When my husband first became pastor of a church in Ocala, Florida, it was a move of several hundred miles. Obviously, we had to find somewhere to live. We met with a builder and decided to construct a home in a new subdivision. That meant that we would not have a place to call our own for several months.

There was a woman who lived in New York but owned a home in Ocala. She spent more time in New York than in Florida, so she offered to let us use her home for a modest amount of money. This meant storing our possessions and using the possessions that were already in her home.

The only stipulations were that we took loving care of the home, invested time into keeping up both the inside and the outside, and we were not to use the master bedroom. She let us take possession of the home, investing time and energy into the home, but understanding we were stewards of the dwelling not owners. The owner also wanted us to understand that a portion of the home was dedicated solely for her use, and not for our use.

I recently heard a pastor preach a message on giving. He apologized profusely, as if he were doing something wrong by talking about money. This has become a controversial issue in the Church but should not be!

Are there churches and ministries that talk about money too much? Yes, yes, yes! Are there ministries whose leaders live “high on the hog” abusing the use of the money given? Yes, yes, yes! Have there been cases where ministers and ministries have thrown out prayer requests and kept the check when both were in the envelope? Yes, yes, and yes! Have some ministries misused funds? Yes, yes, yes!

These facts are all sad, but make no mistake about it, they will answer to God Himself for taking advantage of people. God is not mocked!

In my opening, I shared a story that is a good demonstration about money and possessions. The owner of the home gave it to us for use while in Ocala, but the owner was still the owner. She also wanted a portion set aside and kept for her use. The rest was ours to use wisely and enjoy.

Gaylon and I have never been rich people, and it is doubtful that we will ever be rich people. Yet, God has been so faithful to provide for us through almost fifty-five years of marriage and ministry. There have been very lean times, and I mean VERY lean times. There have also been times when we had more than we needed. Regardless of which situation we were experiencing, we always gave back to the Master that which was His. We understood that all we had, belonged to God and we were stewards of what He placed in our hands.

I am a steward. You are a steward. God has given us finances, gifts, and abilities. A steward is someone who takes care of and manages someone else’s property or belongings. The steward is not the owner but is responsible to the owner for all that the owner has entrusted to them.

What is in your hands today? Whether it is a little or much, God calls you to use it faithfully. Instead of clinging to what you have, trust the One who gave it to you. That which you invest in his kingdom will never fade.

“He did all this so you would never say to yourself, ‘I have achieved this wealth with my own strength and energy.’ Remember the Lord your God. He is the one who gives you power to be successful … – Deuteronomy 8:17-18