Steward vs. Own
God Owns My Business
We’re working with God’s goods. We’re the cooks in His kitchen. That’s the honest, humbling truth. Even, and perhaps especially, if you started your own business, you’re creating out of the ingredients God created first.
We see this in the Garden of Eden, right? Adam didn’t create the Garden. He cultivated it. Instead of owning it, he stewarded it. And that’s what Faith Driven Entrepreneurs can do with our businesses as well.
We see ourselves as stewards of God’s resources. We understand that He has entrusted these resources to us to steward effectively according to His purposes rather than our own. Because of this, we see the role of money as a tool. Because God is the owner, any finances under our control are tools for His ultimate purpose. This results in intentionality and radical generosity.
We understand that financial success provides us an opportunity to financially partner with ministries, and yet we also realize that a God who took five loaves and 2 fish and fed 5,000 doesn’t need our money lest we boast, have inordinate pride, or feel an undue anxiety that He needs us and our success.
We celebrate that He provides great opportunities to participate in the work He is doing for His (not our) glory.
Initiatives:
Setting a financial finish line. Answering the question: “How much is enough?” through prayer, counsel and time in God’s word.
Attending an event on the Biblical Message of Generosity such as “Journey of Generosity” from Generous Giving and once attended, inviting others to come as well.
Holistic mission clearly explained to major stakeholders (revisited at least 1x/year)
Integrate Scripture / Biblical principles into a written Spiritual Integration plan
Operations are evaluated holistically (both business returns and spiritual impact)
Invite others to hold us accountable to our plans
Scripture references:
“For we are God’s co-workers; you are God’s field, God’s building.” 1 Corinthians 3:9
“Therefore David blessed the LORD before all the assembly; and David said: “Blessed are You, LORD God of Israel, our Father, forever and ever. Yours, O LORD, is the greatness, The power and the glory, The victory and the majesty; For all that is in heaven and in earth is Yours; Yours is the kingdom, O LORD, And You are exalted as head over all. Both riches and honor come from You, And You reign over all. In Your hand is power and might; In Your hand it is to make great And to give strength to all. ‘Now therefore, our God, We thank You And praise Your glorious name.’” 1 Chronicles 29:10-13 (NKJV)
“‘Follow my decrees and be careful to obey my laws, and you will live safely in the land. Then the land will yield its fruit, and you will eat your fill and live there in safety. You may ask, “What will we eat in the seventh year if we do not plant or harvest our crops?” I will send you such a blessing in the sixth year that the land will yield enough for three years. While you plant during the eighth year, you will eat from the old crop and will continue to eat from it until the harvest of the ninth year comes in. The land must not be sold permanently, because the land is mine and you reside in my land as foreigners and strangers.” Leviticus 25:18-23 (NIV)
“I bring no charges against you concerning your sacrifices or concerning your burnt offerings, which are ever before me I have no need of a bull from your stall or of goats from your pens, for every animal of the forest is mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills. I know every bird in the mountains, and the insects in the fields are mine. If I were hungry I would not tell you, for the world is mine, and all that is in it. Do I eat the flesh of bulls or drink the blood of goats? “Sacrifice thank offerings to God, fulfill your vows to the Most High, and call on me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor me.” Psalm 50:8-15 (NIV)