2. DEVOTION
_________________________________________________
True or False: What’s Mine is Mine
DR. ROBERT L. ROSS
“Christian stewardship always begins with acknowledgement of God’s ownership
and His abundant blessings.”
In Luke 12:13-21, Jesus tells a story about a man who made such an assertion. The
point of the parable is that personal ownership is a fragile and temporary arrangement at
best and can be terminated by circumstance or death. In conclusion, Jesus asked: “Then
whose shall these things be?”
God is the owner of us and all that we have. The apostle Paul reminds us: “The God
who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth … and in Him
we live and move and exist” (Acts 17:24,28, HCSB).
That which we claim comes from the hand of God. He has given us the health and skills
to earn an income. “You may say to yourself, ‘My power and my own ability have gained
this wealth for me,’ but remember that the Lord your God gives you the power to gain
wealth in order to confirm His covenant” (Deuteronomy 8:17-18, HCSB).
Christian stewardship always begins with acknowledgement of God’s ownership and
abundant blessings. But it also requires accountability—what we do with what He has
given us. In managing the resources entrusted to us, will we generously and faithfully
give back a portion to advance His kingdom on earth?

3. DEVOTION
_________________________________________________
True or False: Tithing, a New Testament Principle
DR. ROBERT L. ROSS
“Giving in response to the grace of God is always greater than what the Law
requires.”
The Pharisees were out to get Jesus. They tried to entrap Him with clever questions.
They criticized Him for keeping company with sinners and tax collectors. They accused
him of violating the Sabbath. They leveled the charge of blasphemy against Him
because He claimed to be the Son of God.
Yet never did they accuse Him of failing to observe the practice of tithing. Mark and Luke
report that Jesus witnessed worshipers putting their offerings into the temple treasury.
He noticed a widow who put in two copper coins of insignificant value and declared that
her gift was the greatest because she gave all she had.
Many times Jesus addressed practices of Old Testament legalism with a new and
different perspective. However, there is no record in the New Testament where He ever
revoked the Old Testament law that the tithe belongs to the Lord and is holy to Him.
Quite the contrary, He commended tithing as a practice to be continued (see Matthew
23:23).
The giving pattern of the New Testament church is consistent with the practice of giving
a tenth and beyond as one prospers. Giving in response to the grace of God is always
greater than what the Law requires.