Christian Stewardship

Jesus radically turns our earthly, common notions about money upside down.

Through this parable in Matthew, Jesus teaches his disciples about responsibility. Our English word for “talent” comes from this parable. We use the word to talk about our natural giftings, but in the original parable, “talent” refers to a vast sum of money.

The vastness of the property entrusted to the servants reminds us that God’s gifts are expansive and generous. Believing that God did not entrust us with enough betrays a sinful sense of entitlement—he gives each of us precisely the right responsibility.

Perhaps most importantly, Jesus teaches us through this parable that God’s gifts to us are ultimately his, not ours. When the master left, the property he entrusted to his servants still belonged to him.

So first, consider your giftings, whether skill, experience, testimony, or wealth, and accept that they belong to God. The wealth of the nations, the finances of billionaires, and every penny of the homeless belong to the Lord.

At this thought, some might feel the anxiety in their hearts worsening. But this spiral of fearful thinking caused the unfaithful servant to bury his talent. Dreading repercussions from a “hard” Lord and master is not the way forward, nor is fear of losing what we’ve earned.

Instead, Jesus calls us simply to act faithfully given our circumstances.

That is Christian stewardship.

Although the first two obedient servants are given two talents and five talents, they are rewarded with the same share of their master’s joy. The third servant was clouded by fear, laziness, and perhaps resentment that he was not entrusted with more.

While Jesus’ parable feels stern, it also encourages us: God rewards us with his joy for our faithfulness, not the outcome. He deals with that.

Jesus made this vividly clear to his disciples when he watched the offering box in the temple. When a widow followed the wealthy people’s massive offerings, he said: “Truly, I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the offering box” (Mark 12:41–44).

Without a good grasp of stewardship in God’s kingdom, we won’t understand how Jesus can bring peace into our finances.

Now reflect on this: Do you consider your faithfulness more important than monetary results? If not, why not?

Is faithfulness reflected in how much you give to a ministry or church every year?

Is the number in your bank account or the amount in your 401(k) your obsession?

We know that wealth is transient. Proverbs 23:5 puts it aptly and humorously, “When your eyes light on [wealth], it is gone, for suddenly it sprouts wings, flying like an eagle toward heaven.”

Take stock of your money. While in prayer, physically open your hands before the Lord to remind yourself that all of it belongs to him.

Ask God to open your heart to Jesus’ countercultural way of godly stewardship—namely, the idea that God owns our possessions, not us.