Hey friend,

Can I share something that completely changed how I view business?

For years, I wrestled with this tension: I wanted to build something successful, but I also wanted to honor God. I wanted to be profitable, but I didn't want to be greedy. I wanted to grow, but I was terrified of failing with what God had given me.

Maybe you've felt that same tension.

You're sitting on a business idea, skills, resources, opportunities—but there's this nagging question in the back of your mind: Am I doing the right thing with what God has entrusted to me?

Here's what I've discovered: You're not just a business owner. You're a steward.

And that changes everything.

The Parable That Reframes Everything​

Jesus told a story in Matthew 25:14-30 that speaks directly to us as Christian women entrepreneurs. It's called the Parable of the Talents, and it's not just about money—it's about stewardship of everything God entrusts to us.

Here's how it goes:

A man going on a journey called his servants and entrusted his wealth to them. To one he gave five bags of gold, to another two bags, and to another one bag—each according to their ability.

Then he left on his journey.

The servant with five bags went immediately and put the money to work, gaining five more. The one with two bags did the same, doubling his investment. But the servant with one bag dug a hole and hid his master's money in the ground.

When the master returned, he settled accounts with them.

To the servants who had doubled their investments, he said: "Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!" (Matthew 25:21, NIV)

But to the servant who buried his talent? The master called him wicked and lazy, took away what he had, and gave it to the one who had multiplied the most.

Now, here's what most people miss about this parable: The issue wasn't the amount. The servant with two bags was commended just as much as the servant with five. The issue was faithfulness with what they'd been given.

And friend, the same is true for you.

When Stewardship Feels Scary​

I know what some of you might be thinking: "But what if I'm the servant with one bag? What if I fail? What if I lose what God gave me?"

Let me paint a picture of what this looks like in real life.

Imagine this: A woman comes to coaching with an incredible business idea. She's got the skills, the passion, the vision. But she's paralyzed. She's been "preparing" for three years—reading books, taking courses, perfecting her plan. But she hasn't launched anything.

When we dig deeper, here's what comes out: "What if I invest this money and it fails? What if I quit my job and can't provide for my family? What if God gave me this idea and I mess it up?"

She's the servant with one bag, digging a hole in the ground.

Now compare that to someone else who starts with the exact same resources—maybe even less. She doesn't have it all figured out. Her website isn't perfect. Her plan has gaps. But she takes the step in front of her. She invests what she has. She puts her talents to work, even when it's scary.

Six months later, she's serving clients, making an impact, and learning more than she ever could have from another course. She's the servant who doubled her investment.

Here's the difference: It's not about the size of what you've been given. It's about what you do with it.

And that's what stewardship is all about.

What It Means to Be a Faithful Steward​

Let's break down what this parable teaches us about stewardship in business. Because friend, these aren't just nice theological concepts—these are practical truths that will transform how you approach every business decision.

1. Recognize God's Ownership

"A man...entrusted his wealth to them." (Matthew 25:14)

Notice the word: entrusted. The wealth didn't belong to the servants. It belonged to the master. They were simply managers of what was his.

Everything you have—your skills, your resources, your business opportunities, your creativity, your time, your finances—it all belongs to God. You're not the owner. You're the manager.

This isn't meant to make you feel small. It's meant to free you.

When you realize you're managing God's resources, it changes everything:

You don't have to carry the weight of ownership. The ultimate responsibility belongs to Him.

You don't have to fear failure the same way. You're being faithful with what He gave you.

You don't have to compare your "bag of gold" to someone else's. You're responsible for yours, not theirs.

You don't have to hoard or protect out of scarcity. God is the source, and His resources are unlimited.

So here's the question: How does viewing yourself as a steward rather than an owner change the way you approach your business?

Does it relieve pressure? Does it increase accountability? Does it shift your perspective on risk?

For me, understanding stewardship meant I could take bold steps without feeling like I was gambling with my own security. I was being faithful with what God entrusted to me.

The outcome? That was His responsibility. My responsibility was faithfulness.

