Living a Life of Genuine Stewardship

Here's a great piece from Crosswalk that talks about living a life of genuine stewardship. Below are some of the key points from this article that I really liked:

• Biblical stewardship is the accomplishment of God-given objectives using God-given resources. I am accountable for all of His resources, not just 10 percent of them. It isn't necessarily more spiritual to give to your church than to spend money on a much-needed family vacation. It's all God's anyway, whether I buy groceries, buy sneakers, or give to the poor.
• What story are you writing with your life? Do you have a heart for international missions, prison ministry, or homes for lower-income people? Then put your money where your heart is. Better yet, put your plans where your heart is.
• This is one rule with no exceptions. Your hearse will not be pulling a U-Haul. Someone asked John D. Rockefeller's accountant if he knew exactly how much Mr. Rockefeller had left when he died. The accountant replied, "Certainly, to the penny. He left everything."
• As you live this one life where you take nothing with you, you are writing a story. You are a playwright putting the finishing touches on the story of your life. You get a lot of input on the twists and turns of the plot. You can write a story about how you live with your money and how you leave it. What will the story say? How will that story impact others?

A few thoughts from me:

1. The first key step in realizing that we are stewards is getting the right perspective on money. Once that happens, we can see money matters from God's point of view and are ready to manage it appropriately.

2. Being a good steward means you manage your finances the way God would have you manage them: including budgeting, investing, saving, and giving His way, not ours. What's His way? It's spelled out in the Bible.

3. You're a steward even after your death. Having a will that works is the proper way for a steward to leave this earth. The will should detail who you want to care for your children and where your money goes. This is your last step towards hearing, "Well done, my good and faithful servant."

Comments

[Marty]

Possibly the most useless information ever. Haha, I didn't realize I need "God" to help me manage my finances. Let me just turn off my brain and let you tell me what the "right perspective" on money is.