Owner or steward

https://odb.org/2024/03/01/owner-or-steward

Are we really the owner of our assets and money, or are we a steward for God? That’s an interesting question. Legally and in the natural, we are owners. The law recognises that. No one can just take them away from us if we had paid valuable consideration.  The law is very clear. Any third-party purchaser acquires a good title if he had paid a valuable consideration in good faith unless the asset was tainted with illegality. Thus, a thief can not pass on a good title, but in land law only in cases of forgery, that title can not be passed.

But vis-a-vis God, we recognise that all that belongs to us is because of Him. He, as the creator of all things, doesn’t need anything from us. But He nevertheless demands sacrifices from the Israelites for them to demonstrate their devotion and allegiance to Him. As they obey His law and make sacrifices to Him for the atonement of their sins, He becomes their God, their protector. Jesus abolished that by being the ultimate sacrificial lamb.

As modern-day believers, what is our position – are we owners or stewards? It is for us to decide. I believe Jesus will not take away our possessions, but for humility’s sake, we should position ourselves as stewards so that whenever He prompts us, we may extend a helping hand to support a brother in Christ or a Christian work. It is best to hold lightly to our earthly possessions. We can not bring them along when our time is up. At the other side of eternity, what counts are the treasures we have built up in heaven where moth and rust will not destroy, and the thief will not steal.

There is a need to work to acquire and accumulate wealth for our old age when we can no longer earn. But dont be a miser and hold on to millions until our dying day. Someone once said our wealth is not our own until we spend it. So don’t be afraid to spend our children’s inheritance. For us in the faith, our wealth is because of God’s grace and mercy. So don’t be afraid to give it away for His purposes as we are stewards for His glory!