God Owns It All

Read 1 Chronicles 29:11-12

Context: David desperately wanted to build a temple for God, but God said, "No." Instead, He commissioned Solomon to be the builder. In this passage, David has collected and donated funds for a magnificent temple and he is passing the temple plans and the crown of the king over to his son. Today's text is a prayer of praise David said in front of the whole assembly.

Text:
11 Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power
and the glory and the majesty and the splendor,
for everything in heaven and earth is yours.
Yours, O LORD, is the kingdom;
you are exalted as head over all.

12 Wealth and honor come from you;
you are the ruler of all things.
In your hands are strength and power
to exalt and give strength to all. (NIV)

taken from www.biblegateway.com

God is getting ready to show us another chamber in his store of riches. I can think of no greater display of his majesty and splendor than a hillside aflame in Autumn colors. With a sweep of his hand, the weather turns crisp and the leaves change to reflect God's full glory before the trees submit to winter.

If is often hard to remember that God owns everything. I've heard a non-Christian member of our extended family state that she believes in God, but she works hard for her money and isn't going to just give it away to God. As Christians, we also tend to hold onto 'our' things and money. We build our lifestyles in such a way that giving back 10% to God is a hardship for us. Even when we tithe, we think of that 10% as God's and the rest is 'ours'.

We couldn't be more wrong. God owns it all. He provides a certain portion of his treasure to you -- for you to manage. He graciously allows us to live in great homes, to eat amazing food, and to purchase lots of stuff to meet both our needs and desires. But we run into trouble the minute we start thinking of these things as ours. We start thinking that we deserve more than he gives, and we hoard what we have.

Yesterday we were given a chance to share our bounty with someone who really needs to understand the love of God. Did you go home to see what you might have to share? God has really laid Connie Doering's request on my heart. Can we surround this woman who has lost everything with God's provision? Please take another look and see what God wants you to share, then call Connie so these things can be used to further His kingdom.