“Where you invest your love, you invest your life.”–Mumford and Sons
Although I had a solid financial start in life and my parents have a healthy relationship to money management, my twenties and early thirties were marked by financial instability. Much of my financial and stewardship education has come from the school of hard knocks, (heartfelt)missteps, and surprising discoveries in Scripture.
My parents were faithful to model generosity, so it was easy to “catch” a love for giving. When I was three, I gave my baby blanket away to a friend who was moving so she could have the comfort of “home” in her new house (fortunately her mom made sure it came back to me). Fast forward to my college years, and all the money I earned in part-time jobs went to a ministry I believed in. After graduating from college, I went to massage therapy school. Being involved in a church that valued living simply, I wanted to be like the believers in Acts 2, selling properties and possessions and giving away material and financial gifts. Problem was, while I had learned how to give, I hadn’t learned how to truly steward what I had earned.
When I unexpectedly lost my job in 2016, my housing situation fell through, and, as if that weren’t enough, my body could no longer do the job I had been trained for. I was broke. I made the humbling decision to move back in with my parents to hit the reset button and transition into a different career field (human resources through a holistic healthcare lens). Though I managed to land a few consulting gigs in HR, I struggled to secure stable employment for years. Often sitting alone in my parents’ spare bedroom, I felt so much shame for what I could only see as my failure in managing my money and ... my life. I spiraled into clinical depression, debilitatingmigraines, and intense isolation.
By the grace of God, in early 2020, I was hired as an executive assistant at a financial advisory firm. As the world reeled from the pandemic, I began my investment education. Sticking to a strict budget, I became more financially stable. I began to learn how empowering it isto learn the“rules of investing” and not only set, but also meet financial goals.
As I have become more financially (and all around) healthy, I have had abundant opportunities to explore God’s heart for stewardship and generosity in the Scriptures. It turns out God has a lot to say about money and investment. And through my study, I found plenty that I wished I would have known.
First, I wish I had known how much stewardship matters to God. God created the world and called it good (Genesis 1:31). We were made to be stewards of His good creation (Genesis 1:28). He is the gracious Giver who lavishes His love and good gifts on us, His daughters (1 John 3:1). Stewardship is the only appropriate response to the gifts He has given us.
Stewardship matters because having well-managed finances allows us to operate out of greater levels of generosity. You have to have something in your hand in order to give it away. Learning how to steward and be good investors of what God has given us is a sign of maturity andfaithfulness. Stewardship matters to God because, ultimately, it is not about us as individuals; it is about how God might use us to bless the world.
Second, I wish I’d known that, contrary to what I’d come to believe, it isn’t money itself that is the root of evil, but the love of money (1 Timothy 6:10). Money is a tool, and it can be a powerful one for good. But before I came to realize this, I thought the only result of having a lot of money was a corrupted heart. In my zeal to not become enslaved by having too much, I found that money became my master because I didn’t have enough of it.
In Deuteronomy 8:18, God calls the Israelites to “remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he swore to yourfathers....”Why would God give people the power to grow wealth if it was inherently bad? Heonly ever gives good gifts to His children. Consider Solomon. He asked God for wisdom and was given both wisdom and financial wealth.
Finally, I wish I had known that simplicity to the point of poverty is not necessarily a sign of holiness, and that there is no lack in God’s Kingdom. The God of the Bible owns the cattle on a thousand hills (Psalm 50:10). Jesus’ ministry was largely supported by wealthy women benefactors. Their participation in His ministry blessed the whole world.
That’s not to say we shouldn’t guard against the temptation wealth presents. Jesus spoke more about money than any other topic. He knew that money can encourage the temptation to seek our security in earthly wealth. In Matthew 6:25-33, Jesus talks about the birds of the air and flowers of the field and how God provides everything they need.“Are you not much more valuable than they? ... will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? ...your heavenly Father knows[what] you need ...But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well”(NIV).Whether a person has a lot of money or a little, the same temptations present for everyone: the temptation to worry and seek to take control of one’s life, when our only true security is in God.
So, how might you grow as a steward of the time, talent, and treasures you have been given?
The most critical thing I have learned is how important it is to guard my heart posture. Who is on the throne of your life? Is it Jesus or is it the love of money/wealth/security?
Of course, answering with the former begs a further question: How do we keep Jesus on the throne of our lives? In short: by remaining steeped in Scripture.“Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in gooddeeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life” (1 Timothy 6:17-19).
Once you are rooted and grounded in your relationship with Jesus, you will be better able to learn tactics for growing as a steward of all He has given you. Your life matters. Your time, talent, and treasure matters to God. He has poured out all of these things on you in great measure and desires to pour out more on you—that the nations of the world might be blessed. In this journey of discipleship and growth as a steward, stay connected to Jesus; get to know Him andHis heart for you and for the world.
I’m not a financial advisor, but I’ve found the following to be helpful in my journey.
A budget is a plan that:
allows you to be more generous
tells your money where you want it to go rather than it telling you what you canor can’t do
allows you to invest and be prepared for future seasons
Confidence (and our bank accounts) grow as we practice honoring and living within our limits, which a budget helps us track. I’ve found You Need a Budget(“YNAB”) and Mint to be valuable tools for creating and managing my budget.
You want to learn:
solid biblical financial principles
how to manage money well
The parable of the sower (Matthew 13:1-23) shows that God brings multiplication where there is good soil.Being able to manage/steward money well means He will entrust more of it to you.
The Wealth Edit Guidebook by Emily Lassiter and Lauren Pearson is written from a specifically feminine point of view about how to be good with money and is one of my favorite resources. Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace University is also a good place to start—especially when the class is offered in a church community context.
Look for:
those who are running in the same direction as you
wise counselors and advisors who are seeking the Lord
WomenDoingWell.org is an incredibly life-affirming community of women who have helped me grow in confidence as a steward.
Find out:
what lights you up
what gifts you have been given to bless others
your purpose
Your passions can change throughout your lifetime, but your purpose remains the same. Knowing your purpose will help you discern “the best” among many good opportunities.
The “Two-Word Purpose” statement generator from OnPurpose.me can help you in answering what purpose is most core to who you are. Aptitude and values assessments andcoaching/counseling can also be incredibly beneficial.
Additional References: Mark 10:24b-25; Luke 12:13-21, 22-34, 16:10-13
