Your Hearse Won't Be Pulling A U-Haul!

"He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose." - Jim Elliott

God gives every person––woman, man, child, adult, Christian, non–Christian, atheist, and believer––no matter what your gender, race, nationality or religion––God gives us three gifts.

These gifts are the resources God gives us to live life. We came into the world with nothing––we will leave the world with nothing (1 Timothy 6:7). These gifts or resources are available to use during our lifetime.

In this post, I want to talk about the resources we have to steward.

• Our Gift of Talents

God gave everyone natural abilities and the capacity to learn mental, social and physical skills. These are the gifts God gave to provide for ourselves, our families, and to care for His creation (Genesis 1:28; 2:15).

• Our Gift of Treasures

The gift of treasures includes all our stuff––including our money. We cannot consider our money and stuff ours, even though we worked for it. Remember, it is God who gives us the abilities and skills (our talents) we use to use to make money (Deuteronomy 8:17–18).

• Our Gift of Time

Time started at the creation of heaven and earth (Genesis 1:1) and will end at their destruction (Revelation 21:1).  From a more personal perspective, time is the measurement of our life––beginning at birth––ending at death.  Between birth and death is our life, our gift of time. The Bible tells us that we are to make the most of our time (Ephesians 5:15).

Conclusion & Challenge

Three gifts––talent, treasure, time. God has given each of us these gifts. We have the freedom to use them however we choose.

We could use these gifts as if we were their owners. I decide how I use my time. I decide what I do with my money and stuff. As an owner, I use them for whatever benefits me. I take pride in what I can do, in what I have, in what I have accomplished.

We could use these gifts as if we were a steward of them. As a steward, I understand that God gave me my abilities, skills, time and treasure to be used and enjoyed. But I also understand that I have a responsibility to use these things for the benefit of their real owner.

Jesus tells us we are not to lay up treasures on earth because they are temporary. We are to lay up treasure in heaven because they are eternal (Matthew 6:19–21). When we become the owner of God’s gifts they are limited to our time on earth. When we act as a steward our heart is with God and we send our treasures ahead to our real home where they will have eternal value.

Are you the owner of your talents, treasures and time?

Or are you a steward, willing to let it go for God’s purpose and glory