2. Embrace Responsibility

"Each according to their ability." (Matthew 25:15)

God doesn't give everyone the same resources. And that's okay. He gives each of us according to our ability—what we can handle, what fits our calling, what aligns with our season.

But here's the critical part: Whatever He's given you, you're responsible for managing it well.

You can't ignore it. You can't minimize it. You can't wish it away or wait for someone else to do something with it.

You are the one He entrusted it to. You are responsible.

Think about this practically: What has God entrusted to you right now?

Maybe it's a specific skill set that could serve others. Maybe it's financial resources that could be invested. Maybe it's time that could be stewarded better. Maybe it's relationships that could open doors. Maybe it's an idea that won't leave you alone.

Whatever it is, faithful stewardship means taking responsibility for it.

Not someday. Not when you feel ready. Not when conditions are perfect.

Now.

Proverbs 27:23 says, "Be sure you know the condition of your flocks, give careful attention to your herds." In other words: Pay attention to what you've been entrusted with. Manage it intentionally. Be a faithful steward.

So ask yourself: What has God entrusted to me that I've been ignoring, minimizing, or avoiding?

3. Invest for Growth

"The man who had received five bags of gold went at once and put his money to work." (Matthew 25:16)

Notice the action words: went and put to work.

The faithful servants didn't just protect what they'd been given. They invested it. They multiplied it. They took risks to generate growth.

And here's what's important: Investment requires risk.

You can't multiply without putting something on the line. You can't grow without stepping into uncertainty. You can't double your impact by playing it completely safe.

This is where a lot of Christian women entrepreneurs get stuck. We want to be good stewards, so we think that means being cautious, careful, protective. We don't want to be reckless with what God gave us.

But look at the parable: The servants who invested and risked were commended. The servant who played it safe and buried his talent was condemned.

Faithful stewardship isn't about protecting what you have. It's about multiplying it for Kingdom purposes.

Practically, what does this mean?

It might mean investing financially in your business—paying for that website, hiring that coach, buying that equipment.
It might mean investing your time—leaving the security of a paycheck to pursue your calling.
It might mean investing your reputation—putting yourself out there even when it's uncomfortable.
It might mean investing in learning—developing new skills that will multiply your impact.

Whatever it looks like for you, faithful stewardship requires investment.

The question is: How can you invest what God has given you to multiply its impact?

4. Overcome Fear

"I was afraid and went out and hid your gold in the ground." (Matthew 25:25)

The servant who buried his talent didn't do it because he was lazy or didn't care. He did it because he was afraid.

Fear of losing it. Fear of failure. Fear of disappointing the master.

And ironically, his fear led to the exact outcome he was trying to avoid.

Friend, I need you to hear this: Fear is the enemy of faithful stewardship.

Fear tells you to play it safe. Fear tells you to protect rather than invest. Fear tells you to hide what God gave you rather than multiply it.

But 2 Timothy 1:7 reminds us: "For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline."

God didn't give you that business idea to bury it. He didn't give you those skills to hide them. He didn't give you that calling to ignore it out of fear.

He gave it to you to use it. To invest it. To multiply it for His glory.

Common fears that bury our "talents" in business:

Fear of financial loss: "What if I invest and lose everything?"
Fear of judgment: "What if people criticize my work or think I'm being prideful?"
Fear of inadequacy: "What if I'm not good enough?"
Fear of success: "What if it actually works and I can't handle it?"
Fear of failure: "What if I try and it doesn't work out?"

All of these fears keep us from being faithful stewards. They keep us from investing what God gave us. They keep us digging holes in the ground instead of putting our talents to work.

The antidote to fear? Faith.

Faith that God is the ultimate owner, not you.
Faith that He'll provide what you need.
Faith that faithfulness is more important than outcomes.
Faith that He didn't give you this calling to watch you fail.

So ask yourself: What fear might be preventing you from fully utilizing what God has entrusted to you?

5. Aim for Eternal Impact

"Well done, good and faithful servant!...Come and share your master's happiness!" (Matthew 25:21)

This is the goal. This is what we're aiming for. Not just profit. Not just success. Not just building something impressive.

