You may want to give generously while also wanting to be thoughtful, strategic, and responsible with the resources God has entrusted to you.
But when money has already been set aside for generosity, how do you know whether waiting is wise stewardship or delayed obedience?
MEET YOUR GUIDE:
Courtney Markley, founder of the Center for Financial Discipleship and host of The Heart of Money podcast, has spent about a decade helping people explore the connection between spiritual health and financial behavior. In her new investigative podcast, Idle Treasure, she examines the billions of charitable dollars held in donor advised funds and the heart-level questions that can keep those resources from reaching their intended destination.
Courtney explores why fear, control, status, uncertainty, and even the desire to give wisely can slow generosity. Drawing from conversations with donors, ministry leaders, financial advisors, and generosity experts, she shares principles that emerged across very different approaches to stewardship: staying deeply connected to Christ, cultivating an eternal perspective, giving with intentionality and urgency, and asking whether your use of money is making you more like Jesus.
She also considers practical tools including financial finish lines, philanthropic advisors, and sunsetting donor advised funds. By the end, you may see more clearly where thoughtful stewardship ends, where surrender begins, and how knowing God shapes the way you release what He has entrusted to you.
WHAT YOU'LL GAIN:
- How rest can deepen your dependence on God and generosity
- Why fear and control can quietly delay generous action
- How to recognize when wise stewardship becomes delayed obedience
- Why donor advised funds can create emotional attachment after giving
- How to set practical finish lines that encourage greater surrender
- Why knowing God is foundational to managing His resources faithfully
HIGHLIGHTS:
- “There’s a deep, deep connection between rest and generosity.”
- “Am I doing things with God or am I doing them for God?”
- “I can know in my head that this money is technically not mine anymore. But in my heart of hearts, I still see it every day. I still get to control it. It feels like mine.”
- “I don’t think most of us are excited to give control away or surrender.”
- “The folks that I met who inspired me, who I’m like, ‘Yes, you get it,’ they have a deep, deep awareness of God’s presence in their life.”
- “Is your use of money drawing you closer to Jesus? Are you becoming more Christ-like?”
- “God has got me. He is my enough.”
- “We can’t control what others decide to do or not do with their money, but we do get to control how we show up.”
- “We won’t be good stewards if we don’t know our God.”
PEOPLE, BOOKS, AND ORGS:
BIBLE REFERENCES:
Mark 10:17-25 | The Rich Young Ruler
Deuteronomy 8:11–14 | Do Not Forget God
KEEP EXPLORING
Discover more conversations, ideas, and resources to help you think intentionally about generosity, stewardship, and living with an eternal perspective.
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