Generous stewardship

Most Christian parents would say one of their greatest responsibilities is instilling moral standards in their children. But in many cases, money management is missing from the conversation, even though stewardship is an important Biblical principle.

Matt Bell’s book Trusted: Preparing Your Kids for a Lifetime of God-Honoring Money Management (Focus on the Family 2023) helps parents teach children about topics like generosity, budgeting, and cautious borrowing. Bell contends that if parents don’t guide their children, the kids will learn unhealthy habits from our “consumer culture.” He discusses related topics like establishing a good work ethic and using time and talents to help others. Adults, too, can glean plenty about prioritizing wants and needs like mortgage debt, insurance premiums, entertainment spending, and so forth. Bell speaks from experience and writes in a simple, engaging style.

Will Ertel’s book Resolve: A Personal Financial Planning Book for Twentysomethings (Oikonomia Books 2023) is exactly that: a guide for people between the ages of 20 and 29. Ertel, a financial planner and CPA, wrote Resolve to help young adults transitioning from dependence to independence to get serious about stewardship. He breaks down the book into five basic components: Give charitably, set and take action on financial goals, create margin in your budget, save and invest your margin, and plan your estate. This book would make a good gift for a recent college graduate or a young married couple.

Both authors emphasize giving generously and strongly caution against a prosperity gospel mentality. Ertel urges readers to consider this: “If my money and possessions are useless to me for all eternity after I pass away from this Earth, what is the best use of these resources now?”