It Was Never Really Yours

We spend a remarkable amount of our lives working to acquire things we can finally call our own. A home. A car. A comfortable retirement. Perhaps a successful career or business. And there's nothing inherently wrong with any of those pursuits. Scripture recognizes the value of hard work, responsible planning, and enjoying the blessings God provides. But there's an important question we don't always stop to consider.

What if the things we've worked so hard to acquire were never really ours to begin with?

In 1 Chronicles 29, we encounter King David near the end of his life. He's accomplished extraordinary things, accumulated tremendous resources, and prepared extensively for the construction of God's Temple. Interestingly, David knows he won't be the one to build it. That responsibility belongs to his son, Solomon. Yet David doesn't allow that reality to diminish his investment. Instead, he gives generously, prepares faithfully, and then leads the people in worship. His prayer reveals a perspective we would do well to recover:
"Everything we have has come from you, and we give you only what you first gave us!"
 (1 Chronicles 29:14, NLT)

David understood that his accomplishments were real, but everything that made those accomplishments possible had first come from God. And the same is true for us. Our time, abilities, relationships, opportunities, and resources have all been entrusted to us by the One who created us.

But David understood something else. Our opportunity to steward these things is temporary. Our stewardship can outlive our season. David invested in something he would never personally complete because he recognized that his life was part of something greater than himself.

Think about what that means for us. The time we invest in our children, the encouragement we offer someone who's struggling, the gifts we use to serve others, and the resources we devote to God's purposes can continue bearing fruit long after our season has passed. And ultimately, stewardship isn't simply about managing what we've received.

Stewardship reveals the heart behind our choices. God isn't measuring our faithfulness by the size of our bank accounts or the recognition we receive. He's interested in hearts that recognize His goodness and respond with gratitude, generosity, and obedience.

So here's something I'd encourage you to consider this week. Take an honest inventory of what God has placed in your hands. What are you doing with it? And what might He be inviting you to do differently? Because you cannot keep everything you've been given. But you can be faithful with it while it's in your hands.