3-Legged Stool of Stewardship - John Houston
John Houston - HG Chief Executive Officer
As Christian business leaders, we often face unique challenges regarding finances. We are first accountable to God as we steward what He’s placed in our hands. We also must consider our long-term goals and any investors we’re managing. Balancing financial prosperity with Christian values can be challenging if our priorities are out of order. I like to approach stewardship like a 3-legged stool: generosity, time with God, and budgeting.
Leg 1: Time with God - Seeking His Wisdom and Guidance
If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and He will give it to you.
James 1:5 NLT
Even in our busyness and everyday pressure, we must find time to connect with God and seek His wisdom. This leg of the stool is essential for all areas of life – and money is no exception.
Consistent prayer, meditating on His word, and study can give us the clarity and wisdom we need to make responsible financial choices. God offers us strength during challenging times and reminds us of the real reason for any gift – to honor Him and to reach and serve others.
Leg 2: Generosity - A Heart of Giving
For God is the one who provides seed for the farmer and then bread to eat. In the same way, He will provide and increase your resources and then produce a great harvest of generosity in you.
2 Corinthians 9:10 NLT
Generosity is close to God’s heart. He blesses us because He loves us and wants us to bless others. We must be generous in both personal and professional financial dealings. Generosity can take many forms, including giving to your church, giving a large tip to a server, helping people in your community, or giving toward causes in other countries. Embracing generosity is one way we become more like Jesus.
Leg 3: Budgeting - Managing Resources Wisely
Good planning and hard work lead to prosperity, but hasty shortcuts lead to poverty.
Proverbs 21:5 NLT
Proper budgeting is crucial for any business leader, but for Christian business leaders, it’s even more important. Budgeting represents responsible stewardship of the resources that God has entrusted to us. It allows us to allocate funds in a manner that aligns with God’s heart and what we value most.
We should create budgets that reflect our desire to steward what God’s placed in our hands. Everything is His anyway, so how can we utilize finances to represent what we believe and what God’s done for us? The way we approach budgeting is a witness to those around us. Additionally, responsible budgeting can help keep us on the right track, avoiding financial pitfalls and temptations that may lead us to treasure money over God and people.
I hope this helps provide a solid foundation for you to steward their finances effectively and in a way that’s pleasing to God. Time with God, generosity, and budgeting form a balanced strategy for reaching people for Christ and giving to the Kingdom. I pray we can navigate the business world with a heart of giving, connection to God, and a commitment to wise financial management. Then, we can truly be good and faithful stewards, honoring God in all we do.