This article appears in the Spring 2026 issue of the FCA Donor Publication. The FCA publication is a gift from our FCA staff to all donors giving $50 or more annually. For more information about giving, visit here.
Let’s pause for a few moments of reflection and think about our blessings.
Each of us is unique. Each of us has been blessed with different gifts of time, talents and treasure. The Lord has chosen us to be a good Christian stewards. But what does that mean?
Christian stewardship is recognizing that we all have gifts and choosing to use them responsibly for the glory of God and the good of others. It’s the art of managing and sharing all that God has provided and entrusted to each of us. It’s intentional and it takes practice.
A faithful response to God’s grace means finding ways to share the time, talent and treasure that He has given you. Being a good Christian steward goes beyond church donations. In Psalm 24:1, we see that everything belongs to God, so we are called to be responsible caretakers of those blessings. It’s important to appreciate our blessings and share them with others. Some might argue that they’re already overscheduled and do not possibly have time to donate. But you’d be surprised at how helping others will fill your soul. The reward of giving far exceeds what you have invested. Once we choose to intentionally share our time, talent and treasure, Christian stewardship become a natural way of life, stemming from gratitude to God.
Christian stewardship also fosters accountability among believers. In Acts 2:44-45, we see the members of the early church sharing their possessions to ensure that no one was in need. This radical generosity serves as a model for how Christians today can work together, pooling resources to impact their communities positively. When stewardship is practiced collectively, it becomes a powerful witness to the love of Christ, demonstrating how faith can transform lives. This communal aspect of stewardship involves collective decision-making, where resources are allocated to address the needs of non-profits and the larger community as a whole.
One such example is a nonprofit of dedicated real estate professionals, developers, building material suppliers and builders working together and utilizing gifts of labor, materials and cash to build facilities at a greatly reduced price, with the proceeds going to various ministries. Not all buildings need to be sold; some can be kept and rented out, with the rental proceeds providing steady donations to the ministries.
The same type of collective partnership works in agriculture, where a farmer may donate the use of a specific number of acres for one or more crop cycles. Like-minded suppliers get together to donate the seed, fertilizer, herbicide and crop insurance required, while another group may donate the use of equipment to harvest the crop. Again, the proceeds would go to various ministries. Obviously, these types of strategic partnerships greatly multiply the individual donations of time, talent and treasure. Thank you, Jesus!
In essence, Christian stewardship is a holistic approach to living a life of thankfulness to Jesus. It invites us to recognize that our time, talents and treasure are gifts from God, meant to be shared for His glory and the good of others. By embracing Christian stewardship, we cultivate a deeper relationship with Jesus, allowing our gratitude to be expressed through our actions. As we engage in this practice, we not only honor God but also become agents of transformation in our communities, reflecting the heart of Christ in a world that desperately needs it.
What could this kind of stewardship look like for you? Let’s remember that every act of stewardship is a thank offering to Jesus, a testament to our faith and a reflection of our love for Him and His creation.
Prayer: Lord, please give me a heart of stewardship that reflects your goodness, grace, generosity and love. In Jesus’ name, amen.
BIO: Lee Schull, a lifelong resident of Watertown, South Dakota, is the Chairman of FCA’s Board of Trustees and serves on a variety of other local, regional and national boards. He holds a business management degree from Colorado State University and has been with Building Products, Inc., of Watertown since 1977, having served as president of the company from 1983 to 2019.
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