For me, nothing is more important than my desire to be found faithful—a good steward. If you are a Jesus follower, I know you feel the same way.

To be a good steward simply means to honor God with 100 percent of our time, talent, and treasure. It sounds simple, yes, but that’s a tall order! It’s why stewardship is #61 on my list of 70 things every man needs to know

To make good stewardship decisions, I’ve developed a personal dashboard to which I frequently refer—usually several times a day. My dashboard helps me consider every decision through three questions:

• What would love do? (1 Corinthians 16:14, the mindset of a son)
• What does the Master need? (Luke 17:10, the mindset of a servant)
• What does faithful look like? (1 Corinthians 4:2, the mindset of a steward)

1 Corinthians 4:2 says, “Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must be found faithful.” The word “trust” is the same word used for house manager, or steward—you’ve been entrusted with something to manage. So the obvious question then is, “What does faithful look like?”

Four Lifestyle Choices

A lot of faithfulness has to do with your lifestyle choices. Here are four lifestyles and spending approaches men choose.

1. Living above their means: The spendthrift lives up to limits of his income—and beyond. He teeters perpetually on the brink of financial disaster. He is constantly refinancing and borrowing more. It has not occurred to many men that it takes more energy to earn a living and service a debt than it does to just earn a living. The Bible doesn’t prohibit debt, but it is never recommended. The Bible is full of cautions against debt and offers much counsel about how to overcome the negative consequences.
2. Living at their means: A lot of men want more of the good life. However, they are not so foolish that they borrow for “experiences” or depreciating assets, but neither are they so wise that they think about a rainy day. They spend everything they make on lifestyle. In a way, they are like the man who hears God’s Word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it and make it unfruitful.
3. Living within their means: Men who live within their means recognize that everything they have belongs to God and that the Bible calls all men to be stewards of what God has entrusted to them. Not only do such men save for a rainy day, but they have a well thought out retirement plan as well. They tithe* joyfully.
4. Living below their means. This unusually disciplined man has decided to live a lifestyle lower than he could easily afford. He wants to model the right values to his family. He does not want to be distracted by the worries, riches, and pleasures of this world. Although he uses the things of this world, he has not become engrossed in them. He has the gift of giving and would rather make eternal investments than spend up to the limits of his income.

*Sidebar on tithing: Many men think the concept of tithing is an Old Testament idea that no longer applies. Yet tithing is fully ratified by Jesus himself. “What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you are careful to tithe even the tiniest income from your herb gardens, but you ignore the more important aspects of the law—justice, mercy, and faith. You should tithe, yes, but do not neglect the more important things” (Matthew 23:23 NLT, emphasis added).

Jesus said, in essence, “Look! You scrupulously give 10 percent of every dime you earn, but you’re careless about your behavior! You need to add ethical behavior, without neglecting the tithing you already do.” Remember, belief determines behavior. Let God’s Word do its work.

One thing worth noting: Only men in the third and fourth categories can reasonably expect to become financially independent in retirement. Ask yourself: “Which category do I live in? Which category do I think God wants me to live in?”

Six Practical Suggestions

Here are six practical suggestions to be a steward who hears, “Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!” (Matthew 25:23b):

1. Don’t get engrossed with your possessions. There’s nothing wrong with enjoying nice things. You should! Just remember: Money makes a wonderful servant but a ruthless master.
2. Take care of the possessions you do have. My brother once asked why I took such good care of my diving equipment. I told him, “Because it will be worth more when I sell it.” Today I would add, “And it glorifies God.”
3. Give 10 percent of your income to the work of God. I’ve never met a man who tithed and regretted it. Think of it like a tax you owe, and pay it with joy in your heart.
4. Give above a tithe as God blesses and as you feel led. The happiest men I’ve known are almost without exception the most generous—and that’s at every socioeconomic level.
5. Save 10 percent of your income. The nest egg principle I wrote about in The Man in the Mirror explains that you can retire comfortably if you will save and invest for your entire 40-year career.
6. Get out of debt. The problem with borrowing money is that you have to pay it back—usually long after enjoying what it bought (except for a home). Debt is dumb.

I lived the first decade of my adult life with this philosophy: Money will solve my problems and success will make me happy. But Jesus never said, “Well done, good and successful servant.” Truth? Jesus will solve my problems, and faithfulness will make me happy. You too.

Always on your side,

Pat

For Reflection and Discussion

• Heart (Reflection): Which of the four lifestyle categories best describes how you are currently living—and what might that reveal about what you truly believe about God and stewardship?
• Head (Understanding): How do the three “dashboard” questions—What would love do? What does the Master need? What does faithful look like?—help you define what it means to be a good steward?
• Hands (Application): What is one specific financial or lifestyle change you could and should make to move closer to living within or below your means?