Grace Community Church
Developing Bibically Grounded Followers of Christ
Touch of Grace
The Other 90 Percent
Think about this question, “Is buying a pack of gum a spiritual decision?” Over the past 4-5 months we have completed a financial study in our Community Life group and this is a question I was personally challenged by.
I wish the question were, “Is buying gas for your car a spiritual decision?” Because that would be to answer. Most of us pray every time we put gas in our cars, “Lord, keep me from anger,” and “Lord, help there to be enough money in my bank account to pay for this!”
But are those small decisions I make everyday spiritual ones? I would propose the answer is, yes, because God owns everything. Psalm 24:1 says, “The earth is the Lord’s and everything in it, the world and all who live in it.” Psalm 50 says, “Every animal of the forest is mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills...for the world is mine and all that is in it.”
Scripture is clear that God continues to be involved in what He has created and still maintains ownership of all He created. God owns everything we possess and He has entrusted us to manage what we’ve been given. To put it simply we aren’t owners, just trustees. I Corinthians says, “Now, it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful.”
Does this make you look at your possessions differently? For some, this may be a freeing feeling but for others it may bring about mixed emotions. This idea goes far beyond our money.
What does this mean for me? I often think that if I give God my tithe that I can do whatever I want with the other 90 percent. I have been challenged that while God does want my tithe, He is just as concerned with how I manage the rest of my money.
Ouch! I find this to be especially difficult in the society we live in where greed and the “It’s mine - I can do what I want with it,” approach is everywhere.
As a Christian, God has called me to a higher standard and He will ask me someday, “What did you do with the things I entrusted to you?”
So, do I expect to see you praying on your knees at the check out counter when buying a pack of gum? Probably not.
But be in prayer daily about not only what God will have you give to the Church but pray that He will help you manage wisely the other 90 percent.
By Joel Smith