Learning and Living the Life of a Steward

Learning and Living the Life of a Steward

How do we become wise when handling the resources God has entrusted to us as His stewards? For myself, the life experiences God has provided me have shaped my perspective of stewardship and have boldly encouraged me to share what He’s done.

My education in stewardship began in the Christian home in which I was raised. My parents taught me how to be a steward by example, and the greatest lesson I learned from them was the importance of giving.  I learned how to give my time to benefit and serve others by observing my parents and how they used their talents to bless those around them. Their regular contribution to the Sunday offering taught me about the priority and discipline of consistent giving.  There was also my dad’s “big faith” that no matter what the circumstance, his mantra was “the Lord will provide.” He showed me how to rely and depend on the Lord in all things, especially when financial circumstances got tough.

In the last eight years, God has taken me on a roller coaster ride of financial chaos and blessing. I have been a struggling college student, notorious for overdraft charges and re-occurring late fees.  I have had to learn about credit cards the hard way and found out that 0% interest for a year does not mean you don’t have to make regular payments. And, I now know for certain that if you do not pay your parking tickets and get caught, the city of Eugene will put a boot on your car and make you pay all your fines. But, God has also been explicitly teaching me how to steward His money. Entering my junior year of college, my dad lost his job and God challenged me to depend on Him as He helped me navigate financial independence, car payments, and a way to pay out-of-state tuition. He also provided opportunities such as the Crown ministries class provided at First B and Pastor Ben’s teaching to speak wisdom into my life and help guide me.

 One of Pastor Ben’s most memorable sermons for me, was on September 7, 2008, entitled “The Sermon on the Amount.” For the first time, I heard money called its Greek name, Mammon. In Matthew 6:19-24, Jesus identifies Mammon as a spiritual entity and a rival god to Himself. Ben spoke about how money’s power is its consuming force to acquire more, but God combats Mammon by flipping this paradigm on its head and institutes the opposing force of GIVING!!! He loves to give us good gifts! God gave us his Son! God gave us life! And He gave us a way to counteract money, greed, and selfishness through the selfless act of giving! 

When I struggle to be generous, I am reminded of John 3:27, “... A man can receive nothing, unless it has been given him from heaven.” With this in mind, I recognize that my time, talents, and treasures are God’s and find their origin in Him. It’s not 10% that I should give—it’s everything. My prayer then becomes, “Father, mold me into the likeness of your Son, a generous giver.”