Divine Ownership
Scripture
If I were hungry I would not tell you, for the world is Mine, and all that is in it.
~Psalm 50:12, NIV
Quote
In the Hebrew language, there is no verb for ‘have’ because you and I cannot ‘have’ or possess anything.
~Ya’akov
My Thoughts
DIVINE OWNERSHIP is the first principle of Christian Stewardship. You will never be a faithful steward until you acknowledge that everything that you call a possession is actually a gift. There is an air of pride that accompanies wealth. It tends to raise its head as if to say, “Look what I have done.” All of us would do well to read Deuteronomy 8 a couple of times each year…You may say to yourself, “My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me.” But remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you the ability to produce wealth. If there is one thing that I am positive about, it is this—The LORD is the source of our strength. You can’t get out of bed without His strength. He gave you the strength that you have and He can take it anytime He pleases.
Divine Ownership is taught throughout the Bible…Psalm 24:1-2…“The earth is the LORD’s, and the fullness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.” Exodus 19:5……“For all the earth is mine.” Deuteronomy 10:14…“Behold, the heaven and the heaven of heavens is the LORD’S thy God, the earth also, with all that therein is.” Haggai 2:8…“The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, saith the LORD of hosts.” Job 41:11… “Whatever is under the whole heaven is mine.” 1 Chronicles 29:14...”For all things come from You {God}, and of your own have we given you.” Bottom line, everything belongs to God. I have a few wealthy friends. Millionaires were rare 70 years ago but they are a dime a dozen today. Grace Point has a half-dozen and DBC does as well. It is not unusual today to have a friend that is worth a million dollars, but that person is only a steward or manager of something that belongs to someone else. The moment he or she forgets the true owner, that person becomes a thief or at least they think like a thief. The theif’s mentality is– What is yours is mine if I can take it. Finders keepers, losers weepers. Trust me folks, you will never take what belongs to God. There is a lot of freedom in understanding the truth. I never worry about millionaires losing their money…they do but I don’t.
In Psalm 50 the LORD summons Israel to court. He is displeased with their worship and especially their offerings. They are bringing sacrifices from their herds but they are offering them with the wrong attitude. Here is my lamb for the month LORD. I am up todate on my payments so now you owe me a blessing. The LORD said, “You have missed the point. Do you think I am hungry that I would desire your livestock. I don’t want or need your animals; they do not belong to you anyway. All you are doing is bringing Me something that is already mine. No, I want a different kind of offering; I want you to give Me thanks for what I’ve done for you.” When the offering plate is passed this Sunday, right down something you are thankful for and put it in the plate. Rediculous, you say, no body wants to see a thank you note in the offering plate! Unfortunately you are dead wrong. I know four persons who would be delighted to see you do it.
What about bringing the LORD a real sacrifice this Sunday: a sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving.
Extra
I have said a lot lately, “You never know what a day will bring.” Some questioned me preaching last Sunday but I realized, it might be the last thing I did or the last opportunity I had. Yesterday was a routine check up and again June gets a A and I get the F. Dr. Harrison wouldn’t let me leave the building without some test. Let me tell you what STAT means at CRMC…nothing. June and I sat in the car in the parking lot for two hours. She finally called and they had gone to lunch. I didn’t think STAT and lunch went together. Evidently they knew more than the doctor because I don’t think it was that serious. Long story short, if Jack wants to hang out a little longer on planet earth, he has to get back on his diet, which he hates. I went ahead and started yesterday. It has been 24 hours since I have had Blake’s pound cake with strawberries and calf-slobber. I am going warn you like mother warned us when Daddy quite smoking, I may be a little ill or on edge. It is a sad commentary but one of my greatest joys was to eat some of June’s strawberry jam on a hot biscuit every morning.
Have a great day and thanks for reading the blog.