What does the Bible say about stewardship?
The Bible teaches that God owns everything, and people manage it for him. A steward is a trustee, not an owner. That one idea shapes how a Christian earns, saves, spends, gives, and leaves a legacy.
Several passages point the same way. Here is what each one teaches, in plain words:
| Passage | What it teaches about stewardship |
|---|---|
| Psalm 24:1 | The earth and all in it belong to the Lord. |
| Genesis 2:15 | Humans were placed in the garden to work it and care for it. |
| Matthew 25:14-30 | A master gives his servants different amounts and expects them to use what they were given. |
| Luke 12:16-21 | A rich man stores up grain for himself and loses sight of what matters. |
| Luke 12:48 | Those who receive more are held to more. |
| 1 Corinthians 4:2 | Faithfulness is what we look for in someone entrusted with something. |
| 1 Timothy 6:17-19 | The wealthy are told to hope in God, not in riches, and to be generous. |
| Proverbs 13:22 | A good person leaves an inheritance for their children’s children. |
Notice the range. Stewardship is not only about the offering plate. It also covers diligent work, wise saving, honest dealing, care for the family, and planning for what comes after you.
It also covers more than money. Many pastors speak of time, talent, and treasure. Seek First’s book uses the same words: “time, talent, and treasure.”
Two lines from the client’s own writing carry the heart of it. The firm takes its name from Matthew 6:33, where Jesus tells his listeners to “seek first the kingdom.” And a line many Christians know comes from Luke 12:48: “To whom much is given, much is required.” Read the stewardship glossary entry for a short definition.
What stewardship is not
Stewardship is not a promise of wealth. It is not a formula that guarantees an outcome. And it is not guilt. The Bible does not say that having money is wrong. It warns about loving money and about trusting in it. It also asks the wealthy to be generous and to hold their wealth with open hands.
Investing involves risk of loss, and no plan removes that. Stewardship asks you to act with wisdom, not to expect a certain result.
Is tithing required, and do I tithe on gross or net?
Christians disagree, and faithful believers land in different places. This page describes the main views and does not rule on them. Your pastor, your church, and your own study of Scripture are the right guides.
“Tithe” means a tenth. The word shows up in the Old Testament, for example in Genesis 14:20, Leviticus 27:30, and Malachi 3:10. In the New Testament, Jesus mentions the tithe in Matthew 23:23, and Paul writes about giving in 1 Corinthians 16:2 and 2 Corinthians 9:7.
Here are the main views, in a fair summary:
| View | In short | Passages people often cite |
|---|---|---|
| The tithe still stands | A tenth is the standing starting point for giving, and gifts beyond it are offerings. | Malachi 3:10, Matthew 23:23 |
| The tithe was Israel’s law | The tithe belonged to the old covenant. The New Testament asks for generous, cheerful, planned giving with no fixed percent. | 2 Corinthians 9:7, 1 Corinthians 16:2 |
| The tithe is a floor to grow from | Ten percent is a helpful guide for many, but a family’s capacity can grow, so the heart aims higher over time. | Luke 12:48, 2 Corinthians 8-9 |
| Giving is proportion plus purpose | The point is giving in proportion to what God has given, with a plan, and with a joyful heart. | 1 Corinthians 16:2, 2 Corinthians 9:7 |
A second question follows for those who do tithe: a tenth of what? People hold three common positions.
- Gross. Give on income before taxes, as an act of putting God first.
- Net. Give on take-home pay, since taxes are not money you ever receive.
- First fruits. Give first, before anything else is paid, then add more as you are able.
Scripture does not state a tax-adjusted base, so each view rests on reasoning from principles. Thoughtful believers choose differently. Some pick one view and hold it. Others pray about it each year and let it change as life changes.
Seek First does not say which view is right. A planner can help you see what each choice means in dollars, and how giving from different assets (cash, stock, or an IRA) changes the tax result. The decision about what to give is yours, and it is a spiritual one.
Read more in tithing and biblical generosity, the tithe glossary entry, and our post on tithing on gross or net.
