Behold, to the LORD your God belong heaven and the highest heavens, the earth and all that is in it. Deuteronomy 10:14
Owning things can bring stress. The more we have, the more there is to maintain. Often, people ask to borrow our things. Stress occurs when we lend something out – only to see it return far from the condition it left us. It may be broken, or it may show signs of being carelessly mishandled. When they return it without explanation or apology, we feel disrespected.
Imagine what Adonai must feel as He sees how we perceive and care for everything that He provides for us. Every single thing we have is a gift and is on loan. We are stewards only. Yet, I can often clutch the gift, even hoard it, and conveniently ignore whose it really is. I might even feel that I’m the one who earned it and, therefore, I have every right to do with it what I want.
The film Schindler’s List chronicled the heroic efforts of a German industrialist named Oskar Schindler. Through his unselfish activities, over a thousand Jews on the trains to Auschwitz were saved. After Schindler found out what was happening at Auschwitz, he began a systematic effort to save as many Jews as he could. For money, he could buy Jews to work in his factory which was supposed to be a part of the military machine of Germany. On one hand he was buying as many Jews as he could, and on the other hand he was deliberately sabotaging the ammunition produced in his factory. He entered the war as a financially wealthy industrialist; by the end of the war, he was basically financially bankrupt.
When the Germans surrendered, Schindler met with his workers and declared that at midnight they were all free to go. The most emotional scene of the film was when Schindler said good-bye to the financial manager of the plant, a Jew and his good and trusted friend. As he embraced his friend, Schindler sobbed and said, “I could have done more.” He looked at his automobile and asked, “Why did I save this? I could have bought 10 Jews with this.” Taking another small possession, he cried, “This would have saved another one. Why didn’t I do more?”
What is in my possession today that I’m prone to minimize? I can’t imagine how it can serve the kingdom. But God can, and will, use anything that is surrendered to Him. Hot water, a tea bag, and an hour of my time can be life-saving to one who is despairing. The Owner of all that we have just might expand our ministry today if we ask Him to show us why He’s blessed us with so much.
We don’t clutch anything too tightly. We’re more aware than ever that You have asked us to take care of Your things. Show us what You had in mind. Amen
Daughters of promise 