The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it,
the world, and all who live in it;
for he founded it on the seas
and established it on the waters.
It seems obvious that since God created the Earth, the Universe, and everything (in the Greek, cosmos), that we would naturally assume that He owns it. EVERYTHING. Including us. But God saw fit to remind us that everything IS His. Since we have free will, we sometimes think that we own ourselves. But isn’t that at the very heart and nature of sin? God is owner – everything is His. He has been gracious to delegate authority over what He owns as stewardship to us.
How often do we catch ourselves saying, “my car”, “my house”, “my job”, “my life”? Isn’t more appropriate to look at it from this perspective – “The car that God graciously provided to me to use for His purposes”, etc.? Until we realize that everything is God’s, and we are merely stewards of His property – the universe, the very bodies we have, the thoughts we have, the words we speak, and the actions we take, we will fall into the trap of the world’s thinking, and believe that somehow what is God’s is now ours. Isn’t that theft?
A short prayer of preparation:
Father in Heaven, Holy is Your Name. May Your reign and rule over all creation be extended from where you are to where we are. In all things You show that You are Sovereign Lord. Help us, O Lord, to see Your hand in our lives, that we may remember that we our Yours, not only those that have given our lives to You, but all of creation is Yours for Your pleasure and Your Will as You desire. I now dedicate all that has been provided to me, through stewardship, by You, to be used for Your purposes as You see fit. Help me to always seek You constantly that everything that You have provided to me will be used as You instruct to bring Glory and Praise and Honor to You and You alone. This I pray in the name of your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.
Want more? Why not try A. B. Simpson or A. W. Tozer?
CHRIST ALLIANCE CHURCH 