Christian Stewardship

In a very real sense, we mortals cannot give anything to God. It all belongs to Him already, since He made everything. Nothing truly belongs to us. All the things we have are only borrowed. We have the use of them for a short while, and then someone else takes possession of them. When we die, we leave everything.

It is only while we live that we have an opportunity to use things. Time, money, land, houses, businesses, clothing, food, cars, and all the things we enjoy possessing, are not really ours. They belong to God, and we are allowed to use them while we live.

Yet God has made a plan for the world so that we are able to give something to God. Since He has given us a will, by which we can determine to a limited extent what we will be and do, we can give that will to God. When we do this, our whole life is changed from being self-centered to God-centered. This change is made possible by God, and gives God the chance to guide us more surely in what we do.

Yet we live in a money economy, rather than the old barter system of economy. The money we have is representative of things, and can be traded for things. So instead of bringing animals or food to give to God, we give money, which the church can use to provide things.