GOD’S PART

THE FOUNDATION

ON A RAINY NOVEMBER MORNING Allen and Jean Hitchcock arrived at my office to work through their financial problems in an attempt to save their marriage. Allen and Jean were Christians, but they had never been exposed to the Bible’s perspective on money and possessions.

They appreciated their beautiful two-story brick house in suburban Orlando, their two late-model cars and their other possessions. Both felt that they had worked hard for what they had and that they had earned the right to enjoy “the good life.” However, after financial pressures threatened their standard of living, their lack of contentment surfaced in a major marital crisis.

A serious lack of communications existed about their family finances. Allen and Jean each had their own opinions on how to spend the family income, and they had never been able to discuss the subject without ending up in an argument. They were close to losing everything to their creditors. That, coupled with the possibility of divorce, had jarred them from their complacency. So when I sat down with Allen and Jean on the Friday after Thanksgiving, they were motivated to learn what the Bible says about money.

Scripture teaches there are two distinct parts to the handling of our money: the part God plays and the part we play. I believe most of the confusion relating to the handling of money arises from the fact that these two parts are not clearly understood. God’s part is the foundation of contentment. In Scripture God calls Himself by more than 250 names. The name that best describes God’s part in the area of money is Master.

This is the most important chapter of the entire book because how we view God determines how we live. For example, after losing his children and all his possessions, Job was still able to worship God. He knew the Lord and the Lord’s role as Master of those possessions. Similarly, Moses forsook the treasures of Egypt and chose to suffer mistreatment with the people of God. Both Job and Moses knew the Lord and accepted His role as Master. Let’s examine what the Bible has to say about God’s part in three crucial areas: ownership, control and provision.

OWNERSHIP The Bible clearly states that God is sole owner of everything. “The earth is the Lord’s, and all it contains” (Psalm 24:1). Scripture even reveals specific items God owns. Leviticus 25:23 identifies Him as owner of all the land: “The land . . . shall not be sold permanently, for the land is Mine.” Haggai 2:8 reveals that “‘the silver is Mine, and the gold is Mine,’ declares the Lord of hosts.”

And in Psalm 50:10, the Lord tells us: “For every beast of the forest is Mine, the cattle on a thousand hills.” The Lord is the Creator of all things, and He has never transferred the ownership of His creation to people. In Colossians 1:17 we are told that “in Him all things hold together.” At this very moment the Lord literally holds everything together by His power.