Did the title of this devotion catch your attention.  It sure caught mine when I came upon this quote in a book I am reading called Ask, Thank, Tell:  Improving Stewardship Ministry in Your Congregation by Charles Lane. The author told a story of when he was speaking at a retreat.  During his talk he referred to the gifts we have received from a loving God.  He did this because he wanted to be careful to emphasize that we live by God’s hand and not by our accomplishments.  After his talk, Harry Wendt, president of Crossways International, gave him a suggestion.  Here is what Charles writes, "In his gentle, direct way, Harry suggested that I should be careful about using the word gift.  He said that God doesn’t give gifts, at least not in the way we use the word ‘gift’.  He went on to point out that when we use the word ‘gift’ we imply that one person has given something to someone else, who then owns that item and is free to do with it as they please.  He concluded his observation by saying that this is not the way it is with God and us.  God continues to own everything."

Wow!  I haven’t looked at gifts and stewardship in that way before.  Everything I have belongs to God.  So when I am putting my tithe in the offering plate, I am simply returning to God what God has already given me; something that God owns already.  It is not an issue of me being generous with what I own, but giving back to God what already belongs to Him so others can be cared for.

This changes everything.  But I wish more people understood this concept of stewardship.  We think we are in control.  We think that we are responsible for our wealth.  We think we are our own providers.  But we are not.  God provides and we are stewards.  We are here to care for what God has given us in order to care for one another.  It is not about amassing wealth.  That is not the point at all.  Wealth is irrelevant.  God has given some people more so they can help more.  As Jesus says, to the one who has much, more is required of them.

What you have is not a gift (at least not in terms of how we use the word), but rather what you have is God’s.  So use it wisely.  You have what you have so others can benefit.  Don’t store up treasures for yourself here on this earth where moth and rust destroy.  That is not what God wants.

Give what you have and show people the love of God.  And don’t worry, about what you will eat or what you will wear; our gracious God will provide you with more.  Praise be to God and Amen. -EDH-