How do I practice stewardship with real wealth?
Know what you have, decide what it is for, and plan each part on purpose. Then review the plan each year. Wealth adds complexity, and complexity can hide gaps in tax, estate, insurance, and giving.
The steps below work for any family. They are general, not advice for your situation.
- Take stock. List your accounts, property, debts, insurance, business interests, and any stock compensation. You cannot steward what you cannot see.
- Set the purpose. Write down what you want your wealth to do. For example: provide for your family, support your church, fund missions, and leave a legacy.
- Plan your giving. Decide how much, to whom, and from which assets. Giving appreciated stock may be treated differently for tax than giving cash. Learn more in charitable giving strategy.
- Plan your taxes. Taxes are a cost like any other, and Proverbs 21:5 praises careful planning. A plan built before the year ends can have more options than one built in April. See tax planning.
- Protect what you have. Review life, disability, long term care, and property coverage. See the insurance review guide.
- Plan for retirement as a new season. Seek First’s book says, “Retirement is not the finish line; it’s a transition into a new season of stewardship.” See retirement planning.
- Plan your legacy. Wills, trusts, and directives matter. So do conversations about faith and values. See trust and estate planning.
- Choose your investments with care. Some families want a portfolio to reflect their beliefs. Learn the trade-offs in biblically responsible investing and the biblically responsible investing entry.
- Review every year. Life changes. A plan that fit last year may need new steps now.
Where does a team help?
Wealth often brings an investment advisor, a CPA, an attorney, and an insurance agent. Each one sees only a part. Stewardship asks you to see the whole.
Seek First puts it this way: “When you have to coordinate an investment advisor, an outside CPA, an estate attorney, and an insurance agent, critical details get lost and strategies fall out of sync.” Read about the idea in what a multi-family office is.
The firm also says, “We view money as a tool for impact, not an end in itself.” And it describes its own giving: “At Seek First, we give away 100% of our profits every year.” You can read the details on its giving page.
If you want help choosing a guide who shares your values, read what a Christian financial advisor does.
What are the five stewardship gaps?
The five stewardship gaps are the Confidence Gap, the Coordination Gap, the Generosity Gap, the Identity Gap, and the Legacy Gap. Scott Pearring, CFP®, names them in his book as the places where financial success and Kingdom impact can drift apart.
Seek First describes the book as “a practical framework for closing the gaps between financial success and lasting Kingdom impact.” Here is each gap in the firm’s own words:
| Gap | What it asks you to do |
|---|---|
| The Confidence Gap | “Clarify your goals and eliminate the nagging question ‘Do I have enough?’” |
| The Coordination Gap | “Identify missed opportunities and unify your strategy with an integrated stewardship team.” |
| The Generosity Gap | “Move from reactive giving to intentional, tax-smart generosity to multiply your impact.” |
| The Identity Gap | “Step smoothly into your next season by anchoring your identity in your calling instead of your career.” |
| The Legacy Gap | “Move beyond basic legal documents to a family legacy framework that transfers your assets, faith, and values to the next generation.” |
Most families feel one or two of these more than the rest. A couple in their late 50s may feel the Confidence Gap, wondering if they have enough. A family with several advisors may feel the Coordination Gap. A person near retirement may feel the Identity Gap, because work has been their identity for decades.
Seek First offers a free tool to find out. The Stewardship Scorecard is a short self-assessment across all five gaps. It shows where you are strong and where you may be exposed. Read more about the book on The Five Stewardship Gaps page.
Each gap links to a topic on this site:
- Confidence: retirement planning and retirement income, RMDs and Social Security
- Coordination: multi-family office and tax planning
- Generosity: charitable giving strategy and donor-advised funds
- Identity: retirement planning
- Legacy: trust and estate planning and preparing heirs
How do I teach stewardship to my children?
Let them see you give, save, and plan, and tell them why. Children learn more from what they watch than from what they hear. Start small, let them practice, and grow the talk as they grow.
Proverbs 22:6 speaks of training a child in the way they should go. Money is one of the areas where that training counts. These habits help at most ages:
- Give in front of them. Let them see the offering, the envelope, or the online gift. Tell them where it goes.
