K I N G D O M A D V I S O R S KINGDOM CONVERSATIONS STEWARDSHIP CONVERSATION GUIDE An exclusive member benefit of Kingdom Advisors KingdomAdvisors.org
Question: Who owns my resources? Advisor Objectives A B C This module helps you to draw out a client s fundamental beliefs about who owns their resources. Knowing those beliefs helps you counsel them on the next two important questions, How much is enough? and Is the next steward chosen and prepared? Knowing your client s stewardship beliefs also opens doors to discussing their personal discipleship journey (using the five decisions diagram) and their long term life planning (using the Life Overview Diagram) by which they implement their belief system via financial decisions. Personal Conviction Your ability to communicate passionately about this conversation begins with you. When you have a well-formed personal conviction about the topic and are relating that conviction to your own life choices, you will communicate more meaningfully with your client. Take the time to articulate your personal conviction regarding the stewardship conversation here: Framing The Conversation 1. Because your client operates out of a belief about who owns their resources, whether they are aware of their belief or not, it is important to help them articulate their stewardship beliefs. Using the iceberg diagram will help you to illustrate the importance of understanding why your client does what they do, instead of just focusing on what they should do in a financial scenario. 2. Having this conversation will also open a door to discussing the ways that God uses money in our lives (tool, test, and testimony). 3. When clients have a stewardship mindset, they will also be open to making financial decisions differently. You can use the Money is not and What does a good steward look like? portion of the discussion to help them begin to see how their financial decisions could be reflective of their beliefs about God s ownership. Contextual Questions 1. Who owns my resources? 2. How much is enough? 3. Is next steward chosen and prepared?
This module seeks to provide a simple approach that will help your client articulate their views on stewardship. It also seeks to help you confidently counsel them as they wrestle through the implications of stewardship in their personal financial decisions. It is designed to provide a framework for discussion for you and to offer you a couple of next step options, depending on where you feel your client needs to go, after you have this conversation with them. Because a person s beliefs on this issue are the fundamental thing that informs their values in making financial decisions, we have used the iceberg diagram to reinforce the importance of understanding the why or the stewardship beliefs that drive people s financial choices. As you look at the diagram with your client, you can help them to articulate their beliefs by asking some of the following questions: What comes to mind when you think of the word steward? How is the word steward used in the church today? Are you a steward over more than money? How have you dealt with your stewardship responsibility how do you see that responsibility? Is being a steward more than tithing? What does it mean that God owns everything? What do you think God desires from His stewards? A way to define stewardship for your clients is by using / discussing the following statement from Ron Blue s book, Master Your Money. Biblical Stewardship is the use of God-given gifts and resources (time, talent, treasure, truth, and relationships) for the accomplishment of God-given goals and objectives. As you discuss this definition in your conversation, consider discussing the practical implications / consequences of accepting the biblical definition of stewardship which include the following: Implications of Biblical Stewardship: 1. Stewardship is the only area of the Christian life that cannot be faked. The way we spend our money is a measure of our real priorities. Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (Matthew 6:19-21) 2. Every spending decision is a spiritual decision. Money is a tool to accomplish God-given goals or objectives. 3. God can take whatever He wants whenever He wants. Believing this is the key to financial freedom. Three other important paradigms to consider in your discussion are all presented on the Client Conversation Piece. They include the fact that money is a tool, test, and testimony; the idea that biblical stewardship means money is NOT certain things; and the question, What does a good steward look like?
