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“It’s mine. It’s mine” I’m sure you have heard a child cry out with these words when you try to take a toy or something that is theirs away from them. Possession is an important part of ownership. There is a sense of security in holding on to that which we own, whether it is a gift or a purchase made. To say, “it’s mine” is a declaration of ownership. When we recognize “ownership,” it helps us to recognize a response to belonging. This gives us also a responsibility of caring. The Bible says there is a reason for being a faithful steward. We should be faithful in what we do with our bodies, our “things,” the place we live and the environment and land about us. Read 1st Corinthians 10:24. It says the Earth “is the Lord’s and the fullest thereof.” When we recognize this it will make a difference how we respond as a steward of our possessions.
Jesus said all things were made by him and without him was not anything made that was made. Read John 1:3. From the beginning, Jesus was a part of creating all that was made. Truly the Earth is the Lord’s; He made it for man to be fruitful and multiply and live in piece. Man let sin come in and disobeyed God; the problem is sin has condemned man and separated him from God. So God has been moving to bring man back into right relationship with him. He has promised to bless us when we turn to him in obedience. The crucifixion of Christ was God’s payment for man’s sin.
Obedience comes when we become faithful stewards of our lives and all that God has given us. One example of our obedience is in our stewardship. Malachi records “Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed me in tithes and offerings.” You see a tenth (which is a tithe) of all we make is the Lord’s. We should return it to him. We actually have not made an offering until we return the tithe (which is the Lord’s already). The Lord expects us to bring the tithes and offerings to His storehouse. This is the church. He has entrusted us to be faithful with what he has given us. We return to him the tithe and we make an offering we are faithful stewards and obey his word.
If we give ourselves to the Lord we become a part of the family of God. We do this by inviting Christ into our life. This is called the new birth; but more it means that we desire to be faithful stewards with all that God has given us. “...prove me now saith the Lord, if I will not open you the windows of heaven and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.” (Malachi 3:8). It is our challenge to believe God’s word.
“It’s mine. It’s mine” I’m sure you have heard a child cry out with these words when you try to take a toy or something that is theirs away from them. Possession is an important part of ownership. There is a sense of security in holding on to that which we own, whether it is a gift or a purchase made. To say, “it’s mine” is a declaration of ownership. When we recognize “ownership,” it helps us to recognize a response to belonging. This gives us also a responsibility of caring. The Bible says there is a reason for being a faithful steward. We should be faithful in what we do with our bodies, our “things,” the place we live and the environment and land about us. Read 1st Corinthians 10:24. It says the Earth “is the Lord’s and the fullest thereof.” When we recognize this it will make a difference how we respond as a steward of our possessions.
Jesus said all things were made by him and without him was not anything made that was made. Read John 1:3. From the beginning, Jesus was a part of creating all that was made. Truly the Earth is the Lord’s; He made it for man to be fruitful and multiply and live in piece. Man let sin come in and disobeyed God; the problem is sin has condemned man and separated him from God. So God has been moving to bring man back into right relationship with him. He has promised to bless us when we turn to him in obedience. The crucifixion of Christ was God’s payment for man’s sin.
Obedience comes when we become faithful stewards of our lives and all that God has given us. One example of our obedience is in our stewardship. Malachi records “Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed me in tithes and offerings.” You see a tenth (which is a tithe) of all we make is the Lord’s. We should return it to him. We actually have not made an offering until we return the tithe (which is the Lord’s already). The Lord expects us to bring the tithes and offerings to His storehouse. This is the church. He has entrusted us to be faithful with what he has given us. We return to him the tithe and we make an offering we are faithful stewards and obey his word.
If we give ourselves to the Lord we become a part of the family of God. We do this by inviting Christ into our life. This is called the new birth; but more it means that we desire to be faithful stewards with all that God has given us. “...prove me now saith the Lord, if I will not open you the windows of heaven and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.” (Malachi 3:8). It is our challenge to believe God’s word.
