Hello, my lovely friends! Today’s topic is a little different from what I’ve been writing about recently; we’re going to talk about money! More specifically, I want to talk about stewardship: what it is, why it’s important, and what the concept might look like for us as Christian girls. This could honestly be more than one article, but I’m just going to cover the basics and give you some tips and ideas to think about and put into practice. Let’s jump right in!
What does stewardship mean?
Let’s start with a quick definition of what stewardship is! Here’s what the Merriam-Webster Dictionary says:
the conducting, supervising, or managing of something, especially: the careful and responsible management of something entrusted to one’s care
What does that mean for us as Christians? Stewardship is responsibly managing the resources God blesses us with, i.e. money and time. But for this article, I’ll be focusing on money and how to handle it wisely. (Is an article on time management something you want to see? Let me know in a comment or via the contact form!)
What does the Bible Say About Stewardship?
The Bible has a lot to say about money and how to be a good steward of it. My favorite verse about money is from Matthew 6:21.
“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
This verse applies to so many things, but money is always the first thing I think of. You can often tell what a person values by looking at what they spend money on. For example, say you’re really into fitness. You might get a gym membership, keep your workout wardrobe up to date, and pay for a personal trainer to help you get in top condition. None of those things are wrong in and of themselves (I’ve always wanted to use that phrase in something ๐ ), but if those things become your focus, it detracts from the things that are really important.
Whether you have a steady job or the occasional evening of babysitting, wise stewardship of what you earn is important. There are tons of other verses in the Bible that talk about money and how Christians should view the topic. (Check out Hebrews 13:5, Matthew 6:24, and 1 Timothy 6:10.) So, what does practical stewardship look like? Let’s talk about some ways to work on it.
How to Practice Stewardship
Have a budget!
Y’all, making and sticking with a budget is so important! When I first started working and getting paid consistently, I did not have a budget. I bought things as I needed and/or wanted. Don’t get me wrong, I did pay attention to the cost of things; I’m definitely a saver, not a spender! But I didn’t have anything in place for tracking what I spent and where my money was going. I read about the Rocket Money app and decided to give it a try.
The app makes keeping track of what I’m spending so much easier! I can see at a glance what bills are coming up and what category had the highest amount of spending the month before. I can set up a designated budget and categorize different purchases.
If downloading another app isn’t something you want to do, make a paper and pen budget, or get a financial tracker from Amazon. You’ll find yourself being more conscious of your spending habits.
Read Charting a Course (Gary Miller)
I highly recommend this book! I read it for school last year, and it completely changed my perspective on money and how to handle it well. It talks about everything from creating a budget to loans and credit cards. The author writes about money and stewardship from a biblical perspective, offering lots of advice and wisdom for young people.
Give Monthly to Your Church
The Bible talks a lot about tithing and giving back to God. Leviticus 27:30 says,
One-tenth of the produce of the land, whether grain from the fields or fruit from the trees, belongs to the Lord and must be set apart to him as holy.
Everything we have belongs to God; we are only stewards. The church
It’s Okay to Save, but Don’t Hoard
You’ve probably heard people say, “It’s okay to save, but don’t hoard.” Have you ever thought about what the practical meaning of that saying is?
Saving is thoughtfully putting aside money for another time. It’s money that you don’t plan on using for eating out with friends or that new sweater you saw online. Saving is a good thing, but like any good thing, it can go wrong.
Hoarding is excess saving because you think that you’ll need the money and can’t spend or give it away.
So how can you work on saving, but avoid hoarding? What I’ve found to be helpful is having a saving category in my budget for the month. After calculating all my set expenses for the month, I looked at what was left and decided how much I wanted to save. I tend to forget things, so I have that amount automatically transferred into my savings account every month.
Decide how much you want to give. 2 Corinthians 9:7 says,
Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
The Old Testament guideline is 10% (Deuteronomy 14:22). I asked my dad about that, and he had a lot of insight on it. My takeaways from my conversation with him were:
- Don’t get caught up in the legalistic things of “I have to give exactly 10%,” or “I forgot to tithe on that extra $20 I got last week for mowing the yard.” It’s more about deciding between you and God what you can give.
- Tithing is a form of worship.
- Giving to something you’re passionate about like a local or overseas mission counts as part of your tithe.
Let’s Chat!
Do you prefer a digital or paper budget? What tips on stewardship would you give to other girls?
Further Reading
For more information and advice on the topic of stewardship, check out these articles:
Make Money Serve Your Joy | Desiring God
A Letter to Younger Me About Money | Desiring God
Steward the Gifts God Has Assigned to You | Desiring God
Hope for Those Struggling with Adulting (thegospelcoalition.org)
Biblical Stewardship vs. Worldly Sustainability – The Rebelution
