1 Chronicles 28-29, John 9:24—41 Key Verse: 1 Chronicles 29:16

A credit card in the hands of a college student can be a dangerous thing when the name on the card is not his own, but dads. With my permission—-actually, by my instruction—my daughter and her fiance had a nice meal at a restaurant near their college. When the bill came to the table, the credit Card came out of the wallet. I later kidded my daughter, a former waitress, about the generous tip she left, also charged to my card.

I had no problem with her charging the meal, or even with the amount of the tip. It was what I had told her to do. And it illustrates a truth. It is easier to spend someone else’s money than your own, especially when told to spend it. We know that, but sometimes we struggle to really do it.

You might be thinking, I wouldn’t have a problem doing that! But perhaps you do. Everything you have belongs to God. It is all His— even your money. He tells us how to use His money, but sometimes we struggle spending His money the way He wants it spent.

David understood that, and it affected not only him but the people of Israel as they raised the money needed to build the temple. He even said, ‘As for all this abundance that we have provided for building you a temple for your Holy Name, it comes from your hand, and all of it belongs to you” (29:16),

When we realize that our money is really God’s, then we will spend and give as God wants His money spent and given.

_How do you view your finances and possessions? Does your checkbook reflect the heart of a faithful steward of God’s resources? If not, refigure your budget today and give as God instructs_.

Woodrow Kroll & Tony Beckett
www.backtothebible.in