God's Responsibilities
The Word of God reveals two sets of responsibilities in the handling of money: God has certain responsibilities and we have others.
1. God's ResponsibilitiesGod is the owner.God created all things. "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth " (Genesis 1:1). He never transferred the ownership of His creation to people.
The Lord owns everything. "To the Lord your God belong ...the earth and everything in it" (Deuteronomy 10:14). "The earth is the Lord's, and everything in it" (Psalm 24:1).
God owns the all the land: "The land must not be sold permanently, because the land is mine (Leviticus 25:23). God owns all the gold and silver: "'The silver is mine, and the gold is mine,' declares the Lord Almighty " (Haggai 2:8). God owns every animal: "Every creature of the forest is mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills ...the creatures of the field tire mine. If I were hungry, I would not tell you, for the world is mine, and all that is in it" (Psalm 50:10-12).
God is in control.Our loving heavenly Father is in ultimate control of every event. "The Lord does whatever pleases him, in the heavens and on the earth, " (Psalm 135:6). "I praised the Most High... He does as he pleases with the powers of heaven and the peoples of the earth. No one can hold back his hand or say to him: 'What have you done?'" (Daniel 4:34-35)
It is comforting for those who follow Christ to realize that God uses everything, even difficult circumstances, for ultimate good. "We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose" (Romans 8:28).
God provides our needs. The Lord is the one who provides our needs. In Genesis 22:14 God is spoken of as Jehovah-jireh, which means, "the Lord will provide." "My God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:19).
The Lord promises to provide our needs if we put Him first in our lives. "Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things [food and clothing] will be given to you as well" (Matthew 6:33). The same Lord who fed manna to the children of Israel during their 40 years of wandering in the wilderness, and who fed 5,000 with only five loaves and two fish, has promised to provide our needs.
[The text is from "Principles of Financial Success", a seminar presented by Crown Financial Ministries.] Next issue, we'll talk about "Our Responsibilities".
