Now is the time of year where many of us overextend ourselves financially. We tell ourselves that we are getting deals, catching sales and making good decisions when the truth, for most of us, is that we are actually going into debt. Cut up those credit cards so that you don’t spend money you don’t have and use cash. I guarantee that this will change the way that you think about your purchases.

For me, this comes down to our stewardship.

“For every animal of the forest is mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills. I know every bird in the mountains, and the creatures of the field are mine. If I were hungry I would not tell you, for the world is mine, and all that is in it. Psalms 50:10-12 NIV

So if everything is God’s then we are only stewards of the things that he provides us with. Which means that it’s not our money that we are spending, it’s God’s, and this ain’t nothing to be playing with. When I think of stewardship, Joseph comes to mind. God uses him and his life to show us many different things including God’s favor, patience, and how to flee sexual sin, but the verses below illustrate his stewardship.

“The LORD was with Joseph and he prospered, and he lived in the house of his Egyptian master. When his master saw that the LORD was with him and that the LORD gave him success in everything he did, Joseph found favor in his eyes and became his attendant. Potiphar put him in charge of his household, and he entrusted to his care everything he owned. From the time he put him in charge of his household and of all that he owned, the LORD blessed the household of the Egyptian because of Joseph. The blessing of the LORD was on everything Potiphar had, both in the house and in the field. So he left in Joseph’s care everything he had; with Joseph in charge, he did not concern himself with anything except the food he ate.” Genesis 39:2-6 NIV.

Joseph would later go on to manage the prison that he was being held in (Gen 39:20-23), then after being released from prison, he would go on to manage the entire land of Egypt (Gen 41: 41-45). Can you say God’s Favor! We need to manage everything that God gives us the way that Joseph managed Potiphar’s household, the prison, and all of Egypt. God not only gave Joseph favor but he also gave him gave him discernment and guidance on how to handle those assets that were owned by someone else. The best thing is that God will give us the guidance to handle HIS assets! If we just follow God’s guidance we will become good stewards!

Being a good steward means managing our assets (blessings from God), which are really God’s assets, for the benefit of the Kingdom of God! This includes saving, making smart purchases, investing (see Luke 19: 11-13), building businesses, etc., using every gift that HE has given us, financial or otherwise, to bless others…and build his Kingdom.

Keep this in mind as you shop this Christmas season!