Good Money Stewardship-What does the Bible Say?

18 minutes read time

Do you wish you were better with your money? Do you feel like you never have enough? Then look no further than the Bible for the right advice and strategies. What does the Bible say about being good stewards of our money? This blog post explores the main ways that God asks us to be good steward’s through his word in the Bible and how you can apply these principles to your every day life.

What is Biblical stewardship?

The Bible contains all the wisdom you need to have a better relationship with your money and ‘steward’ it well. The meaning of the word steward in ancient times was associated with the person who managed the affairs of the household. We are essentially managing God’s resources in his ‘earth’ household.

Good Money Stewardship-What does the Bible say?

The biblical principles of financial stewardship apply to our talents, gifts, our God-given resources, and our money. God cares about your financial situation and what you do with your money. Stewardship is a spiritual discipline and God cares how you manage it and how you invest it. He wants you to be a wise manager over your money. We know it’s important to God because there are over 2000 verses related to money in the Bible- more verses than both faith and prayer.

Read these principles of good money stewardship to help transform your relationship with money. 

What does the Bible say about being good stewards of our money?

1. Acknowledge that everything good comes from God

It’s easy to be pleased with ourselves when we achieve something good, but we don’t accomplish anything by ourselves. I love it when I hear a celebrity thank God out loud, or when a professional footballer after scoring a goal, looks up to the sky and mouths a prayer of thanks after scoring a goal. It’s an acknowledgement that everything good comes from God.

It all comes from God

All our talents, gifts, opportunities, and money come from God. We are here to use and steward them well-and honour God in the process. Don’t forget to give God the credit and thank him. Life’s true riches come from God.

Your money or God’s money?

In the same way, we can see our money as God’s money. It comes from him. When you view it as God’s money it helps you make better money decisions. Would God want me to put my money there? Would God want me to spend my money on that? Does God want me to work and earn money for that company? It’s a different way to look at your money and helps you be more discerning with your every day and long term choices.

What if your answer is no?

If you know there are financial areas in your life where it doesn’t align with God’s way, then bring it to God in prayer. He will always provide an answer- this often involves some practical work on your part but once your eyes have been opened do everything you can to fall back into God’s will and principles. 

2. Assess your Attitude

Assess your attitude, how you think about money, and what you do with it. Our attitude can affect how we act and react. Our attitude can also be formed from childhood or other people. Be careful what you tell yourself (and be aware of negative thought patterns that you may hold about money that don’t align with God.)

Money is often called the root of all evil, but money itself is just a wonderful resource to be used wisely. It’s our attitude to money that causes a lot of our problems, not the money itself.

3. Manage your money responsibly

God calls us to manage all his resources well and that includes our money. No matter where you are in your money journey God wants you to thrive and knowing his principles on money and wealth will mean you do just that. It might take you time, but doing it God’s way will always lead to abundance and blessing. Manage your money responsibly- take it seriously and think about how and where you spend and save.

4. Avoid Debt and getting into debt

It’s enjoyable, quick, and easy to spend with credit, but much harder to repay once you owe.

Obviously, for larger purchases (think house or car) it may be right to borrow but where possible save your money and pay for your purchases with the money you have. Practice being resourceful and the discipline of delaying gratification. Learn how to wait and save for something you want.

5. Understand the importance of planning

Plan where your money goes and where you want it to go. Give your plans to God and pray over any big money decisions. Plan through budgeting and saving.

Relationships and money

If you’re in a relationship discuss money goals together regularly, plan purchases, and discuss how you can save and improve your finances.

Financial planning and financial management

Financial planning and financial management doesn’t need to be complicated, at its simplest it’s knowing your income and outgoings and aiming to spend less than you receive each month. There are lots of apps available to help with this, and most bank accounts have apps that have tools to help budget. Not an app fan?  Use a notebook and pen, find the best way for you and keep it simple.

6. Be Honest

Go about your business honestly. Be honest in your transactions, with people, and in business.

7. Avoid Greed and the love of money

God doesn’t have a problem with rich people, but Jesus understood that with wealth and riches comes the temptation for it to become an idol in our lives. We can begin to love money and put it before everything else and the love of the father-Jesus.

What does this look like in the present world?

