God’s Ownership of Creation (GENEROSITY Devotional #2*)
“You may say to yourself, “My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me.” But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth.” – Deuteronomy 8:17-18a
Read – Psalm 50 (especially verses 7-15)
Apply – God is the creator (Genesis 1:1), the sole ruler and Lord over all creation. He controls all things in this world, the whole creation (Psalm 50:12). Nothing that we do takes away from God’s overruling presence throughout all of creation It is his to create, to protect, and use for his glory. So whenever we use the resources of the world, we use the resources of God’s world.
That also means that “the silver is mine and the gold is mine” (Haggai 2:8). When we look at our own finances, we tend to forget God’s sovereign ownership of creation. We expect him to care for us as if he owes us something. In Job 41:11, God replies, “Who has a claim against me that I must pay? Everything under heaven belongs to me.” Or, we think that we have earned our treasures because of our own abilities (see Deuteronomy 8:17 above).
Therefore God doesn’t need our money as if he needed an income. Instead, we need him every moment to sustain us. Our worship, and the dedication of our whole lives to him, is an acknowledgement of his control over everything. It’s a thank offering, a giving back of what we have so abundantly received (Psalm 50:14).
- Do you act like God “owes” you something? Why?
- What causes you to forget God’s loving control of the world?
Pray – For a renewed heart that daily remembers God’s active control of the world and a thankful heart that praises his loving care.
Do – How might living as if God owns everything influence the way we shop, the presents we put under the Christmas tree, the vacations we plan, our giving to the needy?
*To supplement our “Live Generously” community group content, we will be posting devotionals every few days. These will benefit both those in the group and those who are not able to make it. Content from “Generosity: How God’s Radical Grace Changes Our Perspective on Money and Possessions” devotional from Redeemer Presbyterian Church.