Episode Details

Christians often think about stewardship in terms of giving, saving, and spending. But if God owns everything He has entrusted to us, stewardship also raises another question: What about the companies we own through our investments?

Harry Pearson, Founder and CEO of OneAscent, says that question became increasingly important in his own journey of faith and finance. OneAscent is a family of companies that equips advisors and investors with faith-aligned solutions for planning, investing, and giving.

For Pearson, connecting biblical convictions with investing began with a broader realization: Faith should shape every part of our financial lives.

Connecting Faith With the Rest of Our Finances

Pearson grew up in a home where generosity was modeled well. His parents taught him to tithe from an early age. For every dollar he earned, he put a dime in the offering plate.

What he had not learned, however, was how to connect his faith with the rest of his financial life.

That began to change about 18 years ago when he attended his first Kingdom Advisors Conference. Pearson remembers arriving somewhat resistant, but the experience challenged him to consider what it would look like to align his work with the faith God had already planted in his heart.

Colossians 3:23 became an important lens: “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men.”

That principle extends beyond our occupations. If everything belongs to God, then our time, abilities, and financial resources are all things we manage on His behalf.

The question becomes not simply, “What do I want to do with what I have?” but, “How can I faithfully steward what God has entrusted to me?”

Passing Along Values, Not Just Valuables

That perspective also changes the way we think about leaving a legacy.

Families often devote significant attention to the valuables they hope to leave the next generation—homes, savings, investments, and other assets. Pearson believes Christians should give just as much attention to the values they are passing along.

Rather than focusing only on leaving a legacy, he encourages families to think about living one.

Children often learn stewardship less from formal lessons than from what they regularly observe. They see how their parents talk about money, respond to financial pressure, practice generosity, and decide what matters most.

That gives parents an opportunity to invite their children into the stewardship process.

Let them see generosity practiced. Allow them to participate in serving others. Talk with them about why your family chooses to support particular ministries or causes. Those conversations can help the next generation understand not merely what the family owns, but why it uses money the way it does.

After all, preparing the next steward is about more than transferring assets. It is about cultivating wisdom and faithfulness in the person who may one day receive them.

Do You Know What You Own?

The same stewardship framework applies to investing.

Many investors purchase mutual funds, exchange-traded funds, or other investments without knowing much about the individual companies they indirectly own. Pearson believes that is worth examining.

If God is the ultimate owner of our resources, Christians can thoughtfully consider whether the businesses in their portfolios align with their biblical convictions.

That begins with a simple question: Do you know what you own?

For some investors, looking beneath the surface of a portfolio may reveal companies or business activities they would not knowingly choose to support. That realization has helped drive the growth of faith-based and values-aligned investi