Today this could look like,

• Never being satisfied with what you have, always wanting more
• Desiring and being jealous of what other people have
• Judging others by how much money they have
• Seeking status with others who have more money
• Never practicing or being unwilling to practice generosity 

8. Good deeds-Practice Generosity

Jesus speaks often about money and generosity. He knew it was a sensitive issue and he was never afraid to discuss it. In one meeting with a rich man, he challenges him to sell everything he has and give it to the poor (Matthew 19: 21-24).

The Love of Money

Jesus knew that the love of money could be a barrier to our relationship with him. Why? The more you earn and have, the greater the opportunity to rely less on God, to acknowledge him less, and to move further away from a relationship with him.

Give to those in need

The counter to this is generosity and giving. Jesus encourages us to practice generosity, to do good works, and to give to those in need.

9. Worldly wealth- Material things don’t give us security

We can mistakenly believe that the material things we have give us security. They don’t, the only thing we can be secure in is our relationship with God- a God who promises eternal life and who ‘will never leave or forsake us’ (Deuteronomy 31:18). It’s good to remind yourself that worldly wealth is temporary, but the kingdom of God and his word will last forever.

10. Giving your money back to God

That’s why generosity in giving is so important as a follower of Jesus. Every time you give it keeps you from making money an idol in your life. It raises your awareness of where it has come from and keeps you humble. God promises to bless you in return, not just in financial terms but in the relationship and peace we have in Jesus.

Many Christians give by tithing a percentage of their income, you can also give generously with your time and in how you choose to spend your money. You can read more about giving offerings and the principles of tithing here.

However, Jesus is always more concerned with your heart,and your attitude when you give. The story of the poor widow in the temple who gives her last small copper coins shows this. Jesus talks about how even though the widow gave little, as it was all she had, it meant more than the offering of a rich man- as he gave from his wealth.

11. Be a cheerful giver

Giving is always an intentional act. God sees this and sees your heart when giving. He wants you to be happy about giving into his kingdom, and to be a cheerful giver in your heart.

To help grow an attitude of generosity think about the ways you can be intentional with your giving. 

12. Plant into God’s Kingdom

You can do this with your time, your talent, and your money. Give to your local church through offerings and regular tithing. Give to people in need. Seek out charities that you can give to. This might look like giving physical donations, donating your time, or a money offering. You can also plant in his kingdom by the life that you lead. The choices you make in your work, the way you treat people, and everything you do has the opportunity to plant a seed or reflect God in some way. In this way, our giving becomes an act of worship to God.

13. Seek Wisdom

King Solomon regarded as the author of Proverbs asked God for wisdom. His wisdom enabled him to build his personal and kingdom wealth to one of the richest in the world at the time. He also used his wealth to build a magnificent temple to Glorify God. 

What is wisdom?

Wisdom is about making the right choices at the right time and having the ability to discern, to understand, and have good judgement.  You can be knowledgeable but not have wisdom. 

How can you seek wisdom?

We can seek wisdom through prayer, listening to the Holy Spirit, and reading the bible. By doing this regularly we can hear what God wants us to do. 

Wisdom Books in the Bible

• Proverbs– Practical wisdom for everyday life

• Ecclesiastes– Observations on the meaning and purpose of life

• Job– The story of Job teaches us how to trust God in challenging and difficult times

• Song of Solomon– (also known as the Song of Songs) – This book celebrates love, sex, and marriage and also reminds us that God is present in everything

We can also be discerning in who to go to for advice; Listening to the right people and learning from people who lead by example in their own lives. 

14. Develop a learning mentality

Wisdom can also be applied in the way in which we apply ourselves to learning and education. Never stop learning, seek out books, training, and knowledge on the things that will help you grow in all areas of your life- this will help you to become a wiser person.

15. Practice gratitude

16. Show Gratitude

Have you ever felt taken for granted or not appreciated by someone? It’s not a nice feeling. That’s what we do to God when we don’t acknowledge his provision in our lives. Showing our gratitude and thanking him for what he does in our lives not only pleases God (as we are acknowledging and honouring him) but also raises our awareness of what we have, not what we don’t have. 

17. Focus on what you have

The present world we live in wants us to focus on what we don’t have. God calls for us to acknowledge what we have, to give thanks, and to give thanks back to him. Then he can bless us with more.

