God Owns Everything
Now, to be sure, the message that God owns everything—and we don’t—is something we need to hear repeatedly. That’s probably why the Bible repeats this teaching several times.
Job needed reminding.
Job 38:1-5 reads, “Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind and said: ‘Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge? Dress for action like a man; I will question you, and you make it known to me. Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding. Who determined its measurements—surely you know!’”
Psalm 24:1-2 tells us, “The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein, for he has founded it upon the seas and established it upon the rivers.
And of course, Colossians 1:16 reads, “For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him.”
This is a message that we need to hear constantly. It frees us from getting too attached to our money and possessions because they’re not our money and possessions—they belong to God.
Putting Things Into Perspective
You may have heard the story about the believer who took this to heart. He’d saved and saved to buy a new car, but soon after taking possession, he got into a fender bender. But he didn’t get upset. He shrugged it off and thought, “I wonder why God wanted His car to get in an accident?”
That would undoubtedly be difficult, but it makes things much easier if you think of yourself only as a steward and not an owner. Okay, we’ve got stewardship covered, but what about that deeper meaning in these verses?
For that, we need to consider the larger passage of Psalm 50— verses 10 through 15:
“For every beast of the forest is mine, the cattle on a thousand hills. I know all the birds of the hills, and all that moves in the field is mine. If I were hungry, I would not tell you, for the world and its fullness are mine. Do I eat the flesh of bulls or drink the blood of goats? Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving, and perform your vows to the Most High, and call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me.”
The psalmist is warning Israel that they’ve become legalistic with their sacrifices. They had come to put value on the sacrifices and, by extension, themselves.
God already owns the beasts of the forest and the cattle on a thousand hills— indeed all the cattle on all the hills. He owns all creatures wild and tamed, the fowls in the mountains and beasts of the fields.
That said, how could He possibly be impressed with the burnt offerings of the Israelites? They were just giving him back a tiny bit of what He already owned— and then patting themselves on the back for it.
Nonetheless, God did require Israel to make those sacrifices to cover sin and something else temporarily. Note verse 14 again: “Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving, and perform your vows to the Most High.”
This verse gives us the context we need to put things in perspective. That passage and others like it are about giving and our hearts' attitude. They’re not about legalism and checking boxes.
Galatians 2:16 reads, “We know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ … by works of the law no one will be justified.”
Cultivating An Attitude Of Gratitude
When we give purely out of gratitude— expecting nothing and taking no pride in it— and certainly not to earn our way into heaven— only then are we giving Him the loyalty of our hearts.
God is a spiritual being. What use does he have for earthly things? None, of course. He wants our hearts. He wants us to worship him in spirit and truth.
Our tithing and gifts must only be tributes to our gratitude for what He has already given us—not just material things but the priceless gift of His Son Jesus Christ for our eternal salvation.
We must search our hearts to ensure we give for the right reason because He is the most High God. He sees right through us— and takes no pleasure in giving that isn’t joyful and done out of gratitude.
2 Corinthians 9:7 teaches, “Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”
On Today’s Program, Rob Answers Listener Questions:
- I’m looking to invest as a hobby. I’m already invested in different companies with well-diversified portfolios, so this would be outside of that. I’m looking at investing about $100 a month and wanted to know if you had any recommendations.
- I’m approaching 65 years old and will soon be able to withdraw just shy of $70,000 from my 401(k). I am seeking advice on investing this money to create wealth.
- I recently heard that the government will do away with cash in December. How are we to plan for that?
- My friend in Colorado is single and desperately needs cash flow. She has equity in her home and I wanted to know if she would qualify for a reverse mortgage.
Resources Mentioned:
- Movement Mortgage
- The Sound Mind Investing Handbook by Austin Pryor and Mark Biller
- Sound Mind Investing
- Rich Toward God: A Study on the Parable of the Rich Fool
- Find a Certified Kingdom Advisor (CKA)
- FaithFi App
Remember, you can call in to ask your questions every workday at (800) 525-7000. Faith & Finance is also available on Moody Radio Network and American Family Radio. You can also visit FaithFi.com to connect with our online community and partner with us as we help more people live as faithful stewards of God’s resources.
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