The Principle of Ownership

Today I want to talk about the principle of ownership. Do you know those times when we get all stingy? Maybe because we have new 'cool' items such as Beats headphones, an iPhone 6s, a brand new laptop, a skateboard, an awesome new shirt, etc.

Sometimes we even go to extremes just to 'Fit in with everybody else'. But let's hear what the Bible says about all this. Luke 12:21 states "...he that layeth up treasure for himself, ... is not rich toward God." KJV.  It's impressive how we spend so much time planning and saving up so we can buy the coolest brand of anything really and God is not even interested in that! God looks at the heart, not the car.

Now, I said I would talk about the principle of ownership, right? Here it is: "All that I have belongs to God." We were placed in this Earth as stewards of the things God has given us for a specific amount of time that He has determined. What we do with those talents, gifts, and other things that he has given us is our choice. Let's just sit and think for a moment. Have you ever lent anything to someone or borrowed anything from somebody? If you've lent someone a book, gadget, or anything really, you expect to have those things back in mint condition when they returned to you. And when you borrow from someone, the person has the same expectations that you have when you lend anyone anything. 

Here is a parable that Jesus told in the New Testament which can be found in Matthew 25:14-29 NLT:

Parable of the Three Servants

14 “Again, the Kingdom of Heaven can be illustrated by the story of a man going on a long trip. He called together his servants and entrusted his money to them while he was gone. 15 He gave five bags of silver[b] to one, two bags of silver to another, and one bag of silver to the last—dividing it in proportion to their abilities. He then left on his trip.

16 “The servant who received the five bags of silver began to invest the money and earned five more. 17 The servant with two bags of silver also went to work and earned two more. 18 But the servant who received the one bag of silver dug a hole in the ground and hid the master’s money.

19 “After a long time their master returned from his trip and called them to give an account of how they had used his money. 20 The servant to whom he had entrusted the five bags of silver came forward with five more and said, ‘Master, you gave me five bags of silver to invest, and I have earned five more.’

21 “The master was full of praise. ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together![c]’

22 “The servant who had received the two bags of silver came forward and said, ‘Master, you gave me two bags of silver to invest, and I have earned two more.’

23 “The master said, ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together!’

24 “Then the servant with the one bag of silver came and said, ‘Master, I knew you were a harsh man, harvesting crops you didn’t plant and gathering crops you didn’t cultivate. 25 I was afraid I would lose your money, so I hid it in the earth. Look, here is your money back.’

26 “But the master replied, ‘You wicked and lazy servant! If you knew I harvested crops I didn’t plant and gathered crops I didn’t cultivate,27 why didn’t you deposit my money in the bank? At least I could have gotten some interest on it.’

28 “Then he ordered, ‘Take the money from this servant, and give it to the one with the ten bags of silver. 29 To those who use well what they are given, even more will be given, and they will have an abundance. But from those who do nothing, even what little they have will be taken away.

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Interesting, huh? Now let's read Matthew 25:29 once more, "To those who use well what they are given, even more will be given, and they will have an abundance. But those who do nothing, even what little they have will be taken away."  I repeat, how we use our talents and abilities that God has given us is our choice. But isn't it better to spend our lives worshiping and thanking the Lord for all he has done rather than spend a life in the spotlight with things that, in the end, really aren't ours? 

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