We want to be right with God and living according to His word in every aspect of our life and that includes our finances. Is giving just a financial issue or is it supposed to be more? Why am I stressed about my finances? Because when I don’t live by God’s design it affects me in a negative way. Yes, this includes how I manage my money. 53% of Christians have not given to their church in the last month. Not only that, but church giving has not exceeded 3% as a portion of income in 40 years. I believe that many church members want to give but are so burdened by personal debt that they cannot. I believe that Christians want to give, but yet struggle with understanding the main principle behind giving and as a result miss out on the blessing of giving (Acts 20:35). In 2 Corinthians Paul makes the familiar statement that “Our God loves a cheerful giver.” So how do we get to the point to where giving becomes cheerful and enjoyable? The first step is to understand that stewardship is not about the church’s need to receive, but rather is about our need to give as a response to God’s command and His grace in our lives. When we shift our thinking from giving to support a church budget to giving in response to God’s abundant grace, we become the kind of giver that Paul is talking about. Stewardship, like most everything, is an issue of faith and whether or not I trust God enough to put not only my life but also my money in His hands. Christian stewardship is a way of living in which we recognize that everything belongs to God, and that all resources must be used for His glory and the common good. When I put God first in my giving I alleviate financial stress.