If we look to Webster for the meaning of stewardship, we find the following words:

“the conducting, supervising, or managing of something; especially :  the careful and responsible management of something entrusted to one’s care“

Many readers of my book, “Choose Stocks Wisely,” have shared with me from time to time via my website mail encouraging words appreciative of my Christian view toward stewardship, including stewardship of money. Thank you sincerely for your encouragement!

Psalm 24:1 (New American Standard Bible) says:

“A Psalm of David. The earth is the LORD’S, and all it contains, The world, and those who dwell in it.”

Since money and any other resource we might think of is included in “all it contains,” what exactly do any of us actually own? If one accepts Jesus Christ as The LORD, he/she will hear these words and know that we are first and foremost stewards over God’s resources entrusted to us. We are His managers. I discussed the parable of  the talents in the early part of my book. That parable makes it abundantly clear that God desires us to invest “His” resources wisely.

I Corinthians 4:2 (King James Version Bible) states:

“Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.”

It would be hard to overstate the importance of Christian stewardship given God’s Word. Note that the verse says that God requires faithfulness. Culture does not measure faithfulness but God does. Culture tells one that he must try to be first and foremost “successful.”

While an extensive Bible discussion of stewardship is beyond this post, Christian stewardship starts with a belief in God’s ownership of everything. If one does not believe in Jesus Christ, Christian stewardship will be without meaning. God being the owner, and me being the steward is greatly freeing. It keeps me from seeking my security during this earthly life in earthly possessions since I don’t possess anything. It keeps me from having a motive to “get rich” so I can have a lot of things since in reality I don’t possess anything. And, most importantly, if frees me to have an eternally meaningful motive to want to tend to my Master’s possessions in a true and faithful manner. Remember, God did not say I’m required to be “successful.” He said “faithful.”

Billy Graham is credited for saying, “I never saw a U-Haul behind a hearse.”

The most important resource I’m a custodian over is the precious gospel of Jesus Christ.

II Corinthians 5:20 (New American Standard Bible) states:

“Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.“

Christians are stewards of the gospel of Christ and as such are called His ambassadors to the world. I believe all manner of resources provided by God are intended by Him to be used to draw attention to His Son and through the work of Christ on the cross of Calvary, to reconcile men to God. He certainly intends money, for example, to help provide for our physical needs and the needs of those around us and I also believe when we’ve worked hard, He enables us to also enjoy the fruit of our own work. Deuteronomy 25:4 (New Living Translation, Bible) states:

“”You must not muzzle an ox to keep it from eating as it treads out the grain.”

But the Word says God wants men to be reconciled to Him through Christ. The scriptures tell us this is man’s deepest need and God will surely direct His resources to enable the preaching of the gospel of Christ.

How I look at money reflects how I look at life. If I see it through a lens detached from God’s ownership, it easily becomes my sense of security and importance in life and can become a measure of my success. As such, the presence or absence of money then dictates my life. If I see it through the lens of God’s Word, a lens that tells me that by faith in Jesus Christ as my Savior, I am His and that my purpose here on earth is to be His faithful steward until I pass from this life to go be with Him forever, the amount of money I have will never dictate my life.

We are living in very uncertain days. My book and website is not just about investing in stocks to me. My book is not advocating stock investing because that’s not my place to do such but it represents my attempt to present my personal approach to practicing investing in a wise stewardship manner. Far more important than what I could ever write about stock investing is the marvelous truth that by putting your trust in Jesus Christ, you become the recipient of His life eternal and can rest within knowing that He is the owner, He is not only well aware of the world’s uncertainties but in complete charge, and that He just wants us to be faithful to Him in how we go about managing His business.

May God bless you, friends.