Get vocal- Thank God

As the song lyrics say ‘let everything that has breath praise the Lord”. Use your voice to thank God. As a mum I like to get vocal; When good things happen I’ll remind my son and daughter that it’s God who has provided the opportunity or shown his favor. When something good happens in your life, acknowledge God and thank him. Whether in our prayers or out loud, show gratitude and say thank you.

18. Acknowledge God’s favor

God’s favor and God’s love is shown when you receive an unexpected blessing. You don’t deserve it and you haven’t done anything to earn it, yet God is choosing to bless you anyway just because you are his child. He loves you and he chooses to bless you. 

Recognise God’s favor

Recognise the favor of God working in your life. Favor can look like many things; A promotion- out of the blue, a salary increase, an opportunity given to you on a plate- a parking space available at the exact time you need it, an item that you’ve been saving to buy is suddenly 50% off ! Big, small, and tiny God shows his favor- don’t forget to acknowledge the favor of God in your life and thank God for it.

19. Understand the value of investing

Investing is a Biblical principle- God expects us to use the resources we’ve been given wisely and when able; to invest them. We can invest in two ways

1. Investing our time to increase our knowledge and wisdom.

2. Investing to see growth and a ‘return’ on the investment itself. For example in monetary terms today this can mean, savings in a bank account that accrues interest, investing in property, or learning about trading investments. 

3. Investing our time, talent and money offerings into God’s Kingdom and church.

The Parable of the Talents

Jesus’ parable of the talents in the New Testament (found in Matthew 25-verses 14-30) is a story about a servant who buries his master’s money in the ground whilst his master is away. When the master returns he calls him a ‘wicked and slothful servant’ when he realises that (unlike his other servants who invested and gained a good return) he has had no return on his money. The parable teaches us that intentionally neglecting our resources and money will have serious consequences. 

20. Look after what you have

At the end of the parable Jesus goes on to say ‘For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but for those who do not have even what he has will be taken away,” (Matthew 25:29)

Look after and improve what you have. Be diligent and look after the money you earn. Find ways to make it grow-observe where you spend and look to improve your savings and finances, be industrious, and over time you will see an increase. 

21. Acknowledge where you are at

Be honest with yourself about the state of your current finances. Review them regularly and see where you can save and improve them. Create a budget to help you manage the money you have.

22. Leave a legacy

This Bible verse helps us to look beyond our own lives and present situations when thinking about what we do with our money. We can think about our children’s future and their children’s children and leave a legacy.

Leaving a legacy

Legacy helps us think about the long-term purpose of investment and savings. If you don’t have children, this could also mean how you leave a legacy for a favourite charity, your church, or a family member or friend. Ultimately the good stewardship of our money will mean that long term we bless a future generation.

23. Provide for your family

Jesus calls for us to love one another. It follows then that we have a responsibility to provide and care for our own families and to look after our own household.

24. Pay your taxes

Jesus simply tells us to pay the government what is due to them (i.e. our taxes) and to pay God what is due to God (through our tithes and offerings.)

25. Practice humility

In Romans 12: 3 the apostle Paul encourages us to show humility saying;

Don’t brag about what you have, no one likes a bragger. Be humble in your success or a phrase that my husband often uses and I love, ‘state little and overachieve’.

26. Listen to the Holy Spirit

Listen to the quiet whisper of the Holy Spirit. What Is God nudging you to do? We can’t hear God’s voice unless we are positioned to listen. I love this from Priscilla Shirer who gives practical tips on how to study the Bible and listen and deepen your time with God.

Tune into God

Practice turning off the noise and tune in to what God is saying to you and how he wants to direct your finances. Do this through prayer, having periods of quiet and solitude and looking out for answers to prayer. God often speaks to us through his word. Read and study bible verses to help give you peace in the decisions that you make. Make sure that your decisions around money are in agreement with God’s word and character.

Final thoughts

The principles of Biblical stewardship are full of wisdom, and life guidance and can improve the way you handle money, manage your finances, and grow your wealth. The good news is you can start today. No matter what your financial situation currently is, God’s principles can be applied and help provide a firm foundation for your financial success. Which principles can you start to apply today? 

Helpful Links

CAP – Christians against poverty- UK Christian charity that helps with debt, budgeting and tips to help your money go further

Dave Ramsey Show Youtube Christian money show with Dave Ramsey- advice on budgeting, saving and investing

Stepchange Help with managing debt (UK charity)