“Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.” —1 Peter 4:10 (NIV)

“Wisdom does not depend on the size of your portfolio or your net worth. Whether your resources are modest or abundant, your virtues and values should be unchanging as you pass them on. That part of your legacy . . . has nothing to do with money.” —Jeff Rogers, Create a Thriving Family Legacy

Money matters. But I am not just talking about provision. Your personal wealth is an essential element of your legacy because of the good that it can do in serving the next generations, your community, the world around you, and the Kingdom of God. Family leaders are called to be good stewards in their financial affairs so we can make a difference for the glory of God.

The stewarding of our family’s wealth can have a profound affect on those around us. We are each called to be good stewards of all that God has given to us but stewarding our family’s wealth is a lot more complicated than investments, spending and deciding where our wealth will be transferred after we are gone. A few sound principles can guide us as we seek to honor God with what He has so generously provided.

Humility
Deuteronomy 8:18 (NIV) says, “But remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your ancestors, as it is today.” 

What we are stewarding is not truly ours. It is all on loan to us. This means entitlement or lavishness are checked as we seek to honor God and use wealth for God’s glory and eternal purposes as well as for the here and now.

Avoiding Affluenza
“For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. And some people,  craving money, have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows.” —1 Timothy 6:10

Unlike the flu that we cannot always avoid, affluenza is something we can. But will we pick up on the signs? Wealth can easily corrupt us if we forget our responsibilities before God. 

A Worldview Shift
“For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?” —Mark 8:36

Seeing our wealth from God’s standpoint, we see finances not for our gain, but for God’s glory. Instead of trying to measure up to the world’s standards for our finances,  we let go of the worldly influences all around us. This requires seeing wealth through the Lens of Biblical Stewardship™

Accountability
“And if you are untrustworthy about worldly wealth, who will trust you with the true riches of Heaven?” —Luke 16:11

Having a legacy coach come alongside of us helps to ensure we steward our wealth well and helps us to recognize the need to transfer more than just wealth and plans. We need to transfer our heart and wisdom, as well.

Assessment
“Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test!” —2 Corinthians 13:5

We all need a heart check periodically to make sure our priorities have not shifted. Take the Thriving Family Legacy assessment to see where you are at in the stewardship of your family wealth.

Yours for a thriving legacy,

Jeff Rogers