“The first step toward faithfulness with money is to recognize God’s ownership!”
Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today – August 31, 2026
A man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions. Luke 12:15
Possessions are not an end in themselves. If your motive is more stuff, that is not a healthy motive. If your security lies in what you have acquired and own, you are insecure. The goal of life is not to buy more stuff but to give away and share God’s love with others. What does life consist of, if not stuff? It consists of our relationship with our heavenly Father and our relationships with others. We are relational beings created by a relational God. Your relational investments are your greatest assets. These are dividends in eternity.
How much is enough? Or let me ask it another way: how can you organize your life to give away the most of your time and money? Your investment of time and money in God’s kingdom is what life is about. The reason possessions must find their proper place is simple: they were never yours to begin with. God owns everything: your body, your money, your relationships, your time, your possessions, your job, your business, and your life. They are all His. As managers of God’s stuff, we must understand His desires and goals. Everything He owns He wants leveraged for His kingdom. Uninvested and uncirculated resources have no eternal consequence. One day they will burn or end up in a garbage dump. What are you investing in the Kingdom today?
This is why Jesus ties faithfulness to the small, mundane things. So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches (Luke 16:11)? True riches begin with your priceless relationship with your Heavenly Father and with those who love you most. They are the spiritual blessings of forgiveness, peace, love, joy, and self-control. The first step toward faithfulness with money is to recognize God’s ownership! Randy Alcorn describes well our responsibility as possessions grow: “God prospers me not to raise my standard of living, but to raise my standard of giving.” He teaches that God entrusts wealth so we will hold it with an open hand, not a closed one. Every possession is a stewardship, every dollar an opportunity to invest in eternity.
Held loosely and rightly, riches become a servant rather than a snare. Tell those who are rich in this world not to be proud or to trust in their money (1 Timothy 6:17). Riches become a snare when they foster a sense of superiority or when you are ensnared by greed—trusting in money rather than God. This is the proper place for possessions: not master, but servant; not security, but stewardship. But godliness with contentment is great gain (1 Timothy 6:6). True godliness is woven with contentment. Rather than loving money, you love people. Money is the means to the end of loving people. True godliness looks to give rather than get.
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth… But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven… For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:19-21).
Prayer
Heavenly Father, You own everything I hold. Loosen my grip. Make my possessions Your servants, not my masters. Grow contentment in me, generosity through me, and eternal treasure by me. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Application
Today, name one possession or dollar amount you’re gripping too tightly. Give some away this week to someone specific, without seeking recognition. Practice open hands. Live for eternal, not earthly, storage.
Related Reading
Proverbs 30:8-9; Ecclesiastes 5:10; 1 Timothy 6:17-18; 2 Corinthians 9:7-8
Worship Resource
Tommee Profitt/Bay Turner: It Is Well (Because He Lives)
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