March 20, 2025 Devo

Have you ever noticed how extra careful you are with things that aren’t yours? Like when you borrow a car from a friend. You tend to drive more carefully, park in more protected places, and return it washed and filled with gas. Why? It’s not yours. The same is true when you stay at someone’s house. You don’t leave your clothes lying on the floor like you might at home. You don’t leave dishes sitting on coffee tables. You don’t leave crumbs on the couch. You’re careful in the bathroom not to leave a mess. And you wipe your feet when you come in the door. Why? The house isn’t yours.
