Often times I think we jump right into the details – the deep end, if you will – without fully understanding the big picture. However, when you skip the big picture explanation and just start talking or doing things, there is a chance that you could deviate from your intended goal or evolve away from your mission without even realizing it.

On Saturday, I’m going to jump into specifics about How to Get Financially Fit for Fall, but before we do that let’s start the Financial Principles series, shall we?

n.b. I am a huge fan of sharing information in its original form. Shrewd + Beatific is about promoting a positive, counter-cultural ethos of women that want to feel capable and strong with regards to the direction of their careers and their confidence in being able to manage their personal finances. Some times that might be me sharing my thoughts and other times it might be connecting you all with the resources I’ve researched and uncovered over the years!

Enter the Good $ense Ministry (GSM) stage left. They put together a comprehensive list of verses, broken down by personal finance category, that point to important, foundational truths. These truths are imperative for successful and Godly management of your finances.

First up, we'll be talking about the Steward Mindset.

What is a Steward Mindset?

The Steward Mindset is how we as Christians view the world we live in, specifically as something God has entrusted to us in order to advance His kingdom. However, we are not born with this mindset and, subsequently, must cultivate it. Not only is personal finance not taught in schools but it is not regularly taught in Sunday school either. Hence, we need to start with the basics and work our way up from there.

Leveraging the thoughtful work of GSM, I see their principles in terms of three buckets: "Who is God?", "Who are we?", and "What does a steward do?"

WHO IS GOD?

For any Christian, this applies to more than just personal finances but it bears repeating in the context of personal finance. God created and owns everything. I think often times we know this intellectually and spiritually, but when it comes to our money, stuff, and decisions we forget that these truths apply to those areas as well.

God created everything.

“In the beginning there was nothing, and God created” - Genesis 1:1

God owns everything.

“The silver is mine and the gold is mine,’ declares the LORD Almighty” - Haggai 2:8

“Every animal of the forest is mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills” - Psalm 50:10

“The earth and the fullness thereof belong to the Lord and all those who live within” - Psalm 37:21 KJV

Who are we?

If God owns everything, ipso facto we own nothing. We simply are being entrusted with He created for our short time (from an eternal perspective) on this plant.

We are trustees.

“A person who is put in charge as a manager must be faithful” - 1 Corinthians 4:1–2 NLT

We can't serve two masters.

“No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money” - Matthew 6:24 NLT

What Does a Steward do?

The obvious answer here is to “be responsible” with your money, but I think GSM nails it on the head that it doesn’t stop there. We are each called to pursue truth if and when we realize we are lacking in wisdom. Just as we are called to grow emotionally, we are also being asked by God to press into financial maturation as well. Likewise, we need to set goals around where think God is asking us to go in life and must be extremely diligent about maintaining the highest level of integrity in the process. 

Uses resources wisely.

“His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’” - Matthew 25:21–28

Pursues biblical, financial knowledge.

“Buy the truth and do not sell it; get wisdom, discipline and understanding” – Proverbs 23:23

“Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed” - Proverbs 15:22

Creates measurable goals and realistic plans. 

“Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and your plans will succeed” - Proverbs 16:3

Fosters trustworthiness.

“Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else’s property, who will give you property of your own?” - Luke 16:10–1

Knowing the biblical basis for where we are headed is paramount to me. Over the next couple of weeks we will delve into what the bible has to say about the remaining Financial Principles – Earning, Giving, Saving, Debt, and Spending – so stay tuned!