Becoming a Faithful Steward

Originally published in BOARDWISE, used by permission

“Stewardship is nothing less than a complete lifestyle, a total accountability and responsibility
before God.  Stewardship is what we do after we say we believe, that is, after we give our love,
loyalty, and trust to God, from whom each and every aspect of our lives comes as a gift.”  Ronald Vallet

God loves a cheerful giver and one of the most joyous aspects of being a believer
is being generous with God’s provisions..  The effective board member realizes that if
they expect others to give, they need to start by modeling generosity in their own life as
an extension of their faith.  Here are ten ways to become a faithful steward.

1. Decide who is Lord of your life - Jesus’ says, “No one can serve two masters . . .  You cannot serve God and wealth” (Matt. 6:24).  The starting point to become a generous steward is to decide in your mind and heart that you will serve God first with your possessions.

2. Understand your role as a faithful steward – In the Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14-30), Jesus is personally interested in his followers use of possessions entrusted to them. If we are smart we will treat our possessions as tools by which God’s kingdom and our soul can be grown.  The wise person will consider
carefully how their possessions can be used in the spiritual world. 

3. Count your blessings—you have more than you realize – Take an inventory of all of your blessings.  Consider your family, friends, home, work, money, and faith. 
Ask yourself questions such as, “How has God blessed me?” Thank Him for the provisions he has so graciously provided you, and for the opportunity He has given you to work and provide for yourself and your family.  Generosity starts with appreciation for the blessings you have, both materially and spiritually.

4. Give to God first—just do it! – Just as time is a gift entrusted to us by God, so are our possessions.  God commands us to give off the top—not from the leftovers. 
As we wait to pay the bills, buy groceries, and pay for all the incidentals that come up, there is no longer money left to be given to God and our giving becomes sporadic and ineffective, rather than generous.  (Malachi 1:13-14 and 3:7-11)

5. Give to God systematically – Once we understand the importance of giving, we should develop a plan to give systematically and faithfully.  In this way, giving becomes a pattern of our life.  (1 Corinthians 16:2)

6. Give according to your means - Christians are called to give in proportion to how God has blessed them.  Every Christian is called to examine their life with honesty and strive to become a generous giver, according to their individual means.  (II Corinthians 8:8-12)

7. Give cheerfully – In II Corinthians 9:6-8 Paul looks for people who are compelled to give from their own internal convictions not by rules and manipulation.  Many Christians are unable to be cheerful when they give because they have never known this inner change.  Once giving becomes a natural extension of your faith, then it is a joyous act as unto the Lord.

8. Give regularly – In I Corinthians 16:1-2, Paul recommends that the money for giving be set aside on the first day of each week, which was the day when Christians met together.  Paul exhorts regular giving to God’s work.  Regular and consistent giving is also a way that God uses to make giving a trademark of the
Christian life.  (I Corinthians 16:1-2)

9. Give to God generously and quietly – In the story of the widow (Mark 12:41-44), she gave out of her poverty, trusting that God would provide.  She did not give for the sake of being seen by others, nor for the effect that her gift would have on the ministry of her church, but rather in gratitude to God.  This was a woman who understood that giving was a tool used by God to shape her into the spiritual
person God wanted her to be.  This woman exemplifies true generosity.  

10. Give regardless of your circumstances - Where we put our treasure is an undeniable indicator of what our heart values. The best way to break out of this pattern is to give our first fruits to God, and live off what remains.  Until we learn to give to God regardless of our circumstances we will never be fully committed to Christ and his Kingdom.  (I Kings 17:7-16) Only when the Christians of the world become generous and release the resources God has provided them, will God’s work be fully funded.  One responsibility of a board member is to give personally and encourage others to give as scripture instructs—as faithful stewards.

Wesley K. Willmer, Ph.D., is Vice President for University Advancement and Professor at Biola University.  This is the fourth of a six part series excerpted from God and Your
Stuff: The Vital Link Between Your Possessions and Your Soul (NavPress, 2002)