We have all heard read and heard sermons on the “Parable of the Talents” where three servants are given amounts of money to take care of while the Master is on a long journey. The moral of the story is that we are to be good stewards of what God has given us while we are awaiting the return of Jesus. It can be talents or gifts. It can be financial resources. It can be time. In our context this month, because we are going to be talking about stewardship and generosity, we will specifically focus on money. However, the principles of stewardship and generosity apply to whatever God has given us stewardship over. So how does good stewardship breed generosity? I want to share 3 ways.
When my financial house is in order, I can feel generous.
There have been many people who I have sat across from which say words like, “Pastor, I don’t know what to do. I feel so overwhelmed. I am living paycheck to paycheck and feel like I can’t make any headway let alone give to the church.” Having grown up in a family where there were those times where it came down to pinching pennies, I understand what it means to live paycheck to paycheck. But one of the questions I ask is, “Do you have a budget?” There have been very few individuals who answered, “Yes, I do have a budget and live by it.” Instead I get this puzzled look when they ask, “What does having a budget have to do with me feeling overwhelmed by my finances?” I then go on to explain to them that once they are able to create a workable budget, it will start to give them peace of mind because they will have a plan as to where there money is going. I promise them that if they create and work their budget, they will begin to not feel overwhelmed. It is then, I explain, that you will be able to feel that giving and generosity are an option.
When my financial house is in order, I can be generous.
While this seems to be redundant with the last point, it isn’t. There is a difference between feeling generous and being generous. I can feel generous all I want, but if I am not able to tangibly be generous then it is just a good feeling. When I have a budget and as a part of the budget I earmark money to give to God and to others, then I am able to write that check every month because I have my financial house in order. I am able to give to the church. I am able to give to help others through ADRA or some other agency. I am able to not only feel generous but to be able to be generous in a tangible way.
When my financial house is in order, I am able to help others be generous.
Whether it has been through pre-marital counseling, Joshua’s Men or through one on one counseling or mentoring, I have been able to help others get their financial house in order so they are able to be generous. However, I wouldn’t be able to do that if my financial house wasn’t in order. I am not one of those people who preach, “Do as I say not as I do.” If I give you some advice or guidance, I am normally practicing it already in my life. So by having my financial house in order, I can help others be generous.
Conversation:
- Is your financial house in order? Are you living on a budget? Do you have emergency funds? Are you paying down consumer debt if you have any? Are you funding your retirement and saving for your children’s college expenses?
- How are you helping others be generous?
Recommended Reading
Investment advisor Austin Pryor has carefully created the "next step" guide that helps you put Godly principles of finance into motion. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced investor, you'll benefit from crossing the bridge between theory and action. Each user-friendly lesson is written in laymen’s terms and includes helpful visual aids.
In this revised and updated edition of The Sound Mind Investing Handbook, you'll learn essentials like:
- Six characteristics of investing that glorifies God
- Why mutual funds make investing easier than ever
- How to make the right decisions for you, while limiting risk
- How to keep pace with the markets
- Preparing wisely for retirement
- Navigating taxes, IRAs, 401(k)s, and more
College professors have used this book in their finance classes because it’s so easy to understand. Whether you invest a little or a lot, these biblical principles apply to you, and you can understand them. Simply put: Learning about investing doesn’t get easier than this.