E08: Settling The Issue of Ownership: What it Means to be a Steward of God’s Resources with Cal Rychener

Is it God’s will for you to be rich? God wants you to have enough so that not only are all of your needs met all the time, but that you have plenty to distribute to others.

In today's episode, you will hear Cal Rychener join Eric Scovill as they dive deep into the topic of settling the issue of ownership. They discuss the importance of remembering that God is the owner of everything and how money is not everything, but just a tool for God's purpose. They touch upon the sufficiency gospel, which emphasizes being rich in every way - body, soul, and spirit. Listen in and learn why having money is a good thing – as long as it is used in accordance with God's will. 

Here are some topics from today’s discussion:

• Settling the issue of ownership
• God’s will is God’s bill
• Having money is a good thing
• The sufficiency gospel
• Your definition of rich vs. God’s definition of rich
• How Christians should approach the tithe

Episode Highlights:

[03:35] Settling the Issue of Ownership: God’s Will is God’s Bill

God is the owner of everything and if He calls you to do something, it may not necessarily require finances. Money is important, but it is not everything. It is essential to trust  God for provision. Since God is the owner, your job is just to put one foot in front of the other, follow him, and watch Him provide.

[14:05] Why Having Money is a Good Thing

Especially, when you come from a spiritual background where simpler is better, you could have this mindset that money is inherently worldly and not synonymous with being spiritual. But having wealth is not a bad thing, as long as ownership belongs to God and the resources are used for His purpose. Without resources, a church’s vision cannot thrive. And so, sometimes you have to be comfortable speaking to business people and asking them to use their gifts to contribute to the church's vision. This doesn’t constitute favoritism towards people with money, but rather a recognition of the value of resources in serving God's purpose. Therefore, if giving is a good thing, then having more is also a good thing, as long as it is used in accordance with God's will.

[19:37] The Sufficiency Gospel

It's God's will for you to be rich, but the way he defines rich is different than maybe the way we define rich. He wants us to be rich in every way – body, soul, and spirit. The Bible teaches what Cal calls the “sufficiency gospel” found in 2 Corinthians 9:8, which says, “And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.” Therefore, God wants you to have enough so that not only are all of your needs met all the time, but that you have plenty to distribute to others.

Resources Mentioned

Spirit of the Disciplines: Understanding How God Changes Lives