DAY TWENTY FOUR | Knowing the Difference

May 24, 2009

WELCOME TO DAY TWENTY FOUR | KNOWING THE DIFFERENCE

EXODUS 9:4 – And the LORD will make a difference between the livestock of Israel and the livestock of Egypt. So nothing shall die of all that belongs to the children of Israel.

God promises to make a difference between the possessions of the righteous and those of the unrighteous. Your things will be protected says the Lord. Now why would he do that? Because he has need of your things to fulfil His purposes on planet earth!

God requires you to be a steward of material things so that He can utilise them at His discretion for His purposes. The great thing is that we get to enjoy them while we keep them in good condition until He requires them.

Ownership is a major issue to some people. It’s mine and you can’t touch it. However to the committed believer there is no such thing as ownership only stewardship. A wise and faithful steward commits to increasing his possessions for the glory of God. The difference is in the heart not in the cattle pen. What you own does not really concern the Lord, but rather what owns you.

When something becomes a prize possession to you and it captures your heart, then it becomes an idol and sets you up for all kinds of difficulty. What you own you must protect. What God owns He will defend and keep. God required the cattle for a future sacrifice, and so He protected them. Realise that what you have, has come from the goodness and blessing of the Lord; and you will truly know the essence of a blessed life.

Know the difference between what you own (or steward) and what owns you. Whatever you cannot give away for God’s purposes, should He require it, owns you.

Decide today to be owned by God, and to be a wise steward of all He entrusts for you to enjoy. Remember, God will give more to the wise steward so that his joy may be full. Don’t run out right now and give everything away, just give up your rights to own it and let God decide what you should do with it. In the mean time enjoy it.

PRACTICAL

1. Make a list of the material things that you own and work out your equity in them.

2. Identify the things God wants you to keep and those he wants you to sow.

3. Write “God” alongside everything you possess – so that you give Him the ownership of all you have.

4. Decide to be a steward for God of all the material things He brings into your life.

5. Find one person less blessed than yourself and give them one of your possessions that will bless them.