The Stewardship Principle
Stewardship is recognizing that God already owns all that we possess. It is also an acknowledgment that He provides the resources for our lives, and through us, the resources for His work and His church. It is also the recognition that we are accountable for what He gives us.

In Matthew 25, Jesus tells the parable of a manager who went away and entrusted his estate to several servants. As you remember, when the manager returned, many of the servants had been faithful in their stewardship of what had been given to them. But one servant had not wisely used what the manager had entrusted to him. When Jesus returned to the Father, he made the church a steward of several things: The Word (2 Timothy 1:13-14), Worship (Revelation 5:10; 1 Peter 2:9), and the Work of ministry (Matthew 28:18-20, Acts 1:8). For the latter, God has given us the resources of time, spiritual gifts and financial means.

The Faith Principle
Ultimately, God does not need our financial resources. He can accomplish His purposes without us or our money. But, He chooses to use each of us and everything He has provided for us to His own glory. In Hebrews 11:8, we are reminded that “without faith, it is impossible to please God.” Whether it is in talking about the Gospel, deciding on a school for our children, getting involved in a ministry or making a financial contribution, the Christian must trust God. When you ask yourself, “How much should I contribute?,” the answer comes, “Whatever causes you to walk by faith.” So, it is not a specific amount that is pleasing to God, but a specific disposition of faith.

The Voluntary Principle
No one can determine the amount of another’s gift. It is a matter of individual decision. Paul said, “Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” (2 Corinthians 9:7). The reason that giving can be joyful is because it overflows from us as a response to the character of God.

The Sacrificial Principle
Jesus chose as models for giving those who gave sacrificially. In Luke 21, a widow was commended, not for the amount of her gift, but for the sacrifice required to give a mite. In 2 Samuel 24:24, David comments that he would not offer to God anything which costs him nothing. Scripture makes clear that God measures our gifts not in quantity but in the quality of faith exercised through sacrifice (see also 2 Corinthians 8:12).

The Commitment Principle
The Corinthian Christians were challenged not only to determine what to give, but to follow through by giving that amount faithfully (2 Corinthians 8:10-11). A stewardship campaign should not be a manipulative way to collect funds, but an organized way to educate the Body of Christ and facilitate personal commitments.