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K i n g d o m S t e wa r d s h i p 36 In verse 5, Paul goes on to elaborate on what he means by strongholds: “casting down imaginations, and every high thing that is exalted against the knowledge of God, and bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.” Many consider strongholds to be areas where there is demonic influence, rather than godly influence. Our intention here is not to discuss the extent to which strongholds may refer to demonic activity. Suffice it to say that Paul is very clear that strongholds oppose God and his plans, rather than generating obedience to him, and must therefore be challenged. With this in mind, what are some of the strongholds that Christians face as they aim to be effective stewards? A nonexhaustive list includes pride, fear, guilt, lack of prayer, hoarding and warehousing, and theological errors, as we shall now discuss. Stronghold of Pride Pride in giving takes many forms and can present a barrier to effective stewardship. A good text to keep in mind is Matthew 6:1-4: Be careful not to do your “acts of righteousness” before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. Pride can encompass independence in giving: going it alone rather than collaborating with others or providing joint funding. Pride allows the glory to go to the individual and says, “Look at me, I am the provider!”
D i s m a n t l i n g S t r o n g h o l d s Pride could also lead to “passion-driven” giving that makes the donor feel good or experience joy. Although there is no harm in enjoying being a generous giver, if we are doing this to feel better about ourselves, then we might need to reexamine our motives. Alternatively, if the donor is giving resources to control the outcome or promote their own agenda, there is pride in this approach. Those who have money and resources may put themselves in a position of power over those who do not have, and this is obviously not godly. Arrogance in giving is always a danger; donors must never cease checking their heart response. Fear and Guilt For many, fear and guilt are huge strongholds in their lives, standing in the way of both generous giving and reaping the blessings of a bountiful God. Luke 12:22 and 12:31 state: “Then Jesus said to his disciples: ‘Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear… But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.’” Christians across the globe share a common fear of not being able to pay their taxes and bills. We face a fear of going broke and being poor, and this is the case even for those who have substantial wealth. Fear of not having enough is an issue faced by whole organizations as well as individuals. As with fear of all types, the best way to combat it is with faith in God. It is the same with guilt. We have a God of grace and love, who has freed us to live guilt-free lives (Gal. 5:1). Donors need to understand the radical truth that they are under no obligation to give. Consequently, they do not need to feel guilty if they do not give as they feel they should. 37
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