There was a time in my life when I thought the things I possessed were mine—my money, my assets, my achievements, my time, even my body. I worked hard, made sacrifices, hustled with all my strength, and in return, I thought I owned what I earned. But as I’ve grown in both age and in faith, the Lord has consistently reminded me: just because something is in your hands doesn’t mean it belongs to you.

God, in His grace and wisdom, allows us to possess certain things—but He never relinquishes ownership. He entrusts, but He doesn’t transfer title. That’s a sobering truth for any of us managing wealth, influence, or even our very lives.

“The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein.”

— Psalm 24:1 (ESV)

Everything belongs to Him. Everything. The air I breathe, the resources I earn, the skills I use—they are all part of His creation. I’m not the source. I’m not the owner. I’m a steward. It’s humbling to realize that what I call “mine” actually has someone else’s name on the deed: God’s.

This is reinforced in Psalm 50:10–11, where the Lord says:

“For every beast of the forest is mine, the cattle on a thousand hills. I know all the birds of the hills, and all that moves in the field is mine.”

When I read that, I’m reminded that God isn’t just the Creator; He’s the true and rightful Owner of all creation. Even the wealth we think we earned through our own grit comes from Him.

“You shall remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you power to get wealth.”

— Deuteronomy 8:18 (ESV)

This verse always brings me back to the foundation of my financial teachings. Yes, we work, we plan, we budget, we invest—but the very ability to do those things is a gift from God. Our strength, our intellect, our opportunities—they are not self-manufactured. They are God-given.

“Behold, all souls are mine…”

— Ezekiel 18:4 (ESV)

It goes even deeper: we ourselves are not our own. Every soul, including mine, belongs to God. That means even my body, my time, and my very existence fall under His rightful claim.

“The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, declares the Lord of hosts.”

— Haggai 2:8 (ESV)

There it is—God claiming even what we count as tangible wealth. I’ve seen people clutch money tightly, thinking they are in control. But silver and gold were God’s before we had any say in how they were used. We’re just passing through this world, temporarily holding resources that ultimately return to the One who owns them.

So what should our response be?

“In him we live and move and have our being.”

— Acts 17:28 (ESV)

We don’t exist apart from Him. He sustains us. That means every decision we make—financial, relational, or spiritual—should be grounded in the awareness that we are stewards, not owners.

And if that’s true, then our response should be like Paul’s urging in Romans 12:1:

“Present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.”

A living sacrifice. That’s what true stewardship looks like. I offer everything—my money, my time, my skills, my relationships—back to the Lord as worship. I don’t just give God 10% and claim ownership of the rest. It’s all His.

Even success doesn’t guarantee ownership. Ecclesiastes 9:11 gives this sobering insight:

“The race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong… but time and chance happen to them all.”

This verse reminds me that outcomes are not always about effort alone. Sometimes, success or failure is beyond our control—because again, we are not the masters of everything, even if we possess certain things for a time.

So what’s the point?

Possession is temporary. Ownership is divine. We may hold things, but we don’t own them. And the more we understand this, the more we’ll learn to live with open hands—ready to give, to serve, and to obey.

I often tell people: You don’t take anything with you when you leave this world, but you can leave behind a legacy of stewardship that points others to the true Owner of it all.

Let’s live with the mindset of a steward. Let’s honor God not just with what we give—but with how we live.

“It is required of stewards that they be found faithful.”
— 1 Corinthians 4:2 (ESV)

Lord, may I be a faithful steward of all You’ve entrusted to me—knowing it was never mine in the first place.

Every day, we’re immersed in the rhythms and pressures of the world’s economy. Inflation, rising interest rates, global markets, salary grades, business trends—all of it impacts our lives, whether we like it or not. I’ve worked long enough in the financial sector and walked alongside thousands of Filipinos to know how real the struggle is: providing for the family, saving for the future, and trying to stay afloat in an economic environment that often feels uncertain.

But as followers of Christ, we are called to live differently.

We live in the world’s economy, but we follow God’s economy.

