Personal Development (Stewardship)

When we acknowledge that everything we are and all that we have comes from God and actually belongs to Him, it transforms the way we view what He has given us, including the following:

Health

Healthy bodies and healthy minds make serving God easier. So it’s up to us to be good stewards of our whole selves so God can use us for His glory. Adventists advocate a healthy, plant-based diet full of vegetables and grains, an active lifestyle that keeps us physically young, mental health awareness, and spiritual health that includes time studying the Bible.

Learn more about the Adventist health message here.

Time Management

We all have the same number of hours in a week—so why do some people seem to get so much more out of every day?

God calls us to be good stewards of our time, no matter how hectic life gets. That means making time to study the Bible and connect with God through prayer. Time stewardship doesn’t just happen, though. It includes consciously setting aside special time to spend with God, our families and friends, and like-minded believers.

Talents

What’s your talent? Making people feel welcome. Teaching. Having and sharing faith. Healing. Language. Administration and leadership. Showing mercy. Giving love. Helping others.

Everyone has a talent they can use for Christ by helping  and serving others, and He calls us to be good caretakers of the natural talents we were born with and the talents He can develop in us. If you’re not sure what your talents are, your local church can help you with spiritual gifts testing or counselling. And if you’re not sure how to best use your abilities for God, talk with your pastor or head elder.

Treasure / Financial Giving

Some of us have a lot, some of us have a little. But all of us have treasure in the form of financial assets. And while it’s sometimes uncomfortable to talk about, yes, God wants us to be faithful stewards of our finances, too.

As Adventist Christians, our personal finances aren’t just our own responsibility. We have a duty to manage our income and assets in a way that glorifies God and helps accomplish His work. Paying tithe, giving generous offerings, supporting our local Adventist schools, and giving to those less fortunate are all ways we can give back in monetary ways to show our thankfulness and dedication to God.

For weekly tithe and offering information and resources, head to our Giving page. Additional resources can be found on our Local Church page.

Environment

If stewardship is about being a faithful and generous manager of God’s resources, the environment and natural resources are a stewardship opportunity we can’t ignore. Using less, taking only what we need, and advocating for a clean, safe and healthy planet are steps we can take to preserve the natural gifts God gave us starting with Creation and the Garden of Eden. There are lots of ways to get involved in environmental stewardship and keeping our Earth green and growing until it’s time for us to move to Heaven.

You know what you’ve got, now you just need to find ways to use it to be the best steward you can be. Visit our book shops, read our self-help guides or check out our event pages for seminars and workshops for transforming your life.

To learn more about how the Bible views and advises on personal development and stewardship, visit our Bible Studies page.