Scripture’s Stewardship Surprises

When you think about money, what thoughts come to mind? Do you worry that there’s not enough? Do you reject the pursuit of wealth as evil? Or maybe just push it out of your mind?

Scripture says a lot about money – over 2,000 verses! Unfortunately, we often don’t effectively apply the truth of Scripture to our finances. Sometimes, we fall into the trap of isolating individual passages without considering the whole counsel of Scripture. Other times, we don’t really want to know the truth, so we ignore the Bible’s teaching. And sometimes, we hear the same assertions so many times that we come to accept them as true – even if they don’t accurately reflect Biblical teaching.

In this article, we’ll review several “stewardship surprises” in Scripture – teachings that go against the grain of what we’re often taught or what we might think makes sense. We’ll see what the Bible actually has to say about these topics.

Our Hearts Follow Our Treasure

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

Matthew 6:19-21

Jesus turns our expectations regarding treasure upside down. The logical way of thinking about our treasure is that we would put our treasure where our hearts are. But Jesus teaches us that it actually works the opposite way. Our hearts follow our treasure.  If our treasures are on earth, that’s where our hearts will be. And if our treasures are in heaven, then our hearts will be there also.

Perhaps the best example of this in the New Testament is that of the rich ruler who came to Jesus asking what he needed to do to inherit eternal life (Luke 18:18-25). The question itself revealed a lack of spiritual understanding (since we can’t do anything to inherit eternal life), but Jesus met the man where he was, beginning his reply with excerpts from the Ten Commandments. When the man affirmed that he was already keeping the Commandments, Jesus went straight to the heart.

The man lacked “one thing”. Sure, he had done all the right things, but his heart didn’t belong to God. So Jesus counseled him to store his treasure in heaven by selling his possessions and giving to the poor (Luke 18:22). Only then would this man be able to follow Jesus. (Note the order of events: sell, give, then follow). As long as the man’s treasure was on earth, his heart couldn’t belong to Jesus. Scripture tells us that on hearing this, the man went away sad, because he had great wealth. His treasure led his heart away from Jesus.

The rich ruler demonstrates the truth that wealth is deceitful. It has a way of capturing our hearts without our realizing it. And this can stunt our spiritual growth, making us unfruitful. Jesus explained this in the parable of the sower:

“The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful.”

Matthew 13:22

How Do We Respond?

If we want to grow more of a heart for God, we must put our treasure in heaven. That doesn’t necessarily mean that we need to sell everything (Jesus never asked this of anyone else). But it does mean that we regard everything we have as actually belonging to God, ready for his use – like the women who supported Jesus in his travels out of their means (Luke 8:1-4) or the early disciples who sold houses and lands to provide for the needy in the Jerusalem church (Acts 2:45; 4:34-35).

Having these resources wasn’t sin, because they regarded their possessions as belonging to God. They managed wealth without being deceived by it. That’s not easy, but it can be done.

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Earning: It’s Not About Us

You may say to yourself, “My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me.” But remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth.

Deuteronomy 8:17-18

In America, we idealize the “self-made person” – the one who comes from humble beginnings and rises to success. We admire them for their hard work, perseverance, and commitment. And, to the extent that we’ve exhibited these qualities ourselves, we can tend to pat ourselves on the back for our own determination and resourcefulness.

And here’s where we’re tempted to forget God. The view of ourselves as having earned everything we have leads us to think of ourselves as owners rather than stewards – perhaps the most dangerous misperception we can have when it comes to finances. Because as owners, we tend to store our treasures here on earth, whereas stewards store them in heaven.

Realistically, most successful people work hard to get where they are. The thing is that around the world, many people are working much harder and seeing no return. They lack the education, the opportunities, the economy or the freedom that we take for granted. We had nothing to do with these advantages; God brought them to us and equipped us to take advantage of them. Just as he brought the Israelites to a land they hadn’t earned, he has put us in a place we didn’t merit.

And the rewards of work are also not about us. We work to provide for ourselves (1 Thessalonians 4:11-12), but also to take care of our families (1 Timothy 5:8) and support the needy (Ephesians 4:28).

How Do We Respond?

Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to curry their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord. Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.

