If we’re honest, the little piece of plastic in your wallet can feel like both a blessing and a burden. It’s the modern symbol of freedom—and yet, for many, it’s a silent chain of financial slavery.
The truth is that credit cards aren’t the enemy. Poor stewardship is.
In Uniform of the Steward, I wrote,
“The tool is not to blame for the outcome—it’s the hands that hold it.”
Just as a carpenter can use a hammer to build or to break, you can use credit cards to strengthen your financial framework—or shatter it. The difference lies in discipline, not access.
1. See Credit for What It Is—a Stewardship Test
Credit is not free money. It’s borrowed trust.
And every swipe is a statement of faith: “I’ll have the resources later to cover this now.”
That’s not always wrong—but it’s always weighty.
In Putting on the Uniform of the Steward, Thomas reminds us,
“When you borrow, you are borrowing against tomorrow’s fruit. The question is whether you’ve planted enough seed today.”
Before every purchase, ask: Am I planting or plundering?
That single question changes your spending from emotional to intentional.
2. Keep What You Can Count
If you can’t name your balances from memory, you’re not managing your credit—you’re avoiding it.
Good stewards count what’s entrusted to them. Luke 14:28 says,
“For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost…?”
Use this verse as your audit alarm. List your cards, balances, interest rates, and due dates in one place. You can’t win a battle you refuse to measure.
Try using a free tool like Undebt.it or your own spreadsheet to see the full picture—and make the invisible visible.
3. Build an Emergency Fund Before Chasing Points
Cash flow is your shield; points are your confetti.
Many Millennials and Gen Z believers fall into the “rewards trap”—thinking that if they’re earning miles or cash back, the spending must be wise.
It’s not.
Without an emergency fund, those points are paid for with anxiety, not wisdom.
Start small: even $500 set aside is the start of your “Steward’s Shield.”
As Proverbs 21:20 reminds us,
“The wise store up choice food and olive oil, but fools gulp theirs down.”
Don’t swipe for comfort today and steal from peace tomorrow.
4. Pay More Than the Minimum—or Pay Forever
If you owe $3,000 at 19% interest and pay only the minimum, it could take over a decade to be free.
That’s not just math—it’s bondage.
Interest is the tax on impatience.
To break free, use the “Steward’s Snowball” strategy I teach in Putting on the Uniform of the Steward:
- List all debts from smallest to largest.
- Pay minimums on all but the smallest.
- Attack he smallest debt with everything you can.
- When it’s gone, roll that payment into the next one.
Small wins fuel faithful habits.
5. Pray Before You Pay
That’s not just a slogan—it’s a spiritual safeguard.
Prayer puts pause between impulse and action.
Ask God, “Is this purchase aligned with my purpose?”
Romans 13:8 gives a timeless reminder:
“Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another.”
Credit management isn’t just financial literacy—it’s spiritual maturity. Every transaction can either reflect trust in God’s provision or fear of missing out.
A Steward’s Challenge
This week, pull your latest statements and do a Steward’s Review.
Ask:
- What purchases were made in faith, and which were made in fear?
- What does my spending say about what I value?
- What can I surrender or simplify?
Then, commit to one change—whether that’s paying off one small card, cutting one unnecessary subscription, or setting a boundary for impulse purchases.