Money is a tool, a test, and a testimony This portion of the guide helps you to walk through God s hand in people s lives through their finances with your client. By helping them to see that money is a way that God effects spiritual formation in people s lives, you can help them to understand HOW God s direction of financial outcomes can take different forms at different times, depending on His purposes. Money is a tool (Philippians 4:11-13) that God uses in my growth process. Additionally, money is a tool that I possess to accomplish God-given objectives. Money is never the end; it is always a means to an end. Money is a test (Luke 16:11-13) that God somehow uses to determine my eternal reward. God trusts the true riches of knowing Him more deeply to people who show their resolute commitment to Him in tangible ways, such as acknowledging His ownership of my resources. Money is a testimony (Matthew 5:13-16). Both my attitude toward my wealth and my attitude toward my lack will both provide a testimony to the world, because I am salt and light. Money is not: This portion of the guide helps you to walk through the various lies that we tend to believe about the purposes of money in our lives. It will allow you to concisely speak truth about these commonly held mis-beliefs. A measure of self-worth (Deuteronomy 8:16-18, Proverbs 22:2, Ephesians 2:10) The reward for godly living (I Corinthians 3:13-15, Hebrews 11) A guarantee of contentment (Ecclesiastes 5:10, Philippians 4:11-13) A measure of true success (Joshua 1:8) What does a good steward look like? This portion of the guide helps you to set the stage with your client as you consider how their financial decisions might look different if they embrace their role as stewards more completely. It will allow you to have a jumping off point to discuss issues such as giving, budgeting, goal setting, spousal communication, etc. Next Steps They give proportionately They are not in bondage to their lifestyle (controlled, low-debt) They pay taxes with integrity and thanksgiving They set financial goals They are accountable As you conclude your discussion of stewardship with your client, the conversation can continue to go in one of three directions, very easily. I. First, you can discuss your role in their two Next Step Questions ( How much is enough? and Is the next steward chosen and prepared? ) by discussing the estate planning and goal setting / budgeting / net worth planning discussion that you will be having following this discussion.
A. For the How Much Is Enough question, the Life Overview Diagram and the How Much is Enough Diagram offered in this module will assist you in having this conversation with your client. In addition, consider this excerpt taken from an interview with Ron Blue which asked, How do you introduce to clients the concept of setting a financial finish line? If my mindset as an advisor is that I am advising my clients on an on-going lifetime journey, then I know that together we are going to see the dynamics, the facts, and the circumstances of this journey change over time. If a plan is in place, it will have to be adjusted constantly in order to meet these changing circumstances. If I am focused on planning an on-going process then regardless of the changes in specific circumstances, I can advise my client according to their financial finish line. In other words, as an advisor, I should recognize and remember that my clients are always asking themselves these questions, whether they verbalize them or not, How much is enough? Do I have enough? Will it continue to be enough to last for all of the needs of the rest of my life? That s why it is very easy to introduce the topic of setting financial finish lines with a focus on planning. I can simply ask the questions, Have you ever thought about how much is enough? Have you set a financial finish line for yourself? What are your goals? How will know when you have achieved everything that you want to achieve? How can I help you reach the point where you know you have enough? I have found that these questions come up very frequently in client meetings, either because I ask the questions directly or because the client refers to them in general. In any case, it is a very easy topic to bring up and talk about. The discussion then becomes values-based, because the answer to the question is largely driven by the client s values and their beliefs. In other words, if I m 100 percent dependent upon God, I know I have enough and I am always going to have enough. However, if I m not dependent on God and I am driven by fear or greed or some other motive, I ll never have enough and I can never accumulate enough. Once you are able to help your clients understand their values and beliefs as they relate to money, then you can begin to set a financial finish line. B. For the Is the next steward chosen and prepared? question, see the Wealth Transfer Kingdom Conversations module for a complete guide to this discussion.
II. Second, if you believe that your client is open to exploring their spiritual growth process in a more in depth manner, you can walk them through the Five Decisions diagram in this module, helping them to discover where they are in terms of their understanding of God s total work of redemption and sanctification in their lives. The five decisions are: A. Salvation Decision I trust Him for salvation. This is God s free gift to all mankind as discussed in John 3:16. B. Lordship Decision He will have control of my life. Lordship is both a one-time surrender and a daily transformation. See Romans 12:1-2. C. Calling Decision I am called to use gifts, talents, experiences, and opportunities exactly where I am for God s glory. Everyone has a calling consisting of specific works that God has for you. See Ephesians 4:1 and Ephesians 2:10. D. Steward Decision As a steward, I am responsible for managing everything God has entrusted to me for His glory. God calls us to be faithful with the management of all He has given us, and we will be held accountable in eternity. He defines our use of those resources broadly, not narrowly. See Matthew 25:14-30. E. Treasure Decision / Pipeline Decision I am to be a pipeline of God s grace, financially and otherwise. Treasure that is transferred to the Kingdom has the power to accomplish Kingdom work and to change the heart of the giver, as well. See Matthew 6:19-21. Notes: These decisions necessitate re-commitment and affirmation at various points in time. You (the advisor) need to personally experience all five decisions so that you have your story to tell. The Five Decisions of Financial Discipleship 3-+"04-+!%+,"-. )"##&(* /'-.01&2!"#$"%&'(
