You Are a Steward
Dear Friend,
Did you know there is more written in the Bible about finances than on heaven and hell, prayer, or faith? Jesus taught more about this subject than any other, so it's obvious that the stewardship of money is very important to God.
I know that as soon as a minister begins to speak on this subject, it is often met with skepticism, with people wondering about the motives behind the teaching. I understand why, and honestly, there are a lot of other subjects I would rather teach. But as God's steward of this ministry, it's not up to me--it's up to Him--and God wants His people to understand how to operate in this area.
When I teach on healing, it's not so I can be healed; I'm already walking in divine health. Likewise, when I teach on financial stewardship, it's not for my financial benefit but for yours. Jamie and I love you and just want to see you walking in the grace of God, full of faith, healthy, and prosperous.
Financial stewardship is probably one of the most misunderstood subjects in the Bible, yet one of the most important.
Jesus said in Luke 16:10-11,
He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much. [11] If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?
In other words, if you can't deal with finances and become faithful in that, you can't be trusted with anything. Finances are just the starting point.
Many people believe the money they have belongs to them. After all, they earned it. They've scrimped, and they've saved. They may even be working two jobs to make ends meet. They earned it, so it must be theirs. Right?
Wrong. It may seem that way, but it's just not true. Your bank account may be in your name, and you may have the title to your car or the deed to your home. But God is the one who gave you the ability to prosper.The first step in becoming financially responsible and blessed is to recognize God is your source. He gave you your life, your breath, your talents, and your abilities.
Deuteronomy 8:18 says,
But thou shalt remember the Lord thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day.
When we understand that God is the source of all our blessing, it's easy to realize that we are merely the stewards of all that He gives us. One definition ofsteward is a person who manages the affairs, especially the money, of another person. And when we get the mindset of a steward, it totally changes the way we think about and use money.
Abraham is a great example of a person who had the mindset of a steward. He completely understood and acknowledged who his source was, and because of that, God abundantly blessed him.
Genesis 12:1-3 says,
Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee: [2]And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: [3] And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.
A lot could be said about this passage, but I want to point out that the blessing was independent of what Abraham deserved and independent of his performance. It was the favor of God on his life that caused him to prosper. Do you realize that it's about the favor of God?
That isn't saying that you can sit in front of the television and expect God to put money in your mailbox. In 2 Thessalonians 3:10, the Bible says that if you don't work, you don't eat. But you need to recognize that even though you work, it is God's favor and blessing that bring the increase.
It all begins with the understanding that you are a steward.
