

  • Jesus purchased complete physical healing for His people in this life.
      • Teaching: This doctrine asserts that God’s blessing is shown through material wealth, success, along with perfect health. Sickness or poverty are seen as signs of sin, lack of faith, or failure to follow God’s principles.
        • But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. (Isaiah 53:5, NIV84)
      • Example: People are often told that if they are sick or struggling financially, they need more faith or better giving habits.
      • Biblical Concern: Scripture teaches that God’s people may experience trials and suffering as part of life (John 16:33; Philippians 4:12). Some of the most faithful believers, like Paul, experienced hardship, poverty, and sickness (2 Corinthians 12:7-10).
  • We will receive a present-day inheritance
      • Teaching: The prosperity gospel teaches that believers can expect immediate blessings—right here and now—if they have enough faith. There is little focus on eternal rewards or the value of suffering for Christ. Instead, the emphasis is on receiving your blessings now.
      • Example: Preachers encourage people to claim their “victory” over finances, health issues, or relational problems, promoting the idea that Christians should not experience hardship if they have strong faith.
      • Biblical Concern: The Bible emphasizes patience, perseverance, and trust in God’s timing (Romans 5:3-5; Hebrews 10:36). Many promises of reward and restoration are ultimately fulfilled in eternity, not necessarily in this life (Revelation 21:4).
  • Give to get (seed faith). 
      • Teaching: The prosperity gospel encourages believers to give financially—often to the preacher’s ministry—with the promise that God will multiply their giving and return it in the form of financial gain or blessings. This is often called “seed faith” giving.
      • Example: Preachers may say, “If you sow $100 today, God will give you a 100-fold return.”
      • Biblical Concern: While the Bible encourages generosity (2 Corinthians 9:6-7), giving should come from a joyful heart, not with the expectation of financial rewards (Luke 6:35). This teaching turns giving into a selfish act rather than an act of worship.
  • Name it and claim it. 
    • Teaching: The prosperity gospel teaches that faith is not just trust in God but a force that believers can use to create their own reality. If you have enough faith, you can “speak” success, wealth, and health into existence.
    • Example: Believers are told to make “positive confessions” or declare blessings over their lives (e.g., “I declare financial breakthrough this week”).
    • Biblical Concern: Faith, according to Scripture, is trust in God’s will and sovereignty—not a tool to manipulate desired outcomes (Hebrews 11:1; 2 Corinthians 12:9-10). God calls us to trust Him regardless of circumstances, not to demand specific outcomes (Prover

 

Key Differences Between Biblical Stewardship and Prosperity Gospel

Ownership vs. Entitlement:

  • Stewardship: Everything belongs to God, and we are entrusted to manage it, and will one day give an account
  • Prosperity Gospel: Implies that we are entitled to material wealth if we follow certain principles. There is a sense that we’re doing something spiritually wrong if we are not prospering either financially or in our health.

Contentment vs. Pursuit of Wealth:

  • Stewardship: Teaches contentment in every situation (Philippians 4:12-13), whether in abundance or scarcity.
  • Prosperity Gospel: Focuses on the pursuit of wealth and financial increase as a sign of God’s blessing.

Purpose of Wealth: A Tool vs A Right

  • Stewardship: Wealth is a tool for serving others and advancing God’s kingdom. 
  • Prosperity Gospel: Wealth is a reward for faith and a personal right to enjoy.

Faith in God’s Provision vs. Transactional Faith:

  • Stewardship: Trusts God to provide according to His will, not as the sole result of our works.
  • Prosperity Gospel: Suggests that financial faithfulness guarantees material reward from God.

 

The Dangers of the Prosperity Gospel

Spiritual and Emotional Impact:

  • Leads to disappointment when material blessings don’t “manifest” as expressed or expected.
  • Can create a “blessing-or-failure” mindset, causing people to question their faith if they face financial struggles or illness.

Social Impact:

  • Exploits vulnerable people in financial hardship, promising quick financial gains.
  • Fuels materialism and an unhealthy focus on personal wealth within the church.

Theological Impact:

  • Shifts our focus from the gospel of salvation to a gospel of wealth and success.
  • Warps the true message of grace and faithfulness.
  • Focus tends to be on what I can get or acquire and not on what you already have in Christ (not having contentment)

 

The Blessings of Biblical Stewardship

The external trappings of success are part of our Biblical stewardship. There are certainly ways that God made this world to work best! Certain behaviors and lifestyles do tend to lead towards financial success more than other lifestyles. We see this in Proverbs that the generous are often wealthy. The wise and frugal are often wealthy! 

But Biblical stewardship also recognizes that these are generally true, but not universally true things. 

There are plenty of examples of individuals who are faithful Christians who never experienced the external trappings of wealth. Nor were they ever disappointed or discouraged that God somehow failed to hold up His end of the bargain!

Biblical stewardship helps us to focus our attention on the faithfulness of God, especially beyond material possessions.

 

A Call to Faithful Stewardship

“Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much” (Luke 16:10, NIV84)  

In light of this passage, where these words come directly from our Savior, financial stewardship is far more than budgeting wisely or making careful investments—it’s a reflection of our faithfulness to God.

By handling even small financial resources with integrity, we demonstrate our trustworthiness before the Lord, who not only observes how we manage what we have but also considers the heart behind it.

Honoring God in small matters—whether being responsible with a modest income or giving generously, even when resources are limited—shows our faith in God’s provision and reflects an understanding of the blessings that can follow our obedience as stewards (though the blessings are not our main focus).

As faithful financial stewards, we strengthen our trust in God’s provision and grow our capacity to handle more for His kingdom purposes, as illustrated in the Parable of the Talents. Let’s commit to honoring Him with all we have, big or small, trusting that He sees our faithfulness and will bless it in His perfect way and timing, whether here on earth or in the rewards of Glory!

 

Next Steps

 

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