The Earth belongs to God and all that is in it. He created everything we see and the breath we breathe. When we recognize Him as the true Lord, King and Father, we are free to give Him our affection and allegiance - opening our hands to gladly share anything He has blessed us with.
The earth is the LORD’s and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein.
Psalm 24:1
or if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s.
Romans 14:8
The immediate cares of the world can distract from a bigger picture, but there is more to life than what is before us today. From everlasting to everlasting, and generation to generation, we have a God who reminds us of a much longer investment outlook.
But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you…’ So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.
Luke 12:20–21
As we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.
2 Corinthians 4:18
Every good and perfect gift is from our unchanging Father above. Our talents, our relationships, our life experiences, even our faith. We are called to leverage all of these varied blessings to serve one another and to glorify God through Christ.
As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace.
1 Peter 4:10
Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men,
Colossians 3:23
As we mature in Christ, we grow into His likeness - He who became poor, gave Himself up for us, laid down His life on our behalf. Taking the form of a thousand actions, we are compelled to love one another and our neighbors.
Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful.
1 Corinthians 4:2
But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.
James 1:22
It is natural to drift along in the current of the people with whom we surround ourselves. The world seeks to teach us a culture of self-sufficiency and self-indulgence. But anchored in Christ we have the depth of relationships to stir one another up to love and good works.
And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together… but encouraging one another…
Hebrews 10:24–25
Two are better than one… For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow…
Ecclesiastes 4:9–10
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