When I was nine years old, I got my first pocket money – one Brazilian real, which was worth about 40 cents at the time.

Every month I put ten percent of it, or 10 centavos, into an envelope. This envelope was gradually filled until a nice sum had been collected. Then I was allowed to take this money to the church and put it in a box where the adults also put their envelopes with ten percent of their income. This was more than just giving; it showed me the importance of sharing what we have with others. It taught me that everything we have actually belongs to God. By giving something back, we show our gratitude and remind ourselves that everything we have comes from Him.

We are God's stewards. This means more than just giving money back. Everything we have comes from Him, the Creator of the universe. The air we breathe, the food we eat, the work we do, and the people we love are all gifts from God. So are our time and our abilities. They don't really belong to us; they belong to God. Our job is to use them well. In our world we think of ourselves first. We strive to have more and more. The Bible teaches us to be different. Instead of focusing on ourselves, we should put Jesus at the centre: "For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever! Amen" (Romans 11:36).

In Genesis 1:28, God gives us the task of caring for and protecting His wonderful creation. This responsibility extends not only to our possessions, but to the whole world. It is a task that fills us with awe and calls us to act wisely and responsibly.

We should be good stewards of the gifts and time that God has given us. This also means treating other people, animals, and nature with love and respect.

And it means spending only what we have rather than going into debt, so that we are free to do God's work and use our resources for Him and our fellow human beings. When we are generous, it is a sign of our gratitude and trust in God. We follow the example of Jesus, who taught love and selflessness, and fulfil His call to love our neighbour. God also encourages us to plan for the future without falling into materialism. In this way we are ready to fulfil His purposes in every situation of life.

One of my favourite verses in the Bible is in Matthew 6, where Jesus explains how unnecessary it is for us humans to worry about so many things. "Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?" (Matthew 6:26). This verse helps me to rearrange my priorities and trust that God will provide. Instead of worrying too much about career, money, and material things, and being guided by the principle of 'eat or be eaten', I am called to put God first and trust that He will provide for my needs.

God's invitation to be His stewards is a call to live in deep trust in God and to live differently from today's me-centred society. By wisely using what God gives us – time, resources or special gifts – in service to Him and our fellow human beings, we open our lives to His guidance and blessing. "But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well" (Matthew 6:33). This is my desire for you and for me.

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Bible texts for in-depth study:
Genesis 1:26-28; 2:15; 1 Chronicles 29:14; Proverbs 3:9-10; Haggai 1:2-11; Malachi 3:8-10; Matthew 6:19-20; 23:23; 25:14-30; 1 Corinthians 4:1-2; 9:13-14; 2 Corinthians 8:1-15; 9:6-7