Bob Moore, Washington Conference stewardship director & planned giving representative
Most of us grow up with a “getting” mindset. From childhood, we’re trained to ask, “What’s in it for me?”—to measure success by accumulation, reward, and recognition. But stewardship invites us to experience a holy shift—a StewardShift—from getting to giving, from ownership to trust, from control to surrender.
Jesus redefines greatness not by how much you gather, but by how much you give. “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35), He said—not because receiving is bad, but because giving transforms. It liberates the soul from selfishness and invites us into the flow of God’s generosity.
This shift isn’t just about money. It’s about mindset. It’s about waking up each day and asking not, What do I need to get today? but What do I get to give today? A word of encouragement? A helping hand? A generous gift? A listening ear?
Stewardship begins where the ownership mentality ends. We are not owners—we are managers. Everything we “have” is on loan from God: time, talents, influence, income, even breath. The question isn’t “How much of my stuff should I give to God?” but “How much of God’s stuff should I use for myself?”
That changes everything.
StewardShift means we stop asking God to bless our plans and start asking how we can serve His purposes. It means we see every paycheck as a trust, every opportunity as an assignment, and every possession as a potential blessing to be shared.
When the shift happens, joy increases. Gratitude flows. Contentment grows. And instead of living to get more, we start living to give more—of ourselves, our resources, and our love.
Shift your mindset.
Shift your heart.
Shift your stewardship.
Because the greatest gain isn’t in getting—it’s in giving. “Freely you have received; freely give.” —Matthew 10:8