All In: The Stewardship of our Lives

Romans 12:1–2

On Stewardship

When we hear ‘stewardship,’ many of us think of money.

Would it surprise you if I said that God is not primarily interested in our money?

God does not need your money, he is able to do whatever He wills without it. He created the world by speaking into nothing, He made manna appear in the wilderness, He gives life to the barren.

When we talk about stewardship, we are discussing how we care for the good gifts that God has given; how we respond to His grace and goodness.

Stewardship then is not just about our finances. It includes that, but with the understanding that God is after something much greater. He wants us: our hearts, our minds, our time, our talents, our very selves.

The Mercies of God as Our Foundation

Paul begins Romans 12 with a phrase that must shape how we understand stewardship: “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God…” (Romans 12:1). Stewardship, Paul says, is first and foremost a response to God’s mercy. It is gospel-driven, not rule-driven.

When Paul speaks of God’s mercies, he is summing up the gospel story of the first eleven chapters of Romans:

The revelation of righteousness through faith (Rom 1–3). God makes Himself known and offers righteousness to sinners through faith.

Justification by grace (Rom 3–5). We are declared righteous, not by works, but by God’s mercy in Christ.

Life in the Spirit (Rom 6–8). Believers are empowered to live in obedience and freedom from sin through the Spirit.

God’s faithfulness to His elect and His sovereign plan (Rom 9–11). His promises endure, and His mercy is sure for the true Israel, the elect who look to Christ in faith.

Think about it this way: Imagine someone gave you a life-changing gift, something you could never earn or repay. Out of gratitude, you would want to give back, not out of obligation, but out of love. That is the rhythm of stewardship Paul calls us into. We give because we have first been given to.

Before we can even begin to talk about offering our lives to God, we must recognize that every good thing we are and have comes from Him. Stewardship is not a way to earn God’s favor; it is the natural overflow of a heart touched by mercy.

Present Your Lives as Living Sacrifices

Paul calls us to be a living sacrifice (Romans 12:1). This is deeply rooted in Old Testament sacrificial imagery, but with a crucial difference.

Old Testament (Dead) Sacrifice

Animals were offered—unblemished, set apart, and completely consumed on the altar.

The offering was external: the worshiper placed something valuable on the altar, but the offering itself could not act or respond.

The sacrifice was costly, but it did not engage the worshiper’s whole life—heart, mind, and will were often secondary.

New Testament (Living) Sacrifice

We ourselves are the offering. Alive, aware, and active.

We are not the spotless lamb being offered, but the restored and forgiven sinners who have been given new life to be lived for God’s glory.

A living sacrifice participates: our hearts, minds, and bodies are fully engaged in worship. Daily, conscious, and holistic—our work, relationships, gifts, and yes, resources are offered to God.

Unlike dead sacrifices, this offering cannot be faked or segmented. It is a surrender of our entire life.

Illustration: Dead sacrifice: giving a coin without changing your heart. Living sacrifice: stepping into the offering plate with your life—your heart, time, talents, and treasure. The plate is no longer just a receptacle; it becomes a symbol of your whole life offered to God.

The difference is internal and active. The Old Testament sacrifices pointed forward; Christ’s death and resurrection make it possible for our lives to be alive and pleasing to God as a true offering. Stewardship, then, is not about minimizing loss—it’s about maximizing response, worship, and gratitude.

Daily Life as Worship

Paul continues: “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind…” (Romans 12:2)

Our culture tells us that success is measured by what we acquire and control. God calls us to a different pattern: obedience, trust, and surrender.

Everything we do—whether in our jobs, our homes, or our community—can glorify God. Work faithfully, love diligently, give generously. Our ordinary actions, shaped by grace, become acts of worship.

Loving God Fully Leads to Loving Others

God calls us to love Him with all that we are (Deut 6:4–5; Mark 12:28–34). True stewardship flows outward:

Serving others in need

Encouraging and supporting fellow believers

Offering hospitality and practical care

Every act of service, giving, and love is a reflection of a heart surrendered to God. Stewardship is not only about our resources—it is about our relationships, our work, and our influence in the world.

Illustration: A diligent employee, a faithful parent, a devoted volunteer—these are not small things. They reflect Christ’s presence in daily life.

Dangers That Hinder Stewardship

Stewardship isn’t just about giving—it’s about a whole-life response to God’s mercy. But there are pitfalls that can distort or diminish our faithfulness:

The Danger of Compartmentalization

Isolating your faith to one part of life, church, devotions, or Sunday giving, while leaving the rest of your life untouched by God.

The Bible calls for total surrender. If we only offer God pieces of ourselves, our stewardship is incomplete.

Illustration: Someone is “faithful” in the offering plate but stingy or unloving in everyday life.

The Danger of Calculating

Asking, “How little can I give and still pass?” or “How little time, energy, or money can I invest and still be considered faithful?”

Stewardship is not about hitting a minimum requirement; it is a response to mercy, a willing and joyful offering.

Scriptural warning: God looks at the heart, not the ledger (1 Sam. 16:7; 2 Cor. 9:7).

The Danger of Comparison

Judging our stewardship by what others give or do, rather than by the generosity of our own hearts.

This leads to pride, envy, or justification for giving less.

God measures faithfulness by the heart’s devotion and the obedience of the will, not by relative comparison.

How do we respond to the mercies of God with whole-life stewardship?

Reflect on God’s mercy: Take a moment each day to remember what God has done for you in Christ.

Offer yourself anew: Consciously present one area of your life to God this week—your work, your finances, your time, your relationships.

Choose one area of life to intentionally offer to God.

Identify a relational or practical way to show generosity this week.

Live with generosity in mind: Stewardship flows naturally into giving, serving, and loving. Start small if needed, but start with intentionality.

Remember: God’s mercy precedes our surrender. Our obedience is not to earn favor—it is a grateful response to grace. Revisit the offering plate. Don’t just fill it; step into it. Bring your whole life—heart, mind, soul, strength—and offer it as a living sacrifice.

As we enter this season of Grace and Gratitude, let us present ourselves fully to the Lord. Our resources, our time, our gifts, and our lives are all instruments for His glory. Stewardship is not a duty—it is worship.

Imagine a life where every thought, word, and action is an offering to God. A life where work is worship, relationships are ministry, and giving flows from gratitude. That is what it means to be All In—a living sacrifice, fully alive for the glory of God.