Biblical Principles to Guide Your Stewardship Journey
As Christians, we believe the Bible is our ultimate guide for life—and when it comes to money, it offers a wealth of wisdom. From cover to cover, Scripture speaks often and clearly about finances, stewardship, generosity, contentment, and trust in God’s provision. The more we align our financial decisions with biblical principles, the more peace, purpose, and joy we can experience in managing the resources God has entrusted to us.
In this article, we’ll explore six timeless financial principles found in Scripture. These truths not only help us navigate today’s complex financial world, but also draw us closer to God's heart and purpose for our money. Let’s take a closer look at how biblical stewardship can transform both our finances and our faith.
1. God’s Sovereign Ownership & Our Stewardship
Genesis 1:1; Psalm 24:1; Psalm 50:9-12; Jeremiah 27:5; Haggai 2:8
Genesis 1:1 tells us that God made everything. Since he made everything, he owns everything. He has a purpose for everything he has made and we need to seek his purposes instead of our own. This is the foundation of biblical stewardship. (link to stewardship article after it’s posted in October) Stewardship is the idea that God owns everything we have and we are only managing it on his behalf.
What does that mean in our modern lives? It means that when we make financial decisions, we should be asking “What does God want me to do with this money?” rather than “What do I want to do with this money?” We should treat our money, and therefore how we think of it and use it, as if it belongs to someone else—God.
2. Contentment Comes From God, Not Our Circumstances
Psalm 23:1; Philippians 4:11-13; 1 Timothy 6:6-8; Hebrews 13:5; Luke 12:15
The Apostle Paul discusses the power of contentment and commands Timothy to teach it in 1 Timothy 6. He says that as long as we have food and clothing, we should be content with that. He wrote in Philippians that the secret to being content in every situation is God. Contentment doesn’t come naturally but is something that must be learned not only when we lack but even when we have plenty.
This is a much-needed principle today, as the marketing industry preys upon our discontent. We need to recognize that our contentment can never come from what we have but only by fixing our eyes on Jesus Christ as the one who sustains us no matter our circumstances.
3. Generosity Should Be A Priority With Jesus As Our Example
John 3:16; 2 Corinthians 9:11; 1 Timothy 6:18; Proverbs 3:9-10; Proverbs 11:24-25
One of the most well-known Bible verses of all time is John 3:16 which talks about how God gave his son and Jesus gave his life. Giving is a major theme in the Bible. God asks us to give and Jesus models it for us.
That means giving shouldn’t be an afterthought, something that we do when we have money left over at the end of the month. We were not an afterthought for Jesus but rather his priority. In the same way, we need to prioritize generosity in our budgets and lifestyles and we can look to him for inspiration and direction.
4. We Can’t Trust Wealth, Only God
1 Timothy 6:17; Mark 10:23-25; Matthew 6:25-34; Matthew 16:26; 2 Corinthians 9:6-8
There are many warnings in the Bible about the uncertainty of wealth and the danger of putting our hope in it. While our wealth may be able to provide us with fancy cars and delicious food, it will not get us the things that truly matter. That only comes from God.
How can we apply this to our lives today? It’s all about focus. Where is your focus? Are you focusing on the things you have or your ability to earn money to give you a sense of accomplishment or security? The Bible tells us that it can all disappear in an instant. We need to fix our eyes on and trust in God and check ourselves from time to time. Ask yourself:
- If I lost all of my wealth and possessions, would I still be ok in Jesus?
- Do I look to the balance of my 401(k) and savings account for security or to Christ?
5. Avoiding Debt Is Wise
Proverbs 22:7; 1 Corinthians 7:23; Proverbs 22:26-27; Romans 13:8; Psalm 37:21
The Bible never says that borrowing is a sin. It does say that it makes you a slave and puts your possessions at risk. When you borrow money, you deny God the opportunity to provide and often bring worry, anxiety, and even marital strife into your household. Sometimes, debt is symptomatic of a spiritual issue, such as discontent, greed, or finding your identity in the wrong things. The Bible also commands us to repay our debts, so it can destroy our testimony if we fail to do so.
This is one of the more straightforward biblical principles to apply in our lives. Do everything in your power to live within your means and avoid debt. If you have debt, commit yourself to keeping your word and paying it back. Doing so both honors God and is good for your bottom line.
6. We Should Look Ahead & Prepare For The Future
Proverbs 6:6-11; 1 Corinthians 16:2; Proverbs 22:3; Proverbs 24:27
The Bible tells us countless times to look ahead and prepare for the future. The writer of Proverbs goes so far as to say not doing so makes you dumber than an ant. He says in Proverbs 22:3 that if we are not prudent in employing foresight we will pay the penalty for it. The Apostle Paul doesn’t just issue warnings, he provides step-by-step instructions to help the Corinthians prepare for the future by setting aside money on the first day of each week.
Despite our government’s social safety nets, it is still prudent and necessary to follow this biblical principle and prepare for the future. Having foresight and preparation can take many forms in today’s world. Purchasing relevant insurance is one way of avoiding the penalty for not preparing for losses. Saving for retirement, or a time when you are unable to work, is another way to put this principle into practice. Even just saving for short-term expenses such as car repairs and vacations is an important step that will help you avoid debt, which we addressed above.
In America’s complex financial system, it can be hard to know how to prepare for the future or whether or not you are prepared. A comprehensive financial plan is an excellent way to see how well-prepared you are and learn about ways to become better prepared. As you can see in our sample financial plans, we address every area of preparing for the future, from cash flow management to retirement savings and investing to insurance. If you’re serious about applying biblical principles to your stewardship journey, a comprehensive financial plan may be just the tool you need. Schedule a free introductory phone call today to learn more about how we can help you on your stewardship journey and partner with you in living according to biblical principles.
About Guide Financial Planning
Guide Financial Planning is led by founder Ben Wacek, who is a Christian fee-only Certified Financial Planner® and Certified Kingdom Advisor®. He has a passion for helping people of all income levels make wise financial decisions and steward their resources from an eternal perspective using Biblical principles. Based in Minneapolis, MN, he works with clients both locally and virtually throughout the country and abroad. You can follow the links to learn more about Guide Financial Planning and our team and the services we offer.