Stewardship Quotes

In the total expanse of human life there is not a single square inch of which the Christ, who alone is sovereign, does not declare, ‘That is mine!’ ” — Abraham Kuyper (1837-1920), Dutch statesman, theologian and journalist

“Everything we have is really loaned to us; we can’t take anything with us when we depart. If we have no use for a thing, we should pass it on to someone else who can use it—now.” — Norma S. Scholl

“A lot of people are willing to give God the credit, but not too many are willing to give Him the cash.” — Anonymous

“I have held many things in my hands, and I have lost them all. But whatever I have placed in God’s hands, that I still possess.” — Martin Luther (1483-1546), German reformer and theologian

“One of the greatest missing teachings in the American church today is the reminder to men and women that nothing we have belongs to us.” — Gordon MacDonald, American pastor and teacher
“The worship offering [is] a pure gift to God in thankfulness for what we have already received. It should therefore be an exciting and major part of the service.” — Lynn A. Miller, author

“Stewardship is the act of organizing your life so that God can spend you.” — Lynn A. Miller, author

“I believe with all of my heart that God’s people possess God’s provision to accomplish and fulfill God’s purposes in the world.” — Joel Vestal, founder of ServLife International

“Nothing is more dangerous than to be blinded by prosperity.” — John Calvin (1509-64), French theologian and reformer

“Why should men leave great fortunes to their children? If this is done from affection, is it not misguided affection? Observation teaches that, generally speaking, it is not well for the children that they should be so burdened.” — Andrew Carnegie (1835-1919), American industrialist and philanthropist

“Surplus wealth is a sacred trust which its possessor is bound to administer in his lifetime for the good of the community.” — Andrew Carnegie (1835-1919), American industrialist and philanthropist

“I shovel [money] out, and God shovels it back ... but God has a bigger shovel!” — R.G. LeTourneau (1888-1969), American inventor

“There’s no need to be the richest man in the cemetery. You can’t do any business from there.” — Colonel Sanders (1890-1980), Kentucky Fried Chicken founder

“The fellow that has no money is poor. The fellow that has nothing but money is poorer still.” — Billy Sunday (1862-1935), American revivalist

“Take it from me. I went down the road of ‘be all you can be, realize your dreams,’ and I’m telling you that fame and fortune are not what they’re cracked up to be. We live in a society that seems to value only physical things, only ephemeral things. People will do anything to get on these reality shows and talent contests on TV. We’re obsessed.” — Madonna (1958-), American pop music icon

“You hear a lot of strange things about tithing. Some say it is a church tax, and they expect me to pay it and that is the end of it. Others say that when I give God one-tenth of my income, He blesses the nine-tenths that is left to the extent that the nine-tenths now goes as far as the whole thing used to go. This isn’t really true, is it? Suppose a farmer had 100 bushels of corn in the barn and he decides to plant 10 bushel in the ground. What multiplies? Is it the 90 bushels that he has left in the barn? Oh, no. All of us ‘farmers’ know it is the 10 bushels you put in the ground that multiplies. Similarly, it is the 10 percent you give to God that multiplies.” — Stanley Tam (1915-), American businessman and philanthropist

“One of the reasons churches in North America have trouble guiding people about money is that the church’s economy is built on consumerism. If churches see themselves as suppliers of religious goods and services and their congregants as consumers, then offerings are ‘payment.’ ” — Doug Pagitt, pastor

“I never would have been able to tithe the first million dollars I ever made if I had not tithed my first salary, which was $1.50 per week.” — John D. Rockefeller, Sr. (1839-1937), American industrialist and philanthropist

“At its best, giving is an act of worship.” — Cornelius J. Dyck (1740-92), colonel under the command of Gen. George Washington

“It is through generous giving, that we affirm before the world, our nation’s faith in the inalienable right of every man, to a life of freedom, justice and security.” — Harry S Truman (1884-1972), 33rd president of the United States

“A man has made at least a start on discovering the meaning of human life when he plants shade trees under which he knows full well he will never sit.” — D. Elton Trueblood (1900-94), American author, educator, philosopher and theologian


“When it comes to giving until it hurts, most people have a very low threshold of pain.” — Anonymous

“Seek joy in what you give not in what you get.” — Anonymous

“Real charity doesn’t care if it’s tax deductible or not.” — Anonymous

“Examples are few of men ruined by giving.” — Christian Bovée

“You can give without loving. But you cannot love without giving.” — Amy Carmichael (1867-1951), missionary to India

“We make a living by what we get; we make a life by what we give.” — Winston Churchill (1874-1965), British wartime prime minister and statesman

“If you haven’t got any charity in your heart, you have the worst kind of heart trouble.” — Bob Hope (1903-2003), American comedian

“It is more blessed to give than to receive.” — Jesus, in Acts 20:35
“Earn as much as you can. Save as much as you can. Invest as much as you can. Give as much as you can.” — John Wesley (1703-91), English evangelist and founder of Methodism

“Jesus says, ‘For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.’ This verse seems to indicate that the way a believer spends money may be the clearest indication—perhaps like a thermometer—of the heart’s spiritual condition. If that is the case, then one might conclude that if one does not give money to the church to help others, one falls into the category of those who do not have the fruits that ought to accompany the presence of grace in their lives. And if the tree is not bearing fruit, is the root itself good?” — John Ronsvalle, American researcher