Stewardship: God Owns Everything and I am His Steward

Memory Verse:   No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon. Matthew 6:24

Monday: Understanding Our Nature

Leave something shiny lying around with a child in the room; it’s sure to disappear fast! And how often do we hear of a little one pocketing a piece of bubblegum only to have the loot discovered by mom on laundry day? We don’t teach our children to take things that aren’t theirs; that comes as a result of our fallen nature. The fall of man came from this very same concept. Misplaced ownership. Adam and Eve were given instruction to not take the forbidden fruit. They did so anyway in an attempt to gain something that was not theirs. This has resulted in severe consequences for every generation to come thereafter. Ask God this week to show you where you fall short of his blessings because of the desire to please a sinful nature.

Tuesday: Acknowledging God’s Ownership

Oftentimes we feel entitled to what we have, especially if we work hard to get it! God’s ownership of everything that there is can be a foreign concept. The Bible makes it very clear to us that everything belongs to Him. What can we learn from the following scriptures?

1. Colossians 1:16 - Everything was created by Him and for Him.
2. Deuteronomy 10:14 - Heaven and Earth and everything in it, belong to Him.
3. Haggai 2:8 - Silver and gold belongs to God

Wednesday:  A Lesson From Good Ole Nezzar!

A lot can be learned from studying about the life of King Nebuchadnezzar. One of history’s most powerful kings learned a tough lesson about God’s ownership. Read through Daniel chapter 4. King Nebuchadnezzar was enjoying a stroll through his kingdom and boasted “Is not this the great Babylon I have built as the royal residence, by my mighty power and for the glory of my majesty?” God responded in a way that would make His point very clear. The king lost his sanity and spent seven years living outside; eating grass like a cow. What are some consequences that you are dealing with right now because of the lack of understanding of what actually belongs to you?

Thursday: The Illusion Of Self-Sufficiency

Nebuchadnezzar was proud of what he had done on his own. His was proud of all he had accomplished. He felt that his hard work had earned him that pride. What have you worked hard for? What have you earned? Read Deuteronomy 8:17-18. God has given us our gifts and abilities. It is God who provides what we need to attain what we have. God has given us all that we have and, as we can learn through Nebuchadnezzar, God can take away what He sees necessary to make His point clear.

Replace pride with gratitude. It is okay to take satisfaction in your work. (Ecclesiastes 2:24) However, we must remember that the skills and strengths that allow you to succeed were given to you by God. Thank God for creating you and giving you those gifts.

Friday: All Belongs To God, Including Us!!

I Cor. 3:23 - “And you are Christ’s, and Christ is God’s”

We don’t need to worry about our possessions and taking pride in those things that we own. Read James 4:14 and 2 Peter 3:8. This life is a vapor. What will matter in the end is not what we own but who we belong to.

Personal Application:

Read 1 Chronicles 29:11-16.
What do these verses say to you?
How will you look at “your” possessions?
How can we remember to be thankful and not prideful?