When addressing the topic of stewardship in the Christian community, what is the first thought that comes to mind? For most believers, it is overwhelmingly about tithing and finances. We’ve all heard the sermons claiming that Jesus spoke more about money than anything else. While it is true that money is often mentioned in both the Old and New Testaments, those verses are not just about money and possessions but serve as illustrations teaching deeper spiritual lessons. Stewardship is far greater than how we handle money. It is God’s directive to walk in dominion according to His ways in every area of our lives, beginning in the Garden.
And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moves upon the earth” (Genesis 1:28).
“And the Lord God took the man and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it” (Genesis 2:15).
God created the garden containing everything humanity would need and placed it in our care to tend, watch over, preserve, and guard according to His purposes. Though it all still belonged to Him, God entrusted Adam and Eve with authority and responsibility. There was no money involved—only the charge to steward creation. Sadly, their failure wasn’t with what they had been given, but with the one thing they were forbidden to take. It is often the things we should not have that trip us up, when all God asks is that we faithfully steward what He has given us. Think about it: the snares are not in what God provides, but in what we try to obtain without Him.
Anything given by our good Lord—home, family, spouse, children, work, possessions, property, and yes, money—comes with a commission to exercise dominion responsibly. All of life as a child of God and follower of Christ is to be centered on Kingdom principles. How we live reflects not only how we view God, but how we respond to Him in our relationship with Jesus. That’s why Jesus said:
“Lay not up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal: but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in nor steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:19–21).
Here Jesus calls us to reflect deeply on our priorities. Our treasures shape our hearts, and our hearts shape our lives. If our treasure is in money or possessions, we open ourselves to decay and loss. But if our treasure is in Christ, our lives grow in gratitude, generosity, faith, compassion, and love—treasures that thrive in community and endure into eternity. That is the foundation of godly stewardship.
Paul wrote to the church in Corinth: “Let us be regarded as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful” (1 Corinthians 4:1–2). As stewards, we must obey God’s Word and the leading of His Spirit. Every day God places before us opportunities to do what is right in His sight. Whether giving materially, monetarily, or emotionally, faithful stewards respond according to God’s will.
Yes, stewardship includes tithing, offerings, and firstfruits, but it is far more than that. As I once heard said, if someone is not faithful in tithing, they are usually not faithful in other areas of life. Jesus Himself said: “He who is faithful in very little is faithful also in much; and he who is unjust in very little is unjust also in much” (Luke 16:10). Failing to give God what belongs to Him often reflects unfaithfulness in other responsibilities entrusted to us. It reveals poor management not only of money, but also of relationships—with spouses, children, employers, employees, and friends. Every area of life tests whether we are walking with God, trusting Him, and seeking to please Him. True stewardship is storing up treasures in heaven, where riches are eternal and incorruptible.
While we are called to handle money with integrity, stewardship goes far beyond finances. It encompasses maintaining integrity in every matter, big or small. In fact, the last words Jesus spoke were about being stewards of the Gospel:
“All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:18–20).
Perhaps the greatest example of stewardship in the life of a follower of Jesus is this: to take His story, His life, His grace, and His salvation to the world.