Stewarding what’s sacred

Conversations about Anabaptist stewardship often begin with the bold declaration of Psalm 24:1: “The earth is the LORD’s and everything in it, the world, and its inhabitants too” (CEB). This verse stands as a foundational truth – a linchpin for everything that follows.

As Christians, we spend our lives discerning what it means to live as God’s people, entrusted with the faithful care of God’s creation, community, and gifts. It’s one thing to affirm that God owns everything – our time, our talents, our treasures. It’s another thing entirely to live as though that’s true.

God knows that, as humans, we need regular reminders that everything belongs to God. Which is why, in the book of Leviticus, as the Israelites are preparing to enter the land of Canaan, God gave Moses a list of rules and regulations meant to accompany the Israelites not only on their physical journey, but also their faith journey.

In Leviticus 25:4, we read about how, the Israelites were not only required to take every seventh day off, but also were to give the land a time of rest every seven years as “a special sabbath rest, a Sabbath to the LORD.” God is reminding the Israelites that it is God – not them – who owns the land. God is reminding them, too, that stewarding the land is not only about working the land as part of their daily rhythms. It’s also about remembering the importance – the mandate – of rest and renewal, as a symbol of our covenant with God.

Just like the land, our financial resources – what some might call our treasures – are gifts from God, entrusted to us for faithful stewardship. Yet in the rhythms of daily life and the desire to respond to God’s call, we may find ourselves giving generously of our time and talents while quietly carrying overwhelming financial burdens. If left unaddressed, these challenges can hinder our capacity to live fully into the calling God has placed on our lives – whatever form that calling takes. They may also unintentionally signal to others that tending to our financial well-being is separate from, or even irrelevant to, our spiritual lives. In truth, how we care for our financial lives is a vital part of living out our covenant with God.

We all need regular reminders that our covenant with God includes not only how we use our financial resources, but also how we care for ourselves. Faithful stewardship isn’t about scarcity or guilt – it’s about encouragement, renewal, and trust. It invites us to rest, even from the heavy weight of financial stress, so that we can more fully celebrate and live into the life God calls us to. Tending to our financial well-being is not separate from our spiritual journey; it is an integral part of it.