Our perspective on our possessions determines whether we live for them, or whether we live for God. One thing is certain, we cannot live for both. The inspiring story of Corrie Ten Boom reminds me of another story that ended in tragedy… or so it seemed. Jim Elliott and four of his American friends dedicated their lives to evangelizing the savage Auca Indians in Equador. They lost their lives at the end of the spears of the Indians, after bestowing tons of gifts on them, and because they refused to fire their guns when the Indians attacked. Jim’s son returned years later to the jungle, found the man who killed his father, confronted him, overpowered him and then forgave him. The Indians always remembered the five strange white men who were kind to them and refused to kill them. They were willing to listen to the next wave of Missionaries who visited their jungle, and many gave their lives to Jesus Christ. Jim Elliott wrote in his journal, “He is no fool who gives up what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose.” A healthy perspective of our possessions begins with the fact that, “For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.” (1 Timothy 6:7) With this reality firmly entrenched in our mind, we need to consider the frailty of our lives in between birth and death. “…For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. (James 4:14) However, within the center of this vapor, “…you shall remember the LORD your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth…” (Deuteronomy 8:18). After we have grasped the tenets of this healthy perspective on our possessions we are ready for the advanced details. God gives us, and allows us to acquire possessions for His Name sake, and not for ours. Go back to Deuteronomy 8 and look at the end of verse 18 – “…that He may establish His covenant which He swore to your fathers…” James emphasizes the teaching in reverse. “Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.” (James 4:3) In 1 Chronicles 29:9-14, we see a near perfect picture of God’s people with a healthy perspective on their possessions. Observe that they understood that honour, power, majesty and everything in heaven and earth belongs to God. They rejoiced and gave willingly. Now listen to the key in verse 14: “But who am I, and who are my people, That we should be able to offer so willingly as this? For all things come from You, And of Your own we have given You.” God expects us to be channels through which His blessings flow, and not reservoirs in which they are stored. It is paradoxical that the more we understand and accept this principle, the more wealth and possessions will flow through us. As more and more flows through us, we shall have direct access to more and more. Finally, genuine love for our fellow man, lost as well as saved, will impact our perspective on the things we possess. When in relationship with God, it is very difficult if not impossible to see your brother in need of this word’s goods and look the other way, when God has placed you in a position to help and lays it on your heart to help. At the same time God expects you to be a good steward and to increase the assets He has given you.
Posted on: Wed, 17 Sep 2014 07:06:14 +0000
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