Follow: Life-Giving HabitsSample

Ownership

The very first question that we need to answer when we talk about resources is: Who does it all belong to? If I worked for it, does it actually belong to me?

We are convinced from the scriptures that the earth belongs to the Lord.

Psalm 24:1 The earth and everything on it belong to the Lord. The world and its people belong to him.

From the beginning, we see how God gave man the ability and responsibility to care for and govern all that is on planet earth.

Genesis 1:27-28 So God created humans to be like himself; he made men and women. God gave them his blessing and said: Have a lot of children! Fill the earth with people and bring it under your control. Rule over the fish in the ocean, the birds in the sky, and every animal on the earth.

The question then to you and me is: Do we believe that all that we have is a gift from our Creator? He owns everything, including my life, and He gave me the creativity to earn a living and I am to honor Him by the way that I steward the gifts (Time, Treasure, Talents) He gave me!

Shall we consider a teaching by Jesus that gives us clear direction in this regard? 

Jesus starts by reminding us that we are in the domain of a King who put his estate in our hands.

Matthew 25:14 The kingdom is also like what happened when a man went away and put his three servants in charge of all he owned.

Then Jesus shows us that some have more than others, but we all are accountable to what has been entrusted to us.

Matthew 25:15 The man knew what each servant could do. So, he handed five thousand coins to the first servant, two thousand to the second, and one thousand to the third. Then he left the country.

The next implication that Jesus teaches, is that we will stand accountable to what has been entrusted to us; how we went about growing the stewardship responsibility of our lives.

Matthew 25:19-20 Sometime later the master of those servants returned. He called them in and asked what they had done with his money. The servant who had been given five thousand coins brought them in with the five thousand that he had earned. He said, “Sir, you gave me five thousand coins, and I have earned five thousand more.”

Lastly, we learn that faithfulness will be rewarded. The greatest responsibility of a follower of Jesus is to remain faithful with what we have, as we serve our King with all of our time and treasures and talents.

Matthew 25:21 “Wonderful!” his master replied. “You are a good and faithful servant. I left you in charge of only a little, but now I will put you in charge of much more. Come and share in my happiness!”