Wednesday August 17, 2011

Read Psalm 50:10-11, Job 1:21; 1 Timothy 6:7, Psalm 24:1

 

Ownership

God is the owner of all things. "The earth is the Lord's, and all it contains, the world, and those who dwell in it" (Ps. 24:1). We come into the world with nothing and leave it with nothing (Job 1:21; 1 Tim. 6:7), but God says, "every beast of the forest is Mine, the cattle on a thousand hills. I know every bird of the mountains, and everything that moves in the field is Mine" (Ps. 50:10-11).

 

Everything we have, therefore, comes from Him (John 3:27; James 1:17). There is no such thing as a "self-made man"--"What do you have that you did not receive? But if you did receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?" (1 Corinthians 4:7).

We may believe this truth in theory but deny it in practice. When this happens,

we slip into the rebellious attitude that "My power and the strength of my hand made me this wealth" (Deut. 8:17). Instead, we must come to grips with the fact that everything we have in this world belongs to God and is only "on loan" to us. This includes not only our money and possessions, but also our families, careers, and plans for the future. If we can get straight on the principle of 100% ownership, we will be ready for the principle of 100% stewardship.

 

Some areas of our lives are harder to yield to God than others. For many Christians, the financial area is one of the hardest. To give this over, we must stop trusting in money and in our own ability to generate it, and recognize God alone as our Source and Sustainer. He may use various means to provide for our needs, but He is the Source behind it all. Each of us must learn to look to the Lord and not to people for our security.

 

God is not only the Source, but also the Controller of all things (Daniel 2:20-21). He rules over our circumstances and accomplishes His purposes in and through them. When we are tempted to get angry at our "bad luck," we need to make an attitude shift and realize that there is a purpose behind everything that happens to God's children. "And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose" (Romans 8:28).

 

What percentage of your current finances are you dedicating back to God? Why is it at this level?

 

 

Prayer:

> Pray for the ladies craft groups that they will have more people in attendance and that they will be able to reach out to other women in the community looking for church social activities.

> Pray for the Committee of Management that they will make the right decisions for the church to help to spread the Word of God into the wider Glenvale community.