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WEEKLY ENCOURAGEMENT
Updated: Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Our Possessions
While driving to Colorado Springs today I heard an interesting program about giving. I would like to relate to you the story I heard. A pastor was speaking to a group of believers in a country in Asia. The pastor read Psalm 24:1. "The earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein." He then began to teach a lesson on giving and that all we have actually belongs to the Lord. He noticed a man in the audience begin to weep. As the lesson continued the pastor explained how we are just stewards of what the Lord gives to us. The man continued to weep and it became noticeable to those around him. It was only when that meeting was over and the pastor was being driven to the airport that he learned the rest of the story.
The weeping man was from a near by village and had just wondered into the meeting. He was a poor man who had just had all his savings stolen by a dishonest business man. He was distraught and ashamed to go home to his family. In that meeting he began to understand that he had not really lost anything since it all belonged to God. He also heard that only God can provide for our needs. At the close of the meeting an offering was taken. The poor man had nothing left but felt so moved to give an offering to God that he cut the buttons of his shirt off and put them in the offering plate.
Following the meeting, some of the men of the church showed him from the Bible how he could know this amazing God as his own personal savior. The man asked Christ into his heart and life. His fellow believers were also able to help him with his financial needs.
I wonder how real this truth is to you and me. Do we consciously realize that all we have actually belongs to the Lord? All too often we feel after giving the Lord our tithe the remaining 90% belongs to us. The truth is that we only have a job, the strength to work, or any of our other material needs met because of God's blessing. It all belongs to Him! We are just stewards of His goods.
Are we honestly conscious of this fact, or do we feel that what we have belongs to us and we can do whatever we want with it? In fact we don't even belong to ourselves, but belong to the Lord. 1 Corinthians 6:20 "For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's."
It is vitally important that we are good stewards not only with our money but with our time, energy and devotion. "Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful." 1 Corinthians 4:2 We need to ask the Lord for His direction in how we spend His money and use the talents He has given us.
"So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God." Romans 14:12
THOUGHT TO PONDER:How do you feel about your money and possessions?
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- Sandy Hastings |
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