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Day 1
Then God said, "Let us make man in
our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and
the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all
the creatures that move along the ground." So God created man in his own
image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.
God blessed them and said to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number; fill
the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the
air and over every living creature that moves on the ground."
(Genesis
1:26-28)
We like to consider
ourselves independent. We like to think we are our own masters. We like to
think that what’s ours is ours. We like the idea that we are owners of our
own property.
It isn’t so! Do
you see what it says above? God owns the universe. He made it. God owns
us. He made us. And God owns everything we’ve got. It’s He who gave us
everything we have. We rule underneath Him. We are managers of His
property. And He’s looking for us to operate faithfully.
So, how do you
think He wants us to view Saint Mark’s capital fund appeal? As another way
that the church is looking to grab my money? Or is this my opportunity to
consider whether the Lord has given me some of my resources for the
privilege of building facilities where generations of young people will
learn about Him? (even if it means reevaluating my priorities, even if it
means making a change to my lifestyle, which has become too lavish).
What would lead me
to give up my resources for Him like that? Christ Jesus – master of the
universe and owner of all things! – He hung on a cross of wood He created,
bleeding down upon ground that He made: so that I will inherit a part of
God’s estate in glory.
Don’t you want to
spend your resources sharing that message with others?
Questions to Consider
1)
Am I willing to consider Christ
the owner of my property?
2)
What is it that I am spending
money upon which isn’t serving Christ?
3)
How am I going to arrange to turn
that money over to His employ?
Prayer
Jesus, owner of all
things: thank You for buying me back from hell—and giving me Your resources
for me to manage. Help me to manage all of them for You. Amen. |
