Biblical giving encompasses the act of tithing, which involves giving a tenth of one's income, and giving — whether it be money, possessions or time — to advance the kingdom of God and bless others in need.

(Check out a Guide for Weekly Giving to see where you are in your giving and by moving one step to the left discover what growing by one percent would mean for you.)

The Bible teaches that everything we have belongs to God, and by tithing, we acknowledge God's ultimate ownership and trust in the provision we have been given. By obeying this command, we recognize that God is our ultimate provider on whom we rely for our needs. It is sometimes helpful to think about what we have as being on loan, "for we brought nothing into the world, so that we can take nothing out of it." (see 1 Timothy 6:7)

Stewardship isn't just about money

God has given us unique gifts and abilities, and calls us to use them to the glory of God. Whether volunteering at our local church, serving in our communities or using our skills to benefit others, giving our time and talents demonstrates our willingness to be good stewards of the abilities God has entrusted to us.

Practically speaking

Practically speaking, being a good steward involves taking responsibility for our finances, time and talents and using them for God's purposes. It requires practicing generosity, supporting the work of the church and caring for those in need based on the foundational belief that we are the caretakers, not the owners, of God's blessings.

In the texts of Scripture can be found foundational budgeting principles: avoiding debt; giving generously and making wise investments. Budgeting helps us "steward" our resources. With practice we can learn and discover "good" stewardship by concurrently prioritizing needs, developing disciplines necessary for setting aside resources for specific and planned purposes and giving generously.

Taking steps toward stewardship

Collectively as a church, exercising good financial stewardship requires these steps:

1. 1. Establishing a church budget as a way of planning for the future that allocates funds based on needs
   2. Maintaining sufficient transparency so that as a body everyone has the opportunity to understand where the church stands as compared with the current plan (budget); the giving of others in the congregation, and knowledge of current circumstances
   3. Avoiding impulsive spending and accruing unnecessary debt
   4. Seeking financial advice from trusted sources when necessary
   5. Regularly reviewing financial statements, promoting ongoing stewardship education and, encouraging congregational focus on existing goals

By recognizing that everything we possess ultimately belongs to God, we can begin to grasp the concept of stewardship. As caretakers and managers (the definition of stewardship) of God's resources, we can live intentionally and respond with joyful and sacrificial hearts. Acknowledging God's ownership empowers us to use our blessings wisely, from our material wealth to our time, talents and the earth itself, by taking a heart-centered approach to stewardship and giving in alignment God's will for the church and for us as individual parts of the Body of Christ.