Colossians 3:22-24

For many of us, our most consistent interaction with non-believers is at work. How we work – the attitudes we bring to the job and the ways we relate with our co-workers – reflects on God. Work is a great place to bear the fruit of the Spirit – love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22). It’s easy, of course, to show these characteristics when things are going well – but the real test (and the real witness) comes when we display the same qualities in difficult times.

Peter tells us that it’s commendable before God when we bear up under the pain of unjust suffering, and he says this in the context of slaves obeying their masters (1 Peter 3:18-25). When others grumble, we hold our tongues. When raises don’t happen as we hope for and others begin to slack off, we continue to work with diligence, knowing that we’re really working for Jesus and not for our earthly masters (employers). If others insult difficult (or even incompetent) bosses behind their backs, we respond with respect (Ephesians 6:5-8). Work is often the primary environment in which we live among non-believers in such a way that they see our good deeds and glorify God (1 Peter 2:12; Matthew 5:16). If the gospel has truly transformed our heart, our work ethic and relationships will reflect that.

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Giving: It’s not About the Amount

Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 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. And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.

2 Corinthians 9:6-8

When it comes to giving, some teaching emphasizes the amount. The Biblical tithe is ten percent of income, and Jesus confirmed this practice even while denouncing the Pharisees for their neglect of more important matters like justice, mercy, and faithfulness (Matthew 23:23). In addition to Jesus’ direct confirmation, no teaching in the New Testament contradicts the Old Testament teaching of the tithe. Paul also affirms giving in keeping with our income in his instructions to the Corinthians about a special offering being taken for the poor in Jerusalem (1 Corinthians 16:1-2).

That said, neither does the New Testament consider amount as the primary characteristic of our giving. The only other place in the New Testament where giving a tenth is mentioned is in the prayer of the Pharisee in Luke 18:12. And here it’s in a negative context – as part of a prideful declaration in which the Pharisee was differentiating himself from a tax collector who was also praying.

Scripture consistently shows that God cares much more about the heart than he does about the amounts. Even in the days of the prophets, God expressed disdain for the offerings of the people because they were given in a context of rebellion, corruption, and bloodshed (Isaiah 1). The pride of the Pharisee mentioned above invalidated his tithe in God’s eyes – Jesus mentioned that the tax collector went home from prayer justified before God, but not the Pharisee.

“God loves a cheerful giver.” The Macedonians excelled in their joy in giving – urgently asking for the opportunity to help out the believers in Jerusalem as part of Paul’s collection (2 Corinthians 8:1-5). Here’s the key: “They gave themselves first of all to the Lord” (verse 5). Mary joyfully poured over Jesus a jar of perfume worth a year’s wages (Matthew 26:6-13; Mark 14:3-9; Luke 7:37-38; John 12:1-8 – one of the few stories mentioned in all four gospels!). The early disciples sold houses and land to provide for the needy in the church (Acts 2:44-45; 4:34-35). The Philippian church supported Paul over and over again when he was in need (Philippians 4:15-16).

Throughout Scripture, we see that the giving that truly honors God comes from hearts devoted to him. The Israelites and their leaders gave extravagantly for the building of the tabernacle (Exodus 36:1-7) and later of the temple (1 Chronicles 29:1-20) and still later for major repairs on the temple (2 Chronicles 24:8-14). David insisted on giving as part of his repentance from sin (2 Samuel 24:18-25). Giving was never meant to be a “check-the-box” activity (which apparently the Pharisees had made of it); it was always intended to be worshipful and joyful.

How Do We Respond?

Giving is at the heart of stewardship because in giving, we recognize God as the owner of all things, including the resources he has used to bless us. When we look at giving this way:

• We give in the context of gratitude for God’s blessings.
• We give cheerfully and joyfully, in worship of the Giver of all good gifts.
• Our giving reflects not the pride of the Pharisee but the humility of the widow putting in two small coins (Mark 12:42).
• We give out of the “firstfruits” – as a priority (Proverbs 3:9).
• We base our giving on our income, not on what’s left over at the end of the month (1 Corinthians 16:2).

