His Kingdom, Our Stewardship: Managing for the Great Commission

By Don Matchett

As a child, I don’t remember many lessons and sermons about managing money. Teaching that did venture into this area likely included these statements:

• "Money is the root of all evil.”
  

• "You cannot serve both God and mammon.”
  

• "It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to go to Heaven.”
  

At such a young age, I interpreted poverty as a requirement for entrance to Heaven. And, if that were true, we were well on our way. But is this really true? Must we live the life of a pauper to find God’s favor? Is it a sin to live comfortably? Of course not! I contend God grants us wealth to accomplish His mission.

I believe we learn two main principles from Scripture concerning wealth and stewardship. First, our measure of wealth has no bearing on our salvation. Money itself is amoral. Money isn’t evil. An idolatrous posture toward money is wrong. Paul warned against this in 1 Timothy 6:10. He did not teach “evil money” but noted the idolatrous love of money brings all kinds of evil.

Second, we are responsible for managing the things God gives us. Jesus dealt with money in 16 of His 38 parables. In several of these, Jesus taught principles for handling money. Scripture addresses this subject four times more than it addresses prayer and faith. Obviously, our stewardship is a critical topic.

Stewardship has taken on several meanings through the years. From a biblical perspective, a steward is entrusted with resources and must answer how wisely or unwisely he has invested. The Master distributes gifts at His discretion. We are entrusted with a portion of what God owns and are accountable to Him to manage His affairs well.

So, what has the Father entrusted to us? Not only does He bestow monetary and material things, but He also bestows talents, personal characteristics, wants and desires, and the things that make us who we are. God created us for His purpose, and it isn’t a coincidence our attributes and gifts are the tools likely to determine our role in His Kingdom.

Each of us is designed for His destiny. However, if we genuinely believe in free will, we must be good stewards to accomplish His purpose for our lives. Personally, the closer I am to God, the more I desire to see His name known and the more I want His Kingdom to expand to the nations.
So, what are biblical principles of good stewardship? Here are seven to consider:

1. Good stewards give their “first fruits.” While we no longer live under the Mosaic law, we learn much from the Old Testament sacrificial system. The Israelites gave their first fruits and carefully set aside the best to offer as part of their worship. My carnal side wants to offer leftovers from the forgotten part of the refrigerator.
   

2. Good stewardship is an overflow of our commitment to Christ. I am so glad our wealth status has nothing to do with our salvation. Salvation comes from the work of Christ and our faith in Christ. However, good stewardship of God’s resources demonstrates our salvation. Our attitude toward money is indicative of our relationship with the Father and of fulfilling His purpose in our lives.
   

3. Good stewardship strengthens our faith (Philippians 4:19). In his letter to the Philippians, Paul points out they are equal beneficiaries in their gift to support Paul. Of course, genuine giving doesn’t seek personal gain. But giving does bless both the giver and receiver. The challenge of giving by faith is one does not experience the blessing without applying the faith. In other words, we must genuinely step out in faith to experience the benefit.
   

4. Good stewardship is intentional. Deciding is a deliberate practice. Good stewards carefully and prayerfully plan how to manage, use, and give their resources (2 Corinthians 9:7). I have been guilty of considering how much is in my pocket when determining how much to give. A biblical approach is to plan my giving and decide what I will give long before the offering plate is passed. Those who plan and manage their money well can be more intentional about giving.
   

5. Good stewardship is consistent and trustworthy. Good intentions have little value until they are implemented. Consistency builds routines; routines make habits. Consistency is equally helpful to all the entities you support. Regular contributions help the church sustain current needs and operate on a budget. Missionaries need solid, faithful monthly partners. Then, when they leave the States to serve, they can feel confident in their continued funding.
   

6. Good stewards plan beyond their own lifespan. Ralph Winter said, “Never concede to doing something so small that it could be accomplished entirely in your lifetime. Be a part of something that began before you were born and will continue onward toward the fulfillment of all God has purposed to accomplish” (Perspectives on the World Christian Movement). Wouldn’t it be fantastic if our lives affected the Great Commission well beyond our passing because we managed our finances well?
   

7. Good stewards of God’s resources give proportionately. The principle of giving based on what we are given is a theme throughout Scripture. In the Old Testament, God tells Abraham he will be blessed to be a blessing. In the New Testament, Paul instructs readers to give to God to the extent He has blessed them (1 Corinthians 16:2, 2 Corinthians 8:3). Those to whom the Lord gives more, more is required.
   

The most valuable lesson we can learn is we are not owners; we are stewards who strive to please our Master through obedience. The sooner we realize this, the better. We are then released from our worries, frustrations, and unhealthy relationships with money.

We must consider two questions. First, is He Lord of all my life, or am I? How we answer this question determines how we address our time, talents, money, and possessions. A wise manager holds tightly to the eternal and lightly to things with only earthly value. Second, what is His desire for the resources He confers to me? God’s highest priority is for every nation, tribe, people group, and language to come to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.

Is that our highest priority?

About the Author: Don Matchett joined the IM office team in 2017 and serves as director of development. He dedicates himself to helping missionaries, local churches, and church leaders as they partner together to fulfill the Great Commission. Learn more: IMInc.org.