That tension is something I wrestle with constantly—not just as a finance advocate, but as a believer. The world operates on scarcity, fear, and self-preservation. God’s economy runs on trust, stewardship, and generosity.

Let me walk you through what I mean.

1. God Owns Everything – We Are Stewards

“The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein.”
—Psalm 24:1 (ESV)

The starting point of God’s economy is ownership. Everything belongs to Him. In the world’s economy, we’re taught that what we earn is ours. We worked hard for it. We deserve it. But in God’s economy, we acknowledge that all things—our income, our abilities, even the opportunities we receive—are from Him and for Him.

This changes the way we handle money. Instead of asking, “What do I want to do with my money?” we begin to ask, “What does God want me to do with what He has entrusted to me?”

This stewardship mindset is liberating. It shifts us from control to surrender, from entitlement to gratitude. When we remember we are managers and not owners, it reframes how we spend, save, invest, and give.

2. Provision Comes from God, Not Just Our Income

“And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”
—Philippians 4:19 (ESV)

In the world’s economy, we often stress over where our next income will come from, or if we have enough in our emergency fund. Now, don’t get me wrong—I teach financial planning and budgeting for a reason. Practical wisdom is biblical. But we must never confuse our salary as our ultimate source. Our work or our business is a channel of God’s provision, but God is the true Provider.

Paul wrote Philippians 4:19 while commending the church for their generosity. They had given sacrificially to support the work of the Gospel, and Paul reminded them that God would provide for their needs—not according to their economy, but “according to His riches in glory.” That’s a different scale altogether.

I’ve seen this truth play out time and time again. Clients, friends, even in my own life—when we obey God with our resources, even in times of financial difficulty, He shows up. Not always in ways we expect, but always in ways that are enough.

3. Generosity Over Accumulation

“It is more blessed to give than to receive.”
—Acts 20:35 (ESV)
“Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce.”
—Proverbs 3:9 (ESV)

In the world’s economy, wealth is for comfort, status, and security. But in God’s economy, wealth is for honoring Him and blessing others.

That’s why tithing and generosity are not just religious duties—they are acts of worship. When we give, we’re declaring that God—not money—is our security. We’re participating in Kingdom work. We’re aligning ourselves with heaven’s values.

For Filipinos especially, who often face economic hardship, generosity may feel counterintuitive. But I’ve seen struggling families tithe faithfully, give to others in need, and somehow never run dry. That’s not prosperity gospel—that’s God’s economy at work: radical generosity and radical trust.

4. Eternal ROI (Return on Investment)

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth… but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven… For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
—Matthew 6:19–21 (ESV)

This is one of the most powerful financial teachings of Jesus—and one of the hardest to live out. We are taught to accumulate: build wealth, get more, upgrade. And while wise saving and investing are good stewardship, they must not be the ultimate goal.

In God’s economy, we invest in what is eternal: people, relationships, the Gospel, justice, and mercy. I like to say that we need both a balance sheet and a Kingdom ledger. How much are we putting into things that will last forever?

I still invest in financial instruments, business and real estate, sure. But I’m more intentional now about investing in discipleship, missions, and building others up. That’s the kind of ROI that heaven celebrates.

Walking the Tension

Yes, we still live in the real world. We pay bills, deal with taxes, navigate recessions. But while the world’s economy is built on fear and control, God’s economy is built on trust and surrender.

We need both practical wisdom and spiritual discernment. That’s why my approach to finance will always be both technical and theological. Because true financial freedom isn’t just about having more—it’s about aligning our resources with God’s heart and purposes.

So here’s my encouragement to you:
Live wisely in the world’s economy, but follow faithfully in God’s. Learn the tools of this world, but anchor your heart in the economy of the Kingdom.

Because in the end, it’s not how much we’ve accumulated, but how faithfully we’ve stewarded what God has given us that truly matters.

If this post encouraged you, feel free to share it with someone navigating their own financial journey. And remember—our best investments are the ones that echo in eternity.

