Stewardship Soundings – God gives us Gifts?

What we have is not a gift from God. Hmm, that’s interesting.

In the words of Pastor Harry Wendt, president of Crossways International; God doesn’t give gifts, at least not in the way we use the word gift (quoted in Charles Lane’s book, Ask, Thank, Tell, p21).

A gift is something that is given – once given, it no longer belongs to the giver and the give no longer has any control over how the gift is used. The recipient is the new owner and can do what they want with it.

But, God gives us everything we have; right? Nope, God entrusts it to our care. Let’s look at this biblically:

• Psalm 24:1 tells us that God owns everything.
• If God gifts something to us, that would mean it belongs to us.
• Thus, the gift would no longer belong to God.
• Therefore, either the Bible is wrong, or our understanding is, well, not correct.

Oh, you say, “But I worked for what I have, nobody gave it to me.”

The Bible tells us about that too; “Do not say to yourself, ‘My power and the might of my own hand have gotten me this wealth.’  But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you power to get wealth” Deuteronomy 8:17-18.

Charles Lane tells us; “There is not a transfer of ownership. God the creator is still God the owner.” (Ask, Thank, Tell, p25) So, everything you have has been entrusted to your care, it’s not yours to do with as you please.