Being a good steward is about managing the resources you have—whether it’s time, money, or talents—in a way that aligns with God’s principles and brings glory to Him.
For faith-based individuals, the Bible serves as the ultimate guide to stewardship, offering wisdom on how to honor God through our finances. Developing habits that reflect biblical stewardship helps you walk in obedience, care for others, and give generously. (Read our guide to what the Bible says about money to learn more.)
Is Good Stewardship Strictly a Christian Practice?
No! While being a good steward is rooted in Biblical principles, understanding the habits of good stewardship can help anyone who is looking to responsibly manage their resources, regardless of faith. In fact, many of these principles have grown over time to become conventional financial planning best practices in the “secular” world.
|
Want to learn more about practicing good stewardship? Our Certified Financial Planners® can help you make the most out of your practices. |
What are the 7 Habits of Being a Good Steward?
Here are the top habits of a good steward that can transform your financial life and, if it’s important to you, your overall spiritual health.
1) Recognize God as the Owner of Everything
The first step in biblical stewardship is recognizing that everything you have belongs to God. Psalm 24:1 says, “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it.” Understanding that your resources are entrusted to you by God changes your perspective. It positions you as a manager, not an owner, and encourages you to make wise decisions out of reverence and responsibility.
Develop the habit of daily gratitude. Acknowledge God as the ultimate provider of your income, possessions, and opportunities. When you view everything as God’s, it becomes easier to make decisions that align with His will rather than your own.
2) Live Within Your Means
A good steward practices financial discipline by living within their means. Proverbs 21:20 teaches, “The wise store up choice food and olive oil, but fools gulp theirs down.” This principle reminds us of the importance of budgeting, planning, and avoiding unnecessary debt. Overspending not only creates financial stress, but it also limits your ability to give or save for the future.
Create and stick to a budget by prioritizing your needs over your wants. Learn to distinguish between necessities and luxuries, and resist the cultural pull toward materialism. Faithful stewardship often requires sacrifice, but it also brings freedom and peace of mind.
3) Set Aside Money for Giving
Giving is at the heart of biblical stewardship. Proverbs 3:9-10 says, “Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the first fruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing.” Tithing—giving 10% of your income—is an act of worship and obedience to God. But stewardship goes beyond tithing; it’s about cultivating a generous spirit that mirrors God’s own generosity.
Make generosity a consistent part of your financial habits. Set aside a portion of your income specifically for giving, whether through your church, supporting missionaries, or helping those in need. Consider creating a donor-advised fund as a way to streamline your giving more wisely. Our article, What is a Donor-Advised Fund?: Tips to Give Smarter, can help you get started.
4) Save and Plan for the Future
A responsible steward plans for the future. Proverbs 21:5 reminds us, “The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty.” Saving and investing are practical ways to prepare for uncertainties and ensure that you will have resources to provide for your family and serve others down the road.
Adopt the habit of setting financial goals, such as creating an emergency fund or saving for retirement. Avoid getting caught up in worry about the future, but aim to be intentional in the way you allocate your resources, trusting God to guide and bless your efforts.
5) Avoid Becoming a Slave to Debt
Debt can hinder your ability to act as a good steward. Proverbs 22:7 warns, “The borrower is slave to the lender.” While some forms of debt, such as a mortgage or education loans, may be strategic, excessive or unnecessary debt can lead to financial burdens that restrict your freedom to give, save, or invest in your future.
Develop the habit of careful financial decision-making. Before taking on debt, prayerfully consider whether it aligns with God’s will and whether it is truly necessary. Pay off high-interest debts as quickly as possible and practice patience when it comes to spending on non-essentials.
6) Practice Contentment
Contentment is key to honoring God with your finances. Hebrews 13:5 urges, “Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.’” When you focus on what you have rather than what you lack, it becomes easier to steward your resources with a grateful and peaceful heart.
Avoid comparing your financial situation to those around you. Instead, remind yourself that your identity and worth are found in Christ, not in material wealth or possessions. Cultivating contentment helps you make wise choices and strengthens your trust in God’s provision.
7) Regularly Reflect and Pray
Effective stewardship requires constant reflection and alignment with God’s will. James 1:5 assures us, “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.” Develop the habit of praying over your finances and asking for wisdom in managing them.
Schedule regular times to review your financial goals, spending habits, and progress. Review your investments as well to ensure the companies you’re investing in align with your faith-based values. (Yes! Faith-based investing is possible!)
And don’t be afraid to seek guidance from God and trusted mentors or financial advisors who share your faith-based values. Look for advisors who are Certified Kingdom Advisors® (CKAs®). A CKA® is a financial advisor who shares the Christian faith and is specially trained and certified to provide financial advice that’s rooted in biblical values and truths.
Bonus Tip: Don’t Seek Perfection
Being a good steward is not about achieving perfection, but about faithfully managing the resources God has entrusted to you. By committing to these habits of good stewardship, you can honor Him through your finances. Trust that as you align your heart and habits with His Word, God will bless your stewardship and use it to impact His kingdom in meaningful ways.
Find a Certified Kingdom Advisor Who Can Help
If you’d like to learn more about working with a Certified Kingdom Advisor®, schedule a time to meet with Advent Partners today. Our team includes experienced CKAs® who can offer you a spiritually integrated approach to financial planning that ensures you, your faith, and your family are ready for good.
|
Get Help Now Our Certified Financial Planners® are eager to work with you. |
DISCLAIMERS
Investment advisory services offered through Thrivent Advisor Network, LLC., (herein referred to as “TAN”), a registered investment adviser. Clients will separately engage an unaffiliated broker-dealer or custodian to safeguard their investment advisory assets.
Review the Thrivent Advisor Network Client Relationship Summary, Financial Planning and Consulting Services, Investment Management Services (Non-Wrap) and Wrap-Fee Program brochures for a full description of services, fees and expenses, available at Thriventadvisornetwork.com. Thrivent Advisor Network, LLC’s Advisory Persons may also be registered representatives of a broker-dealer to offer securities products.
Advisory Persons of Thrivent Advisor Network provide advisory services under a “doing business as” name or may have their own legal business entities. However, advisory services are engaged exclusively through Thrivent Advisor Network, LLC, a registered investment
adviser. Advent Partners and Thrivent Advisor Network, LLC are not affiliated companies.
Securities offered through Thrivent Investment Management Inc. (“TIMI”), member FINRA and SIPC, and a subsidiary of Thrivent, the marketing name for Thrivent Financial for Lutherans. Thrivent.com/disclosures. TIMI and Advent Partners are not affiliated companies.
The purpose of the communication is to illustrate how accepted financial and estate planning principles may improve your current situation. The term “plan” or “planning,” when used within this report, does not imply that a recommendation has been made to implement one or more financial plans or make a particular investment. You should use this Report to help you focus on the factors that are most important to you. Review the Financial Planning Disclosure Document and the Financial Planning Agreement for a full description of the services offered and fees.
This Report does not provide legal, tax, or accounting advice. Before making decisions with legal, tax, or accounting ramifications, you should consult appropriate professionals for advice that is specific to your situation. Advisors are not licensed attorneys, and legal advice is not part of any engagement for financial planning or estate planning services.
Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc. (CFP Board) owns the CFP® certification mark, the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ certification mark, and the CFP® certification mark (with plaque design) logo in the United States, which it authorizes use of by individuals who successfully complete CFP Board’s initial and ongoing certification requirements.
