When we think about Christian financial disciplines, tithing 10 percent often comes to mind. But what if Scripture calls us to look beyond giving a portion of our income and to embrace a new way of seeing — where everything we have, not just our money, belongs to God? Bill and Dana Wichterman join Today’s Conversation to discuss what it means to be stewards of all that God gives us to be used with joy, purpose and creativity.

In this episode, Bill and Dana Wichterman, co-authors of “Stewards Not Owners,” join NAE President Walter Kim to explore what it means to practice financial discipleship in a culture shaped by abundance, anxiety and individualism. Dana and Bill offer practical wisdom and explain why financial stewardship is ultimately about joining God’s redemption project.

In their conversation, they discuss:  

  • How God leads us from financial anxiety to freedom and joyful generosity;
  • Trusting God’s provision for the good works he’s called us to;
  • The reality that most living in the West can live below their means; and
  • How sharing your financial life with others cultivates accountability and discipleship.

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Read a Portion of the Transcript

Walter: You encourage people to consider the biblical paradigm that everything we have belongs to God — that we are stewards, but God's the owner. And that this stewardship actually, rather than robbing us of our joy or sense of freedom or autonomy, it actually contributes to that. Okay, draw that out for us. What does that actually mean?

Bill: ... So if we think of it as just a partitioning, I think it falls prey to that notion that we have an area of autonomy. And we actually are not autonomous. We believe ... as it says in the Westminster Confession, the chief end of humans is to glorify God and enjoy him forever. We are supposed to do that with everything we have. 1 Corinthians 10:31 says that "So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God." I see my life as a test, not as a gift. My life may be a gift to others. Dana's life is a gift to me, but my life is a responsibility.

And I am responsible to steward everything the Lord's given me, which is everything. And there's no part where you can say, well, I kind of did that, right? No, you didn't do anything. Everything came at the hand of God. Yes, we are co-creators with God. He wants us to be that, but ultimately he is the source of all that we have. And we need to be thinking about it always in terms of how do we honor him? And when we stand before him at the end of our days, we want to be able to hear these words: "Well done, good and faithful servant."

Walter Kim

Walter Kim became the president of the National Association of Evangelicals in January 2020. He previously served as a pastor at Boston’s historic Park Street Church and at churches in Vancouver, Canada and Charlottesville, Virginia, as well as a campus chaplain at Yale University. He preaches, writes and engages in collaborative leadership to connect the Bible to the intellectual and cultural issues of the day. He regularly teaches in conferences and classrooms; addresses faith concerns with elected officials and public institutions; and provides theological and cultural commentary to leading news outlets. He serves on the boards of Christianity Today and World Relief and consults with a wide range of organizations. Kim received his Ph.D. from Harvard University in Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations, his M.Div. from Regent College in Vancouver, and his B.A. from Northwestern University. 

Bill and Dana Wichterman

Bill Wichterman has spent his career in law and politics, including as Special Assistant to the President in the White House. Bill is the author of the book, “Dying to Live: Finding Joy In Giving Yourself to God,” and the influential essay, “The Culture: Upstream from Politics.” He is co-founder of Wedgwood Circle and board president of Faith and Law. Bill holds a master’s degree in political theory from The Catholic University of America.

Dana Wichterman spent her career as an international economic development professional at the U.S. Agency for International Development. She currently works at Impact Foundation, helping Christians deploy their charitable capital for impact investing. She serves on the boards of Talanton, Five Talents and Faith Driven Movements. Dana is the founder of the Faith Driven Entrepreneur and Investor network in Washington, D.C. Dana and Bill are co-authors of “Stewards Not Owners: The Joy of Aligning Your Money With Your Faith.” She holds a master’s degree in international affairs from Columbia University.