- Give them money to manage. Even small amounts work. A simple split into give, save, and spend teaches proportion.
- Let them choose a gift. A child who picks a ministry or a person to help learns that giving is a choice, as 2 Corinthians 9:7 describes it.
- Talk about work. Show how effort connects to income and how income connects to responsibility.
- Tell the family story. Share how your family has seen provision and answered prayers.
- Allow small mistakes. A lost allowance teaches more than a lecture.
- Teach about debt. Proverbs 22:7 warns about the borrower and the lender. Explain how you think about debt and why.
For larger family wealth, add a second layer. Before you finalize wills or trusts, talk about values. Explain what you hope your wealth will do. Describe your giving. Decide what you will tell the next generation, and when. The Legacy Gap is about this. The guide on preparing heirs offers a way to start.
Documents carry assets. Conversations carry faith and values. A plan needs both. Your attorney and CPA can help with the legal side; see trust and estate planning for how those documents fit with your wider plan.
None of this is a rule for your family. Every household differs. Use what helps and set aside what does not.
How does stewardship fit with a financial plan?
A financial plan turns stewardship from an idea into action. It puts numbers beside your purpose, so you can see whether your money is doing what you want.
| Stewardship idea | What it looks like in a plan |
|---|---|
| God owns it all | Your plan starts with purpose, not only with a number |
| Faithfulness | Regular reviews, accurate records, and honest numbers |
| Generosity | A written giving plan, matched to tax and cash flow |
| Wisdom | Coordination of tax, legal, insurance, and investments |
| Legacy | Estate documents, plus family conversations about values |
Seek First starts with a free 20-minute call. The firm’s process has three parts: The Financial Roadmap Meeting, The Comprehensive Financial Strategy (five pillars: taxes, investments, legal, insurance, and goals), and Lifetime Guidance.
The firm is an SEC-registered investment adviser and says it is a fiduciary. Read more at how we serve. The information here is general. It is not tax or legal advice, so please ask your own CPA or attorney about your situation.
Next step
To go deeper, read about the book at The Five Stewardship Gaps and take the free Stewardship Scorecard. Then schedule a free call for a 20-minute complimentary consultation, or call (866) 398-4044.
Frequently asked questions
What does the Bible say about stewardship?
The Bible teaches that God owns everything and people manage it for him. Psalm 24:1 and 1 Corinthians 4:2 point to ownership and faithfulness. Matthew 25:14-30 and Luke 12:48 teach that those given more are expected to use it well. Stewardship covers money, time, and talent.
Is tithing required for Christians?
Christians disagree. Some hold that the tithe, a tenth, still stands as the starting point for giving. Others hold that it belonged to Israel's law, and that the New Testament calls for generous, cheerful, planned giving instead. Seek First does not rule on this. Talk with your pastor and weigh the passages for yourself.
Should I tithe on gross or net income?
Christians differ. Some give on gross income, taking the first portion before taxes. Others give on net, meaning take-home pay. Some start from first fruits and add more. Scripture does not name a tax-adjusted base, so this page describes the views fairly and leaves the decision to you, your family, and your pastor.
What are the five stewardship gaps?
They are the Confidence Gap, the Coordination Gap, the Generosity Gap, the Identity Gap, and the Legacy Gap. Scott Pearring, CFP®, names them in his book The Five Stewardship Gaps as the places where financial success and lasting Kingdom impact can drift apart.
How do I practice stewardship if I have significant wealth?
Start by knowing what you have and what you want it to do. Then plan your giving, tax, protection, and legacy on purpose, and review all of it each year. Luke 12:48 says, "To whom much is given, much is required." Good counsel from a team that sees the whole picture helps.
How do I teach my children about money and stewardship?
Let them see you give, save, and plan. Talk about why you do it, give them small amounts to manage, and let them make small mistakes while the stakes are low. Proverbs 22:6 speaks of training a child. For larger wealth, plan family conversations about values before you plan the paperwork.
