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| “Every good and perfect gift is from above…” |
| —James 1:17a |
“What’s mine is mine and what’s mine I’ll keep!”
The cartoon character spat out those words with a snarl. All the children laughed because they knew the villain would get his comeuppance before the cartoon would come to an end.
Sometimes we act like that villain. We begin to think that the things we’ve acquired actually belong to us and we deserve to keep those things all to ourselves.
As Christ-ones, all that we are and all that we have has come to us as a precious gift from God. We do not own what we have. Rather, we are stewards in whom our Master has placed a trust to receive and wisely use what He has given us for His purposes.
The Apostle James made this quite clear when he wrote these words in James 1:16-18:
Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters. Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.
He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.
You and I, dear ones, are the firstfruits of a great harvest. Because of this, God showers us with many gifts of inestimable value, including His mercy, grace, and unconditional love.
Let us pledge to be faithful stewards of all He has given us. May we use His gifts to us to bring Him honor and glory.
