The Bible provides a variety of opportunities to learn about just about anything we could wish to know. This includes Christian money management practices. And one of the most applicable stories is the parable Jesus told about the master and his stewards. You can find the parable of the talents in Matthew 25:14-30, but here is the summary:

The parable of the talents

A master gave three different stewards some money (money weight was called a talent--approximately equal to about $1,000). They were to manage it while he was gone. The first servant (steward) received the most. He worked hard, made wise decisions, and doubled the property. The second steward received less money, but he too worked hard and made wide decisions to double what he was given. The third steward took the money and buried, achieving nothing with it. He did not make wise decisions with his talent. The master was happy with the first two, and they received increased responsibility and blessings. The third was chastised for his laziness.

What sort of steward am I?

The parable of the talents is directly relatable to money today. No matter how much or how little we are given in terms of money, the Lord expects us to make wise financial decisions and do what we can with what we have. The steward who was given less, and didn't make as much money as the first steward still received the same praise. The important thing to remember is that Christian finances are about being good stewards of what God has provided, whether that is a lot or a little.

Being a good steward is grounded in the idea that God owns everything, and that He has blessed you with a portion of His bounty. The size of the portion does not matter. What matters is what you do with it. Do you use it to help others? Is the money you have used to help your family obtain the things that it needs (as opposed to what it wants)? Do you carefully consider the items you go into debt for? Are you making plans for the future, such as providing for your own retirment? All of these questions are essential to figuring out what kind of steward you are, and then making a plan to put what God has given you to better use.

If you make wise decisions with your money, God will help you obtain what you need. And, you will receive your reward, either in this life, or in the next.