The Diligent Earner

Should I earn more? Or does earning more mean that I’m greedy? What does it look like to earn as a Faithful Steward?

Many people see earning as something they have to do in order to live. We need money to pay bills, so we work to earn the money. The Disinterested Earner trades time for money in an ongoing transaction that more often seems like drudgery than anything of value.

At the other end of the spectrum, the Driven Earner feels constantly compelled to work harder to earn more – more money, better positions and titles, more perks. Unaware of the cost (or not caring about it), the Driven Earner sacrifices more and more in order to earn more and more.

Scripture teaches a different path. The Diligent Earner understands work as part of being made in God’s image. Diligent earners work to add value to their teams and their companies, and to consistently increase the value they’re providing. They see earning not as a trade of time for money but as a giving of value for money. They see earning money as part of a lifestyle of stewardship that includes how they manage time, relationships, energy, serving, and other important aspects of life.

If the truth were known, our congregations are characterized more by disinterested earners and driven earners than by diligent earners. Join host James Lenhoff for a discussion of Biblical perspective on earning. Learn how to encourage your congregation to see earning as a part of stewardship not just of money but of time, of expertise, and of talent. Help your congregation achieve the balance of the Diligent Earner.