Leveraging Temporal Wealth for Eternal GainSample

Day 7: Financial Accountability

We have talked about the why, when, how, how much, and where of giving. Now let’s talk about the who. Who else should be involved in our giving decisions (besides our spouse, if married)?

Financial accountability is allowing someone into our lives who knows our complete financial situation and holds us responsible for our actions. Accountability increases the chance that we will live as wise stewards of everything God has entrusted to us.

Accountability can also help us overcome the subtle and potentially negative impact of wealth. We cannot serve both God and money. To avoid serving money, we need to surrender our finances to God and put Him at the center of our lives. Giving as God leads is the only antidote to the temptation of accumulation. The more money we have, the more we need accountability to avoid serving wealth.

In the third century, Cyprian, the bishop of Carthage, wrote this description of the affluent:

Their property held them in chains ... chains which shackled their courage and choked their faith and hampered their judgment and throttled their soul. ... If they stored up their treasure in heaven, they would not now have an enemy and a thief within their own household. ... They think of themselves as owners, whereas it is they rather who are owned: enslaved as they are to their own property, they are not the masters of their money but its slaves. (From Treatise III: On the Lapsed)

Cyprian says we keep money from becoming a master in our lives by storing up heavenly treasures. We do this partly by giving away our wealth—long before we begin to view ourselves as “rich” (and by global standards, anyone able to read this plan can be considered “rich”). However, when considering how to use our assets, giving is not typically the first use that comes to mind. Accountability is necessary to move us toward a posture of generosity and maximize our giving.

What should you look for in an accountability partner? Choose someone who understands what the Bible says about money but who also has the courage to challenge you to maximize your generosity during your lifetime and not only in your estate plan.

Sometimes, a like-minded Christian will meet these qualifications. However, they may not have expertise with charitable-giving vehicles and techniques. Thus, you may want to enlist a like-minded financial professional to advise you as well.

Fortunately, the Christian financial industry has grown, and these individuals are more accessible than ever. Look for someone with the Certified Kingdom Advisor (CKA) designation. You can find these advisors at (among other firms) Blue Trust, which has offered Bible-based financial advice for over 45 years.

Luke 12:48 reminds us that much is required from those to whom much is given. We encourage you to reflect on your generosity and consider whether finding an accountability partner would be a wise move in your stewardship journey.