Dear Friends:

Because God knew we would need wisdom in our decision-making, He gave us a lens through which we can view our decisions.  In Scripture, it is clear over and over that God is the owner of all and that we are stewards of the gifts, talents, treasure, and time that He has entrusted to us. If you are beginning a business, I encourage you to use the lens of stewardship to make wise choices.

My definition of biblical stewardship is, “the use of God-given gifts and resources (time, talent, treasure, truth, relationships) for the accomplishment of God-given goals and objectives.”  When I am called to a particular path, I am called to maximize my use of God’s resources in my life in order to maximize His glory in my life by accomplishing His purposes for my life. I believe that there are four principles of biblical stewardship that we need to remember as we pursue the calling that God has put on our hearts. (Taken from the Parable of the Talents in Matthew 25)

1. God owns it all.  Haggai 2:8 says, “The silver is mine and the gold is mine, declares the Lord Almighty.” (NIV).  If God owns it all, then He has the right to whatever He wants, whenever He wants it.  Additionally, if God owns it all, every financial decision that I make is important to God, because I am handling His resources. Finally, if God owns it all, every spending decision is a spiritual decision; there is nothing more spiritual about starting a business than there would be in giving the money away or in paying off debt.  It’s all God’s money.
2. We are in a growth process.  God uses our money and other resources in our lives as a tool, a test, and a testimony.  His ultimate purpose is that we are conformed to the image of Jesus, and He will use our circumstances and our decisions in accomplishing that purpose.  Often, we desire clean circumstances with few detours.  God uses all circumstances and all detours to grow us and shape us as His beloved children.
3. The amount is not important.  Whether you are stewarding a huge vision or a small next step, God is pleased by your faithfulness in both small and large.  Brother Lawrence, a cook in a monastery in the 17th century said, “Whether I am washing the dishes with all the clatter of the plates around me or whether I’m working in the kitchen, I can preserve my soul with as much serenity in God’s Presence as when I am on my knees partaking of the bread and the cup.”  Living as a steward of the calling God has for you makes your secular workplace a place of spiritual encounter.  
4. Faith requires action.  As I said in the video, if you know that God is calling you to action in starting a business, you must begin with a first step of faith.  Living by the Truth is much stronger than living by what we can see or by what we feel. As you move out in faith, God will continue to reveal next steps and He will continue to accomplish His purposes in your life.

I encourage you, as you move out in faith to pursue your calling, to remember that you are a steward of God’s resources. He is accomplishing His good purposes in your life and in the world at large through your stewardship.

May God’s peace encourage you as you pursue financial wisdom and depend on His Truth.

Blessings,

Ron


Click here for the video transcript