Digital help in stewarding a home
Money, housing and affordability are front of mind for many of us right now. As followers of Jesus it’s important we think about mortgages, rent and budgeting in a deeper context: How does our home fit into Christian living?
In our culture homes are often seen as private retreats, investments or status symbols. But the values Jesus teaches lead to a different vision – our homes are not just for ourselves, but gifts we steward in a life that expresses love for others.
How we manage our homes, including the digital tools now part of many of our daily lives, can pull us toward isolation and convenience. Or, if we use them wisely, they can help us practise Christian hospitality, generosity and stewardship.
Here are a few practical suggestions along these lines.
Reclaim hospitality
One of the quiet losses in modern life is how rarely we gather in our homes. Busy schedules, small spaces and the ease of meeting in public places have made hospitality feel complicated or optional.
Yet throughout Scripture hospitality is central to the life of God’s people. The earliest churches met in homes. Meals were shared. Strangers became friends.
Digital tools can actually make this easier, not harder.
Free apps like PARTIFUL simplify invitations in a way that feels natural and low pressure. You can create a simple gathering, track RSVPs, communicate details and remove the friction that often keeps us from inviting people in the first place.
Hospitality does not need to be elaborate. A simple meal, a potluck or even snacks and conversation can create space for connection. In a culture that is increasingly isolated, opening our homes is a quiet but powerful act of discipleship.
Share what you have
In a time when travel is expensive and housing costs are high, there is something deeply countercultural about sharing resources.
Home-swapping platforms like HOMEEXCHANGE and KINDRED allow people to exchange homes for short stays, often with built-in verification systems, reviews and insurance protections. What once might have felt risky is now structured with layers of trust.
For some ministry families I know, this has opened opportunities to travel, rest or visit new places at a fraction of the cost.
There’s a long Christian tradition of holding possessions with open hands. Digital platforms can create new ways to live that out.
Wise home care
Apps like JIFFY and TASKRABBIT make it easier to care for our homes by connecting users with vetted professionals for cleaning, repairs and maintenance. While outsourcing everything is not the goal, timely care can prevent larger costs down the road and reduce stress when you need your plumbing fixed ASAP.
As you welcome strangers in to help you, remember to offer them hospitality as well to go beyond a transactional relationship.
Also, smart home tools like GOOGLE NEST THERMOSTAT or PHILIPS HUE allow households to monitor and reduce energy usage. These small adjustments can lower costs over time and use less of creation’s energy resources in the process.
Shared finances
For many, housing today includes some form of shared living. Roommates, multigenerational households and shared travel with friends are increasingly common. But money can quickly complicate these relationships.
Tools like SPLITWISE help friends, roommates or families track shared expenses clearly and fairly. Instead of awkward conversations or unspoken resentment about someone not paying their share of a utility bill, there is clarity, tracking and a spreadsheet.
Scripture calls us to honesty and integrity. Sometimes the most spiritual thing we can do is make things simple and transparent.
A different vision of home
A home is not only a space where we scroll, stream and stay insulated. The way of Jesus invites more.
Perhaps that’s a home that is open, even imperfectly. A table where people are welcomed. A space that is shared. Something entrusted to us, not owned outright.
Thriving in digital is not just about using technology wisely. It’s about allowing our lives, including our homes, to reflect a God who welcomes, provides and makes room for others.
Joanna la Fleur is a podcaster, TV host and communications consultant in Toronto. Find more of these columns at FaithToday.ca/ThrivingInDigital.