Rightful Owners

“I am the Lord; that is my name;
    my glory I give to no other,
    nor my praise to carved idols.” Isaiah 42:8

“My glory I will not give to another.” Isaiah 48:11

“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...

The world and its fullness are mine.” Psalm 50:10-12

“A person cannot receive even one thing unless it is given him from heaven.” John 3:27

“What do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it?” 1 Corinthians 4:7

“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights.” James 1:17

No glory. No Success. No wealth, ability, insight. No right mind or acute senses or intuition. No home, no family, no job. No earthly goods or trinkets or awards. There is only one Owner of all these, God Almighty, and He bestows for our temporary use these gifts. We are not the owner of anything, except the riches and spiritual gifts He imparts at salvation as our eternal inheritance. (Romans 12:6-8; 2 Corinthians 1:21-22)

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will,  to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.  In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace,  which he lavished upon us… In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.” Ephesians 1:3-8,13-14

Having a right understanding about who owns what makes all the difference in a Christian’s life. If indeed the Lord owns it all, and we owe all to Him, we will keep a loose hold on the visible and invisible treasures entrusted to us. He measures out goods of all varieties so we will put them to fruitful use, and is responsive to responsible stewardship. When we maintain this perspective through constant gratitude, unselfishness, diligence, and earnest prayer, we can guard against anything coming between us and Him as our highest treasure. (Matthew 25:14-29)

Are there natural gifts of mind or ability we’ve grown a bit smug about? Do we look down on others who do not process or achieve as we do? Are there material resources we hold too tightly, hoarding for personal pleasure or future security?What can and will we do to treasure more the things of God, eternity, and the Lord Himself?

“Riches I heed not, nor man’s empty praise,
Thou mine Inheritance, now and always:
Thou and Thou only, first in my heart,
High King of Heaven, my Treasure Thou art.” ~Dallan Forgaill (8th Century)

Lord, in gratitude for Your bounty, may I handle all You loan with zeal and generosity, to Your honor.