WISDOM FOR LIVING DAILY DEVOTIONAL
JULY 12, 2023
TOPIC: GOD WANTS TO GIVE YOU WHAT YOU WILL MANAGE FOR HIM, NOT OWN!
BY T. O. BANSO
âThe earth is the Lordâs, and all its fullness, the world and those who dwell thereinâ (Psalm 24:1 New King James Version).
It is in the character of human beings to want things that they can claim as theirs. It makes them feel good and fulfilled. It boosts their ego. God has no problem blessing His children with things that will make them happy. The Bible says the LORD has pleasure in the prosperity of His servant (Psalm 35:27). He delights in the wellbeing of His servant. He is pleased with their success.
However, God wants to give His children what they will manage or steward for Him, not own. In other words, He gives them what they will use on His behalf and for His glory. The original mandate God gave man at creation was to manage the earth on His behalf. âThen the LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to tend and keep itâ (Genesis 2:15 New King James Version). He gave man dominion over the earth (Genesis 1:26-28; 9:1-4). The dominion mandate still stands.
Godâs purpose in giving His children things â give them material things or put them in good positions â is not so that they can use them for their selfish goals or vainglory. When God gives you something or allows you to acquire something, or to occupy a position, itâs not so that youâll only have a self-satisfying feeling of ownership, but so that youâll be a steward, who is accountable to Him.
It is not that God does not want you to enjoy whatever good things He gives you, but He wants you to have the mindset and attitude of a steward as you enjoy His blessings. This is what makes you not become a slave to what God has blessed you with, stingy, or proud.
He warned the children of Israel that after receiving His blessings in the Land of Canaan, they should not say that the power and the might of their hand had gained them their wealth (Deuteronomy 8:11-17). Verse 18 says, âAnd you shall remember the LORD your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth, that He may establish His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this dayâ (New King James Version).
In walking with God, always acknowledge that God owns everything you have and He puts you in any office you occupy. âThe earth is the Lordâs, and all its fullness, the world and those who dwell thereinâ (Psalm 24:1 New King James Version). James 1:17 says, âEvery good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turningâ (New King James Version).
God wants to bless you with things that can make you glad, but He expects you to be a faithful steward. Paul understood this very well. He said, âLet a man so consider us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithfulâ (1 Corinthians 4:1-2 New King James Version). The New Living Translation puts it thus: âSo look at Apollos and me as mere servants of Christ who have been put in charge of explaining Godâs mysteries. 2 Now, a person who is put in charge as a manager must be faithful.â
If you become proud because of the things you have or the position you occupy, it shows that you do not see yourself as a steward or manager but as the owner. You will become humble once you realize that whatever you have belongs to God and there is nothing you have that He didnât give you.
The Apostle Paul says it like this: âFor who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?â (1 Corinthians 4:7 New International Version). Never let anything go to your head; remain a steward, no matter the promotion the Lord allows you to enjoy or the blessings He showers on you.
Hear the words of the Apostle Peter: âAs each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amenâ (1 Peter 4:10-11 New King James Version).
Please note the opening sentence in that scripture: âAs each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.â That should be your goal. Be a good steward of whatever blessings of God are evident in your life. Donât use them selfishly. If you are a good, faithful steward, God will increase His blessings in your life.
This is what the master of the servant, who earned five more talents from his investment of the five talents given to him, said: âWell done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lordâ (Matthew 25:21 New King James Version). He said the same thing to the servant who received two talents and earned two more talents.
But the wicked servant, who went to hide his talent and didnât make a profit for his master but rather insulted him, was dispossessed of the one talent he had been given. It was given to the servant who had earned five more talents. Verses 29-30 say, âFor to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away. And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teethâ (New King James Version). The faithful steward will be blessed, but the evil steward will be punished (Matthew 24:45-51; Luke 12:42-48).
God wants to give you what you will manage for Him, not own. Abraham understood this and had no difficulty obeying God’s command to sacrifice Isaac. When he was about to sacrifice Isaac to God, He stopped him, allowed Abraham to keep him, and blessed Abraham again.
Genesis 22:15-18 says, âThen the Angel of the LORD called to Abraham a second time out of heaven, and said: âBy Myself I have sworn, says the LORD, because you have done this thing, and have not withheld your son, your only son â blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply your descendants as the stars of the heaven and as the sand which is on the seashore; and your descendants shall possess the gate of their enemies. In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voiceââ (New King James Version).
Hannah, who had no child, obviously saw God as the owner of everything when she vowed to give back to God the child she had prayed for though she had no other child at that time. When she came to fulfil her vow, she said, âI prayed for this child, and the Lord has granted me what I asked of him. So now I give him to the Lord. For his whole life he will be given over to the Lordâ (1 Samuel 1:27-28 New International Version).
Hannah didnât own Samuel; she was only a steward. The LORD visited her and gave her three more sons and two daughters (1 Samuel 2:21). You could have anything, but don’t own anything! Remember that you came naked from your mother’s womb and you’ll be naked when you leave. You’ll leave empty-handed (Job 1:21a; Ecclesiastes 5:15a; Psalm 49:17).
You may be very rich but what you have is not your own! Youâre a steward or rather, you should be a steward, a faithful steward. 1 Timothy 6:17 says, âCommand those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoymentâ (New International Version).
Paul continued: âCommand them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. 19 In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly lifeâ (verses 18-19 New International Version). As a good steward, share with others the blessings of God in your life; donât be stingy or selfish.
God wants to give you what you will manage, not own. Even as you enjoy what God has blessed you with, be a faithful and wise steward.
TAKE ACTION!
If you are not born again, you need to give your life to Jesus now. I urge you to take the following steps: *Admit that you are a sinner and you cannot save yourself and repent of your sins. *Confess Jesus as your Lord and Saviour. *Renounce your past way of life â your relationship with the devil and his works. *Invite Jesus into your life. *As a mark of seriousness to mature in the faith, start attending a Bible-believing and Bible-teaching church. There they will teach you how to grow in the Kingdom of God.
Kindly say this prayer now: O Lord God, I come unto You today. I know I am a sinner and I cannot save myself. I believe that Jesus is the Son of God who died on the cross to save me and God raised Him on the third day. I repent of my sins and confess Jesus as my Lord and Saviour. I surrender my life to Jesus now and invite Him into my heart. By this prayer, I know I am saved. Thank You, Jesus, for saving me and making me a child of God.
I believe you have said this prayer from your heart. Congratulations! You will need to join a Bible-believing and Bible-teaching church in your area where they will teach you how to live your new life in Christ Jesus. I pray that you flourish like a palm tree and grow like a cedar of Lebanon. May you grow into Christ in all things and become all God wants you to be. I will be glad to hear from you. The Lord be with you.
PRAYER POINTS: Holy Spirit, help me to be a faithful and wise steward of the blessings of God in my life. Father, deliver me from vainglory. Help me to enjoy whatever blessing You have given me in a way that will glorify Your name. In the name of Jesus, I shall not fail God as I function in any position or office He puts me.
(For over 900 in-depth and powerful messages by T. O. Banso, visit www.cedarministry.org).
T. O. Banso is the President of Cedar Ministry International, Abuja, Nigeria.
Phone No: +2348155744752, +2348033113523
WhatsApp No: +2349081295947
Email: cedarministryintl@yahoo.com,
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