The things we call ours
There is an interesting assumption buried in the way we speak about money and possessions. We say, “my house”, “my car”, “my salary”, “my time” and “my future”. These expressions are perfectly natural. We work hard, make sacrifices and take responsibility for the things entrusted to us. Yet, from a biblical perspective, there is a question worth considering: do we actually own anything, or are we simply entrusted with what belongs to God?
This is not merely a theological question. Our answer has practical consequences for the way we live. In Luke 12, Jesus tells a story about a wealthy man whose land produces an abundant harvest. The harvest is so large that he has nowhere to store it. His response seems sensible. He decides to pull down his barns and build bigger ones. He will then have enough stored away to enjoy life for years to come.
On the surface, there is nothing particularly wrong with his planning. The land has produced abundantly, and he is preparing for the future. Yet Jesus calls him a fool. Why?
The problem is not that the man is wealthy. It is not even that he has made provision for the future. The issue is that his entire understanding of life revolves around himself. His possessions have become the measure of his security, and his plans have no room for God or anyone else. Notice the language in the passage. The man speaks repeatedly about what he will do, what he has and what he intends to enjoy. His conversation is entirely with himself.
He has accumulated possessions but has failed to consider the purpose of his life. While preparing carefully for the years ahead, he has given little thought to what lies beyond them. His attention is fixed on protecting his harvest, yet he neglects the condition of his soul. Jesus concludes by saying that this is what happens to those who store up things for themselves but are not rich towards God.
1. Ownership begins with God
Psalm 24:1 declares, “The earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it.” This statement challenges the way we understand stewardship. If everything belongs to God, then our possessions, abilities, opportunities and resources are gifts entrusted to us. We are managers, not ultimate owners.
King David understood this when the people brought their offerings towards the building of the temple. In 1 Chronicles 29:14, he acknowledged that everything came from God and that they were simply giving back what they had received from Him. This changes the question we ask. Instead of asking, “How much of my money should I give to God?” perhaps we should ask, “How does God want me to use everything He has entrusted to me?”
Stewardship begins with recognising God’s ownership. It affects our financial decisions, the way we use our time, the development of our abilities, the care of our families and the way we respond to the needs of others. It also challenges our tendency to separate our faith from our everyday decisions. We may readily acknowledge God as Lord in our worship, but do we acknowledge His lordship when we draw up a budget, make a purchase or decide how to spend our free time?
Stewardship is therefore an act of worship. We honour God when we acknowledge that all we have comes from Him and willingly place our resources at His disposal. God entrusts resources to His people not merely for their personal benefit but so that His work may advance in the world. Stewardship includes supporting the mission of God through our Corps, our communities and our service to others. What we have been given is intended not only for our blessing, but also for the blessing of others and the growth of God’s Kingdom.
2. The danger of believing that more will make us secure
The wealthy farmer believed that his larger barns would give him security. He imagined that once he had accumulated enough, he could finally relax. It is a familiar human desire. We want enough money to feel safe, enough possessions to feel comfortable and enough resources to believe that the future is under control. There is nothing wrong with saving, planning responsibly or providing for our families. Scripture encourages wisdom and responsible living. The danger comes when these things become the foundation of our security.
Possessions promise a sense of control, but they cannot guarantee tomorrow. The farmer discovered this in the most unexpected way. His life was required of him that very night. Jesus is not suggesting that we should neglect our responsibilities or live without making provision. He is asking us to consider what has taken first place in our hearts.
What do we rely on when we feel uncertain? What occupies our thoughts? What are we unwilling to surrender? These questions may reveal more about our understanding of stewardship than the amount of money we give away. The issue is not whether we possess things, but whether those things begin to possess us. When wealth becomes our source of confidence, it takes a place that belongs to God alone.
3. Becoming rich towards God
What does it mean to be rich towards God? It means living with an awareness that our lives are accountable to Him and that what He has entrusted to us has a purpose beyond our personal comfort.
In 1 Timothy 6:17–19, Paul gives instructions to those who are wealthy. He does not tell them that having money is wrong. Instead, he warns them against putting their hope in wealth, which is uncertain. They are encouraged to put their hope in God, to do good, to be rich in good deeds and to be generous and willing to share. This is a different measure of wealth. A person may have very little in material possessions and yet live generously. Another may have considerable resources but remain unwilling to share. The difference is not necessarily what they possess, but how they understand their possessions.
Being rich towards God is not a way of earning God’s favour or securing salvation. We are saved by God’s grace through faith in Jesus Christ. Rather, generosity and faithful stewardship are the natural response of those who have received God’s grace and recognise that everything they have comes from Him.
Christian stewardship is not measured by what we give away. It is reflected in a life that seeks to honour God with every resource He has entrusted to us. It recognises that our time, abilities, influence, possessions and finances are all opportunities to participate in God’s work in the world.
Christian stewardship recognises that everything we have comes from God and belongs to God. As followers of Christ, we are called to manage His gifts faithfully, holding them with gratitude rather than grasping them possessively. Whether our resources are great or small, they are entrusted to us for His glory, the building of His Kingdom and the service of others. Stewardship is less about what passes through our hands and more about whether our lives reflect God’s priorities.
The rich fool believed that security was found in what he had stored up for himself. Jesus points us towards a different way of living: trusting in God, holding His gifts with open hands and using them faithfully in His service. When we do this, we discover what it truly means to be rich towards God.
Reflection Questions
- What areas of my life do I still think of primarily as “mine” rather than God’s?
- Where do I tend to place my security when I feel uncertain about the future?
- How does recognising God’s ownership affect the way I use my money, time and abilities?
- In what practical ways can my resources contribute to God’s mission and the needs of others?
- What would being “rich towards God” look like in my life this week?