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Debt: It’s Not Evil

One of the most common myths about Scriptural teaching about money is that debt is evil. But the Bible never says this. To be sure, it’s dangerous. Proverbs 22:7 tells us that the borrower is slave to the lender. James 4:14 warns us against presuming on the future (which debt does). And Paul enjoins us in Romans 13:7-8 to let no debt remain outstanding except the ongoing debt of love.

But Scripture – especially in the Old Testament environment – assumes that debt will exist. Hence the commands regarding cancelling debts every seventh year (Deuteronomy 15:1-11). Hence God’s promises and warnings in Deuteronomy 28 that included loaning and borrowing (see especially verses 12 and 44).

In Biblical times, the only common reason envisioned for debt was poverty. A person or a family became poor and borrowed money, or sold themselves and/or their lands (another form of indebtedness).

But in Western culture today, debt is much more likely to be a result of materialism than a result of poverty (although the latter still happens). Debt is more a symptom of a problem rather than the problem itself. Often, we attack debt as though it were the problem – and indeed, debt does need to be paid off. But we tend to ignore the issues that led to the spending that resulted in the debt.

Debt is not usually a numbers problem; more often than not, it’s the symptom of an underlying emotional issue or of simple lack of faithfulness in managing God’s resources. Debt may also be a sign of lack of trust in God’s faithfulness to provide for us. And it can deprive us of an opportunity to grow in faith and trust, or to learn important spiritual lessons.

How Do We Respond?

There are two basic kinds of debt: efficient debt (such as a mortgage, education loan, or business loan) and inefficient debt (credit cards, car loans, etc.). The difference is in whether the debt is incurred on something that appreciates or depreciates. That said, there is also wise debt and unwise debt; not all efficient debt is necessarily wise, and not all inefficient debt is automatically unwise.

If consumer debt is high, then the response needs to be twofold:

1. Understand the reasons behind overspending and address those; and
2. Adjust spending and income to free up margin for paying off the debt.

On the other hand, where there are opportunities for efficient debt (such as borrowing to purchase housing to be used for low-income families), we should pray over the opportunities and seek God’s guidance.

Also, we should consider whether paying off efficient debt (such as a low-interest mortgage) early is wiser than investing for the future (such as contributing to a 401(k) with an employer match). Often, the wiser choice is saving in cases like this.

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How Scripture Guides Stewardship

As believers, we’d likely all agree with the idea that our financial management should be based on Scriptural principles rather than on societal pressures or on personal preferences. But how can we be sure we’re on the right track in applying Biblical financial principles?

Consider the whole counsel of Scripture

One way to stay on track Biblically is to take Scripture as a whole rather than breaking it down into sound bites. This is where prosperity theology gets off-track – specific promises regarding God’s abundant provision are emphasized to the exclusion of other Scriptures that don’t promise financial gain from our faithfulness. After all, the most faithful person in the history of the world – Jesus – didn’t live in financial abundance!

Apply principles from examples

One example of the error of taking individual Scriptures out of context is assuming that a specific Biblical example necessarily applies to all believers in all times. So, for example, Jesus’ instructions to the rich ruler to sell all his possessions and give to the poor are taken to be God’s will for all believers. But, as we saw above, this was a specific instruction to address a specific issue in the man’s life – he was too attached to his wealth. What he lacked was a heart that belonged fully to God. As we noted earlier, Jesus never asked any of his other followers to do the same thing.

And yet, there are principles from this example that do have universal application (and are supported elsewhere in Scripture):

• Following God is more important than accumulating wealth
• Sometimes, the two can be in opposition
• God expects caring for the poor to be a priority for us

We noted above how the early disciples sold houses and lands and brought the money to the church to take care of the needy. But this doesn’t automatically mean that God is calling us to sell our house. What it does mean is:

• We should regard all of our possessions as belonging to God
• We should be willing to part with possessions in order to care for the needy among us (especially within the Church)

Major in the majors

We need to “keep the main thing, the main thing” when it comes to handling our finances. And the main thing isn’t checking a box regarding a certain amount of giving. It goes much further than that. When Jesus was asked to identify the main thing, here’s how he responded:

“‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”

Matthew 22:37-39

Loving God and loving our neighbor necessarily has implications for how we use our money (among many other things). These two great commandments govern how we earn, how we give, how we save and spend, and how we handle debt. If Jesus is truly Lord, then he must be Lord of our finances.

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