FREEDOM FROM OWNERSHIP

 By Randy Barton, Former CEO, A/G Financial Solutions

Proverbs 3:9 challenges: “Honor the Lord with your possessions, And with the firstfruits of all your increase” (NKJV). The challenge is directed towards every area of our financial lives. Our first fruits (tithe), increase (income), and possessions (whatever we own) should all to be used to honor God.

Do I act as a steward, or do I assume rights and privileges that belong exclusively to the owner? Consider:

• A steward must multiply resources. A steward must be productive and multiply the resources entrusted to him (Matthew 25:14-30).
• A steward does not spend down resources. The prodigal son asked his father to give him what was his. His words revealed that he considered himself an owner, not a steward. The “I am entitled” attitude often results in the dissipation of a gift, inheritance, or business opportunity. Failure to live out a stewardship relationship makes us beggars rather than sons (Luke 15).
• A steward directs resources to the owner’s priorities. Malachi proclaimed to the Jews of his day that they had robbed God. Their response was that they did not consider themselves to be thieves and did not understand how they were robbing God. They were behaving as owners and not distributing their financial resources according to the Owner’s (God’s) direction (Malachi 3:6-12).

We have a unique privilege to partner and participate in God’s world and work through our stewardship assignment. May it become the blessing God intended and not the burden ownership brings.