Growth · lessons 11
Christian stewardship: time, talents, finances
Faithfully managing what belongs to God
Whose money is it?
Robert earned a good salary. But at the end of the month, there was never anything left. When he first heard about tithing, he thought, 'Impossible. I can barely keep up with my bills.' His discipler did not pressure him. He just asked, 'Robert, whose money is it that you earn?' Silence. 'It is God's,' Robert answered, knowing the right response. 'Then you are not giving 10% to God. You are returning what is already His -- and He is letting you manage the other 90%.' Something shifted in Robert's perspective. It was not about how much to give -- it was about whose it was.
Stewardship is the awareness that nothing is ours -- everything belongs to God and we are managers. Time, talents, health, money, opportunities -- it all came from Him, and one day we will give an account of how we managed it.
This is not a burden -- it is freedom. When I understand that I am a steward (manager), I stop living like an owner (anxious, attached, stingy) and start living with generosity and purpose.
This is the foundational principle: everything belongs to God. If this is true, then the question is not 'How much of my money do I give to God?' but 'How does God want me to manage His money?'
Christian stewardship covers three main areas: time (how I use my days), talents (how I use my abilities), and finances (how I use my resources). In all of them, the principle is the same: faithfulness.
The tithe (10% of income) is the starting point of financial stewardship. It is biblical, practical, and an act of faith. When we return the tithe, we are declaring: 'God, I trust that You take care of me with 90% better than I take care of myself with 100%.'
Beyond the tithe, there are offerings -- voluntary, proportional, joyful (2 Corinthians 9:7). The tithe is obedience; the offering is generosity. Both are expressions of trust in God as provider.
Stewardship of time and talents Show
Stewardship of time:
We have 168 hours per week. God does not ask for all of them -- He asks that we manage them wisely. This includes: time with Him (devotional), time with family, time to serve (church/community), time for rest (God instituted rest!), and time for work.
The key question: 'Am I spending my time on what has eternal value, or only on what is urgent?'
Stewardship of talents:
God gave each person unique abilities -- to be used for His glory and to bless others. Burying your talent is sin (Matthew 25:24-30). Ask yourself: 'What abilities has God given me that I am underusing for His Kingdom?'
Practical financial stewardship:
- Tithe as a priority (not what is left over)
- Live below what you earn
- Avoid unnecessary debt
- Have an emergency reserve
- Be generous with those in need
- Plan: budgeting is not a lack of faith, it is wisdom (Proverbs 21:5)
Generosity is a spiritual thermometer. Jesus said: 'For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also' (Matthew 6:21). What we do with money reveals what we value.
But take note: stewardship is not the same as asceticism. God is not against prosperity -- He is against the idolatry of money. You can enjoy with gratitude what you earn, as long as money does not take the place of God in your heart.
“Each step of obedience is a step of discipleship. Baptism is the first public step -- and each step of obedience opens the door to the next.”
Stop and think
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1
Do you return the tithe regularly? If not, what is holding you back -- is it financial or spiritual?
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2
How is your stewardship of time? How much of it is intentional and how much is wasted?
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3
Is there a talent God gave you that you are not using for His Kingdom?
For this week
Do a practical exercise: write down for 7 days how you spend your time and your money. Not to feel guilty, but to gain awareness. At the end of the week, evaluate: 'Do my actual priorities (where I spend time and money) reflect my stated priorities (God, family, Kingdom)?' If there is a misalignment, pray for wisdom to adjust.
To close
“Father, everything is Yours -- my time, my talents, my money. Forgive me where I have been unfaithful as a steward. Teach me to manage with wisdom and generosity. Free me from greed and anxiety. May I live as one who knows that everything is temporary -- and that what we invest in Your Kingdom lasts forever. In the name of Jesus, amen.”
For the discipler
Objective
Teach the biblical principle of stewardship -- everything belongs to God and we are managers -- applied to finances (tithes and offerings), time, and talents, with practicality and without financial manipulation.
Difficult questions
- The tithe is from the Old Testament. Does it still apply? The principle of returning to God spans the entire Bible. Abraham tithed before the law (Genesis 14:20). Jesus confirmed it (Matthew 23:23 -- 'you should have practiced the latter'). The NT did not abolish the tithe -- it established generosity as a standard that goes beyond it.
- Should I tithe on the net or the gross? The Bible does not specify. The principle is: give with joy and trust. If 10% of the gross is possible, it is more generous. If it is difficult, start with the net and grow. The important thing is to start.
- What if I am in debt? Can I stop tithing? It is difficult, but ideally you maintain the tithe as an act of faith while working to get out of debt. If the situation is an emergency, talk to your pastor. But do not use debt as a permanent excuse.
- Is prosperity a sign of faithfulness? Not necessarily. God provides, but not always in money. Biblical prosperity is having enough, being content, and being generous -- not mandatory wealth (1 Timothy 6:6-8).
Practical tips
- Money is a sensitive topic. Lead without pressure and without judgment. Some in the group may be going through financial hardship.
- Do not promise financial returns as motivation for tithing. The motivation is obedience and trust, not investment.
- Be practical: suggest budgeting apps, simple spreadsheets, or the envelope method for those who lack financial organization.
- Broaden the conversation to time and talents -- many focus only on money and forget that wasting time is also unfaithful stewardship.
Extra material
- Leitura: The Life You've Always Wanted -- John Ortberg (chapter on stewardship)
- Video: Finances According to the Bible -- Christian Finance