What I Own…What I Owe

November continues to whisper “be grateful.” That of course is a good thing. But thoughts of gratitude can take interesting turns. The most recent jog in the journey for me was this question:

How do I “prove” my gratitude to God?

My thoughts pinged with the voracity of an intense tennis match. The Spirograph in my head looped between two camps.

The material possessions I own.

The story of the rich young ruler weighed heavy on my mind.

“If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” Matthew 19:21 NIV

The actions and decisions I own.

I thanked God for the Apostle Paul’s transparency.

 “I decide to do good, but I don’t really do it; I decide not to do bad, but then I do it anyway. My decisions, such as they are, don’t result in actions. Something has gone wrong deep within me and gets the better of me every time.” Romans 7:20 MSG

My muddled meanderings left me asking God two questions.

“What do I really own?
“What do you really want?”

The dragnet answers to these questions are:

I own nothing.

He wants everything.

Sounds like an impossible equation. Technically it is. But there’s a sweet relief in what I’m about to share.

The fact that we own nothing takes the pressure off. There is a peace that accompanies the realization that we are just stewards of what we’ve been given.

God created everything…including us! Guess what? Creation establishes ownership. “You and I have brought nothing into this world and won’t be taking anything out.” (See Ecclesiastes. 5:15)

This blog could turn into a book if I fully addressed stewardship in the manner it deserves so instead I’ll direct you to a great article I read from bible.org. They have a series on Biblical Financial Stewardship that’s worth the read. Article number two addresses stewardship.

Let it suffice to say that every single solitary thing I have belongs to God. I’m just lucky enough to get to use it. If that’s not conducive to gratitude I don’t know what is.

In light of what I’ve just shared, the fact that God wants everything can seem like a difficult truth. After all, since God owns it all, couldn’t it be argued that by virtue of a technicality we have nothing to give? Not so fast. God wants the thing we can’t put a price on. It’s invaluable to Him.

It’s. Our. Hearts.

It’s hard to believe. And yet, I suppose if you’re God, Fort Knox means nothing when you can create it with the lift of your little finger.

Submitted hearts that love him? Not so much.

He could have done that. That’s the real mystery. God chose not to. He gave us a free-will. We get to choose and…

Our choice means everything to Him.

That’s what God really wants. The only thing we own on this planet during our short lives is our ability to choose. And God wants to be chosen. A.W. Tozer said it best:

“God waits to be wanted.”

God waiting to be wanted is mind boggling. It is a testament to His character.

There are rare occasions (too few and far between) in which Doc and I lay in bed at night conversing about the wonders of our God. Most days we plop onto the pillow-top mattress too tired to navigate such thoughts. But when we do tarry and talk there’s a consistent theme in our conclusion:

God’s love is real, sincere and lavish.

He could have forced our affections but He created us with the ability to choose Him. He wanted our choice to be self-generated. We get to decide. We get to offer Him the one thing we truly own——–our hearts.

The offer is a good trade. He’s a good father. He always gives back more than we ever could ever offer.

Today this will be my prayer. Perhaps it will be yours too.

Father, you amaze me. How can it be that you are who you are? You are immense and overpowering. You are big. I. Am. Small. And yet…

You. Are. Love.

and

You. Love. Me.

You want the only thing I truly own and that’s my heart. Today I give you my heart. I may (most likely will) need to do it over and over throughout the day. But I am choosing to do so because I love you.

“See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!” 1 John 3:1 NIV

I know life is busy. Seven short days from now we’ll be knee-deep in Turkey dinner and then at the starting gate for Christmas. I pray that before that time comes you’ll take (make) a moment to let today’s truth sink in. The video below features my recent song of choice. Good, Good Father. I hope you’ll listen and be blessed.

Be sure and stop by the #livefree community where Suzie Eller and many wonderful women will share their perspective on what it means to give “everything I own.”

Next Tuesday I’ll have DoAhead Dining links at the ready for some amazing Turkey Day recipes! (Gobble,Gobble!). In the meantime, stop by DoAhead’s Facebook page for daily words of encouragement.

Your (Giving Him The Only Thing She Owns) DoAhead Friend,