Next Steps III. Third, you can use the Life Overview Diagram or the 11 Buckets diagram to discuss goal setting and intentionality of financial and estate planning with them in a way that fits into the larger context of stewardship. A. The Life Overview Diagram is a visual, conceptual overview of the interplay between priorities, finances, and long-term life goals. First, the diagram shows the relationship between competing priorities in life, with God at the center. Often, clients over-emphasize the priority of work. This diagram is designed to help you show that work is just one among many competing priorities. It is important, because it yields income, but it is not primary. The second portion of the diagram shows five of the 11 Buckets, indicating that financial decision-making involves all aspects of life and that creating margin for the accomplishment of long-term goals requires careful planning. The third portion of the diagram indicates that, when a person plans intentionally, they can have an impact beyond themselves, particularly in the realms of social and spiritual capital. B. The 11 Buckets diagram reveals several key truths about financial decision-making: Money is a tool to accomplish other, God-given goals and objectives. There are no independent financial decisions. The longer term your perspective, the better your financial decision today. Using this diagram can help you to reinforce to your client the idea that, if God owns everything, having an integrated understanding of financial decision making and financial goal setting will allow them to maximize their role as His stewards. Eleven Buckets 1 Summarize present position INCOME 5 Monitor your results Life Overview FAMILY (OTHER) GOVERNMENT GOD YOU CHURCH WORLD WORK GIVING TAX 4 Manage cash flow to accomplish plan DEBT LIVING EXPENSES Giving Income Taxes Living Debt 2 Establish financial goals SAVE AND INVEST 3 Prioritize uses Margin Estate Financial Capital (Money and material assets) Financial Independence New Business Children Charitable Giving Freedom From Debt Lifestyle Desires Family Needs Social Capital (The character qualities necessary for effective social interaction) Spiritual Capital (Biblical understanding and application)
Scriptures For he sees that even wise men die; the stupid and the senseless alike perish, and leave their wealth to others. Their inner thought is that their houses are forever; and their dwelling places to all generations; they have called their lands after their own names. But man in his pomp will not endure; he is like the beasts that perish. Do not be afraid when a man becomes rich, when the glory of his house is increased; for when he dies he will carry nothing away; his glory will not descend after him. Though while he lives he congratulates himself-and though men praise you when you do well for yourself he shall go to the generation of his fathers; they shall never see the light. Man in his pomp, yet without understanding, is like the beasts that perish. PSALM 49:10-12, 16-20 But you shall remember the Lord your God for it is He who is giving you power to make wealth. DEUTERONOMY 8:18 Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is Yours. Yours, O LORD, is the kingdom; You are exalted as head over all. Wealth and honor come from You; You are the ruler of all things. In Your hands are strength and power to exalt and give strength to all. I CHRONICLES 29:11-12 The earth is the Lord s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it. PSALM 24:1 Honor the Lord from your wealth, and from the first fruits of all your produce; so your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will overflow with new wine. PROVERBS 3:9-10 Parable of the Talents (MATTHEW 25:14-30) And he said, This is what I will do: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years to come; take your ease, eat, drink and be merry. But God said to him, You fool! This very night your soul is required of you; and now who will own what you have prepared? LUKE 12:18-20 The Lord answered, Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom the master puts in charge of his servants to give them their food allowance at the proper time? It will be good for that servant whom the master finds doing so when he returns. I tell you the truth, he will put him in charge of all his possessions. But suppose the servant says to himself, My master is taking a long time in coming, and he then begins to beat the menservants and maidservants and to eat and drink and get drunk. The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the unbelievers. That servant who knows his master s will and does not get ready or does not do what his master wants will be beaten with many blows. But the one who does not know and does things deserving punishment will be beaten with few blows. From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked. LUKE 12:42-48 So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else s property, who will give you property of your own? No servant can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other: You cannot serve both God and money. LUKE 16:11-13
Addtional Client Resources Books: Master Your Money, by Ron Blue Money, Possessions and Eternity, by Randy Alcorn Downloadable Tools: Client Conversation Piece Downloadable Diagrams: Iceberg Diagram Five Decision Overview Life Overview Diagram Eleven Buckets Diagram How Much Is Enough Diagram