As someone who has spent decades teaching and advocating for personal financial stewardship, I often find myself returning to Scripture for wisdom and guidance. One parable that has always intrigued me is Luke 16:1–13, often titled The Parable of the Dishonest Manager. At first glance, it seems perplexing. Why would Jesus commend a dishonest man? But like many of His teachings, the deeper truth lies beneath the surface.

The parable tells the story of a manager who was about to be fired for wasting his master’s possessions. Realizing he’s in trouble, he calls in his master’s debtors and reduces their debts—presumably to curry favor so they’ll take care of him later. Surprisingly, Jesus says, “The master commended the dishonest manager for his shrewdness” (v.8). Not for his dishonesty, but for his prudence.

That detail matters. As someone deeply involved in financial education, especially here in the Philippines, I see this parable as a profound lesson on wisdom, stewardship, and eternal priorities.

Stewardship Is a Trust

The first thing that strikes me is the accountability of the manager. He was merely a steward of someone else’s wealth. That’s a concept I try to impress on Filipinos: everything we have is entrusted to us by God. Our jobs, our income, our possessions—even our time and talents—aren’t really ours. We are managers, not owners.

This mindset changes everything. When we recognize that God is the true owner, we stop asking, “What do I want to do with my money?” and instead begin asking, “Lord, what would You have me do with what You’ve given me?” That’s a huge paradigm shift, and one that forms the foundation of biblical personal finance.

Be Shrewd… for the Right Kingdom

Jesus says something very provocative: “For the sons of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own generation than the sons of light” (v.8). In other words, unbelievers often show more savvy and intentionality with money than believers do.

I’ve met many brilliant entrepreneurs, savvy investors, and disciplined savers who are not followers of Christ. Meanwhile, I’ve also seen many Christians struggle—not due to lack of faith, but due to lack of financial literacy and planning.

But Jesus isn’t telling us to imitate the dishonesty of the manager. He’s telling us to imitate his intentionality. The manager thought ahead. He used what little time and resources he had left to prepare for his future.

How often do we think about eternity when we make financial decisions? Do we give generously? Do we invest in what matters to God—His Church, His mission, and the people He loves?

Jesus says, “Make friends for yourselves by means of unrighteous wealth, so that when it fails they may receive you into the eternal dwellings” (v.9). That’s a poetic way of saying: Use your money now to make an eternal impact. Help others. Fund the Gospel. Be a blessing. Because money will one day fail—but the Kingdom won’t.

Faithfulness in Little Things

Another powerful verse in this passage is verse 10: “One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much…”

We often wait for “more” before we start honoring God with our finances. “When I get a raise, I’ll start giving.” “When I earn more, I’ll budget better.” But Jesus flips that thinking. Faithfulness begins with what you have now, not with what you hope to have later.

When I started my financial journey, I wasn’t wealthy. I had to work hard to pay off debts, live within my means, and make tough decisions. But it was in those small acts of obedience that God shaped my character and deepened my trust in Him. Looking back, I realize those moments mattered more than the big breaks. They built the foundation for everything else.

You Cannot Serve God and Money

The passage ends with a clear and sobering statement: “No servant can serve two masters… You cannot serve God and money” (v.13). That hits deep.

Money is a powerful tool, but it’s also a dangerous master. In our culture—especially in urban centers like Makati—money often becomes an idol. We chase it for security, status, or even identity. But Jesus reminds us: you can only have one true Master.

I’ve had to ask myself hard questions over the years. Am I using money to serve God, or am I using God to get more money? Is my financial life aligned with Kingdom values, or am I just dressing up materialism with spiritual language?

Eternal ROI

Luke 16 reminds me that money is temporary but stewardship is eternal. I want to be a wise and faithful steward—not perfect, but intentional. I want to use every peso, every opportunity, and every season to honor God and invest in what matters to Him.

We all have resources, no matter how limited. The question is: are we managing them with eternity in mind?

When I teach financial literacy, I don’t just want people to be debt-free or financially independent—though those are worthy goals. I want them to see money the way Jesus does: as a tool for faithfulness, generosity, and Kingdom impact.

May we all be found faithful stewards, shrewd for the right reasons, and rich in what truly matters.