Giving & Stewardship

July 2010 marks a momentous milestone for SMI — the celebration of our 20th anniversary! Much has changed during the past two decades, but one thing has remained constant: our motivation for doing what we do. SMI's reason for being has always been to encourage and enable our readers to become generous givers. In this month's cover article, SMI founder Austin Pryor focuses on this abiding heartbeat of Sound Mind Investing.

Investing in God's Kingdom generates returns that are out of this world. But should the expectation of such rewards be a motivation for becoming a generous giver?

Setting up a private foundation is one way to be a tax-wise giver. But don't overlook a cheaper and more convenient option: a donor-advised fund.

During times of financial reversal and economic stress, it can be difficult to keep believing that the Lord has good plans for you. In this month's cover article, SMI founder Austin Pryor tells his personal story of enduring seven long years in the financial wilderness — culminating in God's eventual provision and blessing. We trust you'll be encouraged by Austin's testimony, as you are reminded that our loving and faithful Lord is worthy of all your confidence.

Many Christians see little or no connection between what they do for a living and God's agenda for the world. But a deep and vital connection exists between the two. In this excerpt from a classic book, the authors set forth a "theology of work" that demonstrates that work is about much more than making money. Recognizing the link between your labor and God's purposes can help you develop a healthier perspective on work.

How do people become wealthy in America? After studying the rich for many years, authors Thomas Stanley and William Danko have compiled a detailed picture of who the wealthy are and how they got that way — a picture far different than the common perception. Their research indicates there are seven common denominators among those who successfully build wealth. Read on to discover what America's wealthy have in common and how to align your financial efforts with these tried and true principles.

Direction — not intention — determines destination. So writes pastor Andy Stanley in his book, The Principle of the Path. In this excerpt, he notes that people who aren't purposely heading toward positive outcomes in their finances and in other areas of life are very likely to end up where they don't want to be. Direction trumps intention almost every time. As you embark on a New Year, it's a good time to ask: "Where am I headed? Do I need to change course?"

Want to let the government decide how to distribute your assets and who will raise your children? Just die without a will.

Faith-based personal-financial bloggers are a great — and growing — resource for readers seeking solid advice from a Christian perspective.

Jesus said, "It is more blessed to give than to receive." But for many of us the joy of giving has been blunted by the pressure to give. We're inundated with appeals from missionaries, Christian schools, para-church ministries, evangelistic enterprises, and, of course, the local church. Bible teacher Garry Friesen says we can reclaim the joy of giving — by studying biblical principles that inform our understanding of how, when, and where to give.

Why is it so hard for many of us to actually give the way our hearts desire to? Author Ron Blue asserts it's because we don't plan to give, and when we don't plan to do it, there are always more uses for our money than money available.

Giving away things you don't need anymore can help you garner some much-needed savings on your income tax bill. And there's free software available to help you figure out what your unneeded stuff is worth.

Teaching our children to be generous givers is one of our important jobs as parents.

The recent economic news has certainly been grim: layoffs, stock market losses, foreclosures, and so on. In times like these, what a great assurance it is to hear the voice of Jesus reminding us in Luke 12, "Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father's pleasure to give you the kingdom." Despite the uncertainty of the times, we can be encouraged that God has a great future planned for us!

Even as a "perfect storm" appears to be wreaking havoc in the economy, Kingdom seekers can rely on God's promise to provide us with everything we need.

There's an important difference between prosperity (the accumulation of goods on this earth) and posterity (the heritage we leave our children and the generations that come after us). Our financial decisions influence both the quality and quantity of time we have available to invest in the lives of our children. Ultimately it's our decision whether we use money to chase things that won't last, or invest in things that will last forever.

The difference between good and great in the Kingdom of God isn't a matter of knowledge or pedigree, but a willingness to respond to the Lord by taking a step of faith. Author Chip Ingram explains how God's favor comes those willing to trust Him beyond what may seem reasonable in the eyes of the world.

