Funding Your Purpose: Part 3, Capital Management

Have you ever wondered why some people seem to thrive while others struggle, even when they appear to have similar circumstances? The answer often lies not in what they have, but in how well they manage what they’ve been given.

From the very beginning, God designed humanity with a specific role in mind. Genesis 1:26 reveals that God created us “to rule over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the wild animals.” This wasn’t an afterthought – it was central to our purpose. We are called to be God’s managers, caring for His creation on His behalf.

Genesis 2:5 provides a fascinating insight: “No shrub had yet appeared on the earth, and no plant had yet sprung up for the Lord God had not sent rain on the earth, and there was no one to work the ground.” Notice that nothing grows until there’s someone to manage it. God withholds growth when there’s no one responsible for tending what He provides.

This principle applies to every area of our lives. Sometimes God will not allow increase because we haven’t yet learned to manage what we already have. If you want more of something in your life, learn to manage it well first.

When we think about resources, most people immediately think of money. But financial capital is actually the least valuable of five types of resources we need to steward:

This is your relationship with God – prayer, scripture study, worship. Jesus said in Matthew 6:33, “Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” This is your greatest wealth and should be managed first.

The people in your life and the relationships you build. Jesus built the greatest movement in history not with money, but with twelve relationships. God invests people in your life for a reason.

Your health, energy, and time. First Corinthians 6:19-20 reminds us that “you are not your own. You were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.” You can’t serve God effectively if you’re running on empty.

What you know and how you think. Romans 12:2 calls us to “be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” The knowledge you have and your God-aligned mindset is a valuable resource that no one can take away from you.

Your money and possessions. While important, this is the least valuable of the five capitals. Money isn’t evil – it’s neutral and takes on the character of whoever holds it. As Jesus said, “You cannot serve both God and money” (Matthew 6:24).

Money makes a wonderful servant but a terrible master. When we’re living paycheck to paycheck, owing bills and struggling to make ends meet, money becomes our master – we have to do what money demands. But when we manage it well, living on less than we earn and putting our money to work through wise investing, we become the master and money becomes our servant.

In Luke 16, Jesus tells the puzzling parable of the shrewd manager who was caught embezzling but was commended by his master. Why? Because he finally learned to value money properly and use it as a tool for something other than his own wants and needs. He realized a day of reckoning was coming and that money could accomplish more than just meeting his immediate desires.

Jesus explains that “the people of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own kind than are the people of the light.” Worldly people often understand better than Christians that money is a tool to accomplish purposes, gain influence, and position themselves strategically.

Jesus taught that “whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much” (Luke 16:10). God’s measuring stick isn’t how much you have – it’s how faithfully you manage what you’ve been given. This is why many lottery winners go bankrupt within a few years. They received wealth without learning management principles.

While God certainly performs miracles, they’re not His preferred method for blessing our lives. Miracles are usually needed because something went wrong. God’s will is that we live under the blessing that comes through wise management, where every part of our life flourishes without needing miraculous intervention.

Tithing serves as both a test and a reminder. It’s not because God needs our money – He owns everything. Rather, it’s a management training tool that reminds us we’re managers, not owners. You can extend this principle beyond money by dedicating a portion of your time, relationships, and possessions to God’s purposes.

Money is a tool to accomplish your purpose, not the purpose itself. If you don’t know why God placed you here, discover it. You’re not random – God has you here for this time and place with a specific job to do.

Take inventory of all five capitals. How can you use what you already have more effectively and efficiently? Sometimes the resources you need are already within reach – you just need to think like a manager.

Make your resources work for you rather than you working for them. This applies to all five capitals – invest them so they grow and multiply over time.

This week, conduct a “management audit” of your life. For each of the five capitals (spiritual, relational, physical, intellectual, and financial), honestly assess: How am I currently investing in this area? What is the current condition of this resource in my life?

Choose one area where you’ve been a poor manager and commit to specific changes. Remember, if you want God to trust you with more, you must first prove faithful with what you already have.

Ask yourself these questions:

The goal isn’t to accumulate more, but to manage well what God has already entrusted to you. When Jesus returns, He won’t be looking at how much you’ve accumulated – He’ll be looking for faithfulness in management. Those who prove faithful with little will be trusted with much in His eternal kingdom.