Ownership versus Stewardship
January 9, 2020
This past Sunday while I was at church, the speaker said something that really caught my attention. God created everything (Genesis 1), therefore he owns everything, we are only stewards of God's creation. This caught my attention because I know I am guilty of trying to be the owner instead of the steward. I have struggled with God over control of my life. The interesting thing is I have no right to. I am a steward, I should be consulting with God about where to spend my time, my efforts, and my resources.
This has also been an ongoing theme in my devotions this week. God is really trying to drive something home with this topic. In Acts 20:28 "Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which He obtained with His own blood." It occurred to me after reading this that the ministries I participate in at my church are God's, I am also just a steward there as well. How many times do we treat our ministries like they are ours and do not seek God's wisdom or direction when making decisions?
Another verse that I read this week was Jeremiah 10:21 "the shepherds of my people have lost their senses. They no longer seek wisdom from the Lord. Therefore, they fail completely, and their flocks are scattered." I want to succeed in the work that God has for me not fail completely. It comes back to seeking Him in everything I do. He is the one in control, He is the one who will make it succeed if we follow His instructions and seek His wisdom.
Personally, I have been going through some challenging things in the areas of health and finances. It has been a struggle for me to not try to control this and to follow the directions God has given me. I needed this lesson this week so that I can let go of control and let God be owner.
I used to wear a wooden heart with the name Jesus carved in it around my neck. I loved it so much because it was a reminder that I am not the owner of my heart and my life, God is. I wore it until the string broke. I have found that without the reminder, it become easier and easier to forget that I am not the owner. Unfortunately, "Out of sight, out of mind", is not just a saying, it is way too true in this case. I will need to carry something else as a reminder so that this lesson I have been walking through this week will not be lost but bring me back to the place where I need to be...simply a steward.
This has also been an ongoing theme in my devotions this week. God is really trying to drive something home with this topic. In Acts 20:28 "Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which He obtained with His own blood." It occurred to me after reading this that the ministries I participate in at my church are God's, I am also just a steward there as well. How many times do we treat our ministries like they are ours and do not seek God's wisdom or direction when making decisions?
Another verse that I read this week was Jeremiah 10:21 "the shepherds of my people have lost their senses. They no longer seek wisdom from the Lord. Therefore, they fail completely, and their flocks are scattered." I want to succeed in the work that God has for me not fail completely. It comes back to seeking Him in everything I do. He is the one in control, He is the one who will make it succeed if we follow His instructions and seek His wisdom.
Personally, I have been going through some challenging things in the areas of health and finances. It has been a struggle for me to not try to control this and to follow the directions God has given me. I needed this lesson this week so that I can let go of control and let God be owner.
I used to wear a wooden heart with the name Jesus carved in it around my neck. I loved it so much because it was a reminder that I am not the owner of my heart and my life, God is. I wore it until the string broke. I have found that without the reminder, it become easier and easier to forget that I am not the owner. Unfortunately, "Out of sight, out of mind", is not just a saying, it is way too true in this case. I will need to carry something else as a reminder so that this lesson I have been walking through this week will not be lost but bring me back to the place where I need to be...simply a steward.