Stewardship as Engagement with God
I always viewed stewardship as being wise and generous with God’s money. Surely this looks like good decision-making, such as consistent tithing and managing money well (budgeting, spending less than earned, etc).
However, I am challenged to shift my view to consider my spiritual growth in the process rather than solely on the physical process itself.
“The financial decisions we make do not determine whether or not we are good stewards, but rather our engagement in this decision-making process. At the end of the day, we are responsible for stewarding what God has entrusted to us and for using it to bring honor to Him and accomplish His purposes. To achieve this, we need to mistrust ourselves.”
To mistrust myself means recognizing my sinful nature may distort anything I may do that I perceive as “good”. In an effort to honor Him, I should look to prayerfully engage with the Spirit before, during, and after financial decisions rather than just acting from my own habit or wisdom. Connecting with God in the process ultimately leads to his design for stewardship.
Resource: Boa, K, & Crosson, R. (2022). Leverage: Using Temporal Wealth for Eternal Gain. Atlanta, Georgia: Trinity House Publishers.