We are physical people. Nothing says "real" to us like being able to see, touch, and feel something. But what if we've got it backwards, and the assets we can see, touch, and feel are only temporary? Ralph Doudera argues that's precisely the case: The only "real" assets that are permanently ours are those we send on ahead.

Why did Jesus teach "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth…"? Was it because he was anti-treasure? No, it was because he knew earthly treasures won't last. Randy Alcorn calls this idea The Treasure Principle. Here's an overview.

True biblical giving is rare these days, at least in the American church. Worldly attitudes have clouded our thinking and dulled our sensitivity to others. So what does it mean to really give sacrificially? Here are Larry Burkett's thoughts on the subject.

Most charitable gifts are pretty simple — you give, the charity receives. But how about a gift with an extra wrinkle — you give, the charity receives, and you get monthly income back from the charity for as long as you live?

Have I really surrendered 100% to God, or am I merely asking Him to join me in what I'm doing? It's an important question that can lead to surprising outcomes.

The ideal of living a "purpose driven life" has captured the imagination of the Christian community in recent years. But while it sounds great in theory, few people ever put in the time to clearly identify their own personal life purpose. In this excerpt from his book Your Money Map, Crown Financial Ministries' co-founder Howard Dayton explains the process of how to identify your purpose. He shows that, because a clear purpose is the starting point for setting meaningful goals, it's well worth the effort.

If you were to become a multimillionaire, would it affect your approach to stewardship? How would you decide how much you would give back to the Lord versus how much you would keep for yourself? Would your giving all be channeled through your local church, or would you want to directly support a variety of other organizations as well? Here is a first-person account of how one SMI couple approached this unusual test of their spiritual maturity.

With SMI readers looking at a fifth consecutive year of stock gains, it's time to review one of the more efficient ways to give to charity. Donating stock directly to charity can mean both a larger gift for the ministry you want to bless and a larger contribution deduction for you. As you might expect, certain rules apply to such a good deal. We provide the details.

Giving out of our abundance is relatively easy. But giving when we're in need — that's when the rubber really hits the road and our true beliefs are tested.

We all wrestle with the tension between work and family. Life is full of tradeoffs; uncomfortable compromises made to stretch scarce resources further than they can gracefully reach. But what would happen if instead of slighting your time at home, you slighted your time at work?

Stanton Lanier thought he had found his life calling. But when he really began surrendering 100% to God, he started to hear a different call. He shares four principles the Lord has showed him about pursuing our true passions.

Most financial gifts from grandparents to grandchildren are given with the best intentions, so why do so many produce unintended consequences? Russ Crosson, President and CEO of national financial planning firm Ronald Blue & Company, has seen this issue many times over the years and offers some guiding principles for grandparent giving.

Most financial gifts from grandparents to grandchildren are given with the best intentions, so why do so many produce unintended consequences? Russ Crosson, President and CEO of national financial planning firm Ronald Blue & Company, has seen this issue many times over the years and offers some guiding principles for grandparent giving.

Time has a way of slipping through our fingers. Our routine of waking, living, and sleeping lulls us into feeling it will always be so. But it won't. "Teach us to number our days," wrote Moses, a plea for a sense of urgency in living we would be wise to emulate.

This month marks the 200th issue of Sound Mind Investing. Looking back at almost 17 years of publishing, it's amazing to review all that God has allowed us to experience and accomplish. But the story of SMI doesn't begin in July of 1990 with the first batch of 500 newsletters. No, the story really goes back 20 years further, to a little booklet the Lord used to change our lives forever…

According to financial counselor David Bragonier, "Managing your money is similar to building a house." To build your financial dream house, you need to start with the basics — you need a floorplan and you need to lay the foundation. Even before those steps, however, the ground needs to be prepared. That vital preliminary task, along with some important safety instructions, is the subject of this article. As a new year gets underway, now is the time to make sure these bases are covered.