We want to hear "Well done, good and faithful servant."

And friend, that changes everything about how we do business.

It means your business isn't ultimately about you. It's about Kingdom impact. It's about using what God gave you to serve others and glorify Him.

It means success isn't measured just in revenue or growth. It's measured in faithfulness and eternal impact.

It means every decision gets filtered through this question: "Is this building something that matters for eternity?"

Practically, what does eternal impact look like in business?

It's the client whose life is transformed by your service. It's the employee whose faith is strengthened by your leadership. It's the community that's blessed by your generosity. It's the Kingdom work that's funded by your profits. It's the values you demonstrate in the marketplace that point others to Christ.

Your business can be more than a revenue stream. It can be a platform for ministry. A vehicle for Kingdom impact. A way to serve others in Jesus' name.

The question is: How can your business contribute to eternal purposes?

Your Practical Next Steps​

Okay, so let's make this real. Here are specific, actionable steps you can take this week to become a more faithful steward of what God has entrusted to you:

Step 1: Conduct a Resource Audit

Grab a notebook and spend an hour listing everything God has entrusted to you:

Skills and talents (What are you naturally good at?)
Experiences (What have you learned that could serve others?)
Financial resources (What do you have available to invest?)
Time (How many hours can you realistically dedicate?)
Relationships (Who could you serve or partner with?)
Opportunities (What doors has God opened?)

This isn't about comparison. This is about clarity. You can't steward what you haven't identified.

Step 2: Create a Stewardship Plan

For each resource you identified, create a simple plan:

Finances: How much can you invest in your business this quarter? Where will it have the most impact?
Time: How many hours per week can you dedicate? What needs to happen in that time? Talents: Which skills do you need to develop? Which ones are you ready to deploy? Relationships: Who do you need to connect with? Who can you serve?

Write it down. Make it specific. Stewardship requires intentionality.

Step 3: Identify Your Fears

Be honest: What fear is keeping you from fully investing what God gave you?

Write it down. Name it. Then ask: What's the worst that could happen? And even if that happened, would God still be faithful?

Fear loses power when you confront it directly.

Step 4: Develop a Giving Strategy

Part of faithful stewardship is generosity. How can your business give back?

Maybe it's tithing your business income. Maybe it's serving pro bono clients. Maybe it's partnering with a ministry. Maybe it's creating jobs in your community.

Don't wait until you're "successful enough" to give. Build generosity into your business from day one.

Step 5: Seek Wise Counsel

Proverbs 15:22 says, "Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed."

You can't do this alone. Faithful stewardship requires wisdom beyond your own.

Consider investing in coaching with someone who understands both business and faith. Someone who can help you manage your resources wisely, make strategic decisions, and stay accountable to Kingdom purposes.

The Investment That Multiplies Everything

Friend, here's what I need you to understand: Good stewardship often requires wisdom beyond our own. And investing in coaching is itself an act of faithful stewardship.

Through private 1:1 coaching at She Steps Forward Coaching, I help Christian women entrepreneurs steward their God-given resources wisely—balancing profit with purpose, developing ethical business practices, and building something that matters for eternity.

Book your discovery call: https://meetcoachelaine.com

Your Calling Is Waiting for Your Faithfulness

So friend, let me ask you: What's one area where you feel God calling you to greater faithfulness as a steward?

Maybe it's finally investing that money you've been holding back.
Maybe it's dedicating time you've been saying you don't have.
Maybe it's developing that skill you've been ignoring.
Maybe it's stepping into that opportunity you've been too afraid to pursue.

Whatever it is, remember this: God didn't entrust it to you to watch you bury it in the ground.

He entrusted it to you because He trusts you with it. Because He has plans for how it can be multiplied. Because He wants to one day say to you, "Well done, good and faithful servant."

You don't need five bags of gold. You just need faithfulness with what you have.

So take the step in front of you. Invest what He's given you. Put your talents to work.

Because faithful stewardship isn't about perfection. It's about action.

And the world is waiting for what you'll do with what God has entrusted to you.

Let's steward it well. Together.