Yesterday we dealt with money. Today, I want to return to a similar theme, except this time including all possessions.
Very often we all refer to our possessions and finances as ours. It’s my house, my car, my furniture, my cellphone, my tablet, my laptop, my money! And because it’s “mine”, we feel we can use everything and do as we please with everything, because everything is mine! We all do this, irrespective who we are! Shocking … yet true.
Let me drop another bomb. Some might say, “I’m single, I’m not married, so it is all mine! Therefore, I can do as I please with what I have because it’s all mine.” In other words, sharing is only when I’m married and have children!
But is what I have really all mine … and if married, all ours?
As I write I am mindful that those who are intended to read this devotion are Christian people. Bible-believing people. Gospel people. So, our starting point for all of life must be the Bible … and that includes possessions and finances. Now look at this:
Ps 24:1 The earth is the LORD’S, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it; 2 for he founded it upon the seas and established it upon the waters.
Psalm 24 starts off by saying, “lock, stock and barrel”! Everything, all our possessions and all our money, is owned by God. God entrusts to us money and possessions for us to use as stewards for Him, in His service. This means that as soon as we find everything belongs to God, we become aware that we are accountable to God for everything He entrusts to us.
Money and possession affect our traditions, customs, standards and image. It affects where we live, what accommodation we buy or rent, what type of car we buy, what clothes we wear, what friends we have, etc.
I met a man, some thirty-four years ago, who was a scientist with one of the main chemical companies in the world. He reported to the vice-president of the company. He earned a huge salary. He could have been a “jet-setter” with the wealthy, but as a Christian he grasped and understood a few fundamental issues that came to money and possessions. Deeply in his heart, he knew that everything belonged to God.
He knew that 1. Everything he had belonged to God; 2. He was accountable to God for what God gave him; 3. He therefore tithed correctly [the Biblical 10%]; 4. He lived comfortably; 5. He then invested hugely into God’s Kingdom work in many parts of the world.
Let’s unpack his Biblical view of possessions and money:
- He knew everything belonged to God so he took Malachi 3:10 seriously.
- He knew that God required His people tithe and pay taxes. He took Matthew 22:21 seriously.
- He knew that God never forced him to pay tithes or give sacrificially. He took 2 Corinthians 8:2-5 seriously.
- He knew that giving was always God first! He took 2 Corinthians 8:5 seriously.
- He knew “the grace of giving” was giving freely and willingly. He took 2 Corinthians 8:7 seriously.
- He knew giving was a love for Jesus. He took 2 Corinthians 8:8 seriously.
- His overall attitude to giving was generosity [2 Corinthians 9:5-6] and cheer [2 Corinthians 9:7].
When we understand that everything we have belongs to God, it helps us to use and work with what God has given us for His glory, our comfort and the blessing of the needy, who might be in the Kingdom or might need the gospel.
Lord Jesus, Help me to be a good steward of the resources You give me. Help me to use these things for your glory. Amen.