A Question of Ownership

Leaven for Thought

Imagine giving instructions to your bank about one of your accounts that they refused to obey. After all, you are the owner, and they are simply a steward of the money you deposit with them. The money is in the bank's possession, but you maintain control over its use. With that in mind, isn't it interesting that in our conversations and thoughts about giving, we often examine our will but not God's.

The American Association of Christian Counselors sponsors a certificate program in counseling entitled Caring For People God’s Way. In it , Dr. Chris Thurman shares a wonderful story by Pastor Chuck Swindoll to illustrate the conflict and confusion that can arise when one holds an incorrect view regarding ownership. The story goes something like this. A woman enters the airport at the end of a long tiring business trip. Like many other travelers she stops by one of the airport stores, buys a magazine to read, a bag of cookies to munch and plops herself into a nearby chair to await boarding. After letting her thoughts wonder over the events of the trip, she finally allows her mind to find refuge in the pages of her favorite magazine. Remembering the cookies, she reaches into the open bag on the table next to her and begins to enjoy her snack. A few pages into the article she’s been reading she notices the rustling sound of the cookie bag and to her astonishment sees the hand of the man sitting next to her extracting a cookie. This was not someone she knew. She is stunned and speechless. Maybe he thought she didn’t notice. Seeking to reestablish her territorial rights she quickly reaches for another cookie, making certain that the bag crinkles as loudly as possible and settles back into her reading. After a few moments, she again hears the sound of her neighbor’s hand entering and exiting the bag. The anger grows within her, she doesn’t want to make a scene, they are just cookies, but they are her cookies and there is a sense of violation just the same. The scene repeats itself a few more times until there is, but one cookie left in the bag. To her shock, the man takes the last cookie breaks it in half, gently pushes one half toward her, pops the remaining segment in his mouth then gets up and walks away. Rage is now boiling within her. He certainly had no right to the cookies. His arrogance was infuriating. Where was the gratitude? What should she do? Should she go after him and demand reimbursement?  As she stands to voice her protest, the steward announces over the intercom that her flight is ready for boarding and passengers in her section should come to the gateway. The interruption gave her a momentary distraction. With the announcement, she instinctively reaches into her shoulder bag to make certain her boarding pass is secure. Still watching the man walk away, as she feels for the pass, she again hears the crinkling sound of a cellophane bag. Oh no! Glancing into the shoulder bag, there next to her boarding pass, she sees her unopened bag of cookies. Washed with embarrassment, she realizes the grace of her departed neighbor. For now, she finally comprehends that the bag of cookies on the table had not been hers, but his. Dr. Chris Thurman, Caring for People God's Way (Forest, Virginia: American Association of Christian Counselors), BICO 104

The simple difference in her perspective on ownership made all the difference in her attitude. Having a proper perspective on the material possessions God allows us to enjoy, impacts not only the attitude with which we receive, but also the attitude with which we give to God.

• It’s His bag

• They are His Cookies

• He’s the one sharing with you

1Chronicles 29:14 But who am I and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? Everything comes from you, and we have given only what comes from your hand.

King David understood this. In preparation for building the temple. David gave the largest individual offering recorded in scripture. He gave gold, silver, bronze, iron, wood and jewels. The gold portion was worth over $10 billion. Yet, David realized that everything he gave already belonged to God and that God had allowed it to pass through his hands to give him the opportunity to give.

 Psalms 24:1-2 reminds us that the earth and everything in it is the Lord's.

Let It Rise

Memorize 1Chronicles 29:14. Then consider it and thank God for your ability to give prior to making any material contribution, donation or offering.

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