Scripture
The earth is the LORD ’s, and everything in it. The world and all its people belong to him.
~Psalm 24:1, NLT
Quote
We are never more like God than when we are giving.
~Anonymous
Psalm 24 contains the first principle of CHRISTIAN STEWARDSHIP. We call it Divine Ownership which means everything belongs to God, everything. “The earth is the Lord’s,” the Psalmist declares. This is not an isolated passage: this principle is taught through out the Bible.
- Exodus 19:5…Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine.
- Deuteronomy 10:14…Indeed heaven and the highest heavens belong to the LORD your God, also the earth with all that is in it.
- Psalm 50:9-11…For all the animals of the forest are mine, and I own the cattle on a thousand hills. I know every bird on the mountains, and all the animals of the field are mine. If I were hungry, I would not tell you, for all the world is mine and everything in it.
- Psalm 89:11…The heavens are Yours, the earth also is Yours; The world and all its fullness, You have founded them.
- I Chronicles 29:14…But who am I, and who are my people, that we could give anything to you? Everything we have has come from you, and we give you only what you first gave us!
- I Corinthians 10:26…For the earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it.
These are not all the references, just a few that came to mind, there are more. Most are found in the Old Testament but Stewardship Principles never change. It is sad that David who lived one thousand years before Christ, understood stewardship better than than the average Baptist. David was generous in his giving: no one gave more than David to the building of the Temple. David understood that the ability to give is itself a gift. Everything belongs to God, thus everything comes from God: We cannot give Him anything that is truly ours because everything belongs to HIM. We can only give from what He gives us. Chloe Bug is growing up and she is learning to share but this is something she has struggled with in the past. She loves candy and especially circus peanuts, matter of fact, I could eat a whole bag right now. I have, more than once, gone to DG and bought her circus peanuts. As soon as I gave them to her, I would put her to the test: “Will you share with Granddaddy? Can I have one Circus Peanut?” For years, the little heifer would look up at me and say “no!” Then I would scold her, “What do you mean, no, I bought them for you.”
The tithe is just one circus peanut; God is not asking for the entire bag–He’s just putting you to the test to see if your are growing up. Our pastor has said for years that “Giving money is the easiest discipline there is to practice,” and I agree yet 80% of church members don’t tithe. Why? Is it pure greed or plain ignorance? Maybe it is just a lack of faith. Bottom line: God is good and I am thankful to have something to give. It is much more fun to give than to receive.
- Hope you enjoyed the heat wave: yesterday was T-Shirt weather. Thank You Jesus.
- Harold Bugg said he had been suffering from CF. I thought, “what on earth is CF?” It’s Cabin Fever.
- Big Mama says, “When the snow lays around for three days, it means we are going to get another one.”
- Finebaum had a guy on yesterday that keeps track of inaccurate tweets [sports related]. Danny Kanell had four in the CFP. When Georgia went up 13-0, he tweeted “Its over”. At half-time he tweeted “This shows that Alabama does not belong in playoffs”. Then he had two smart remarks about Saban changing QB’s but I can’t remember them exactly. He was wrong about all four. I guess working for ESPN is like being a weather man or person; it doesn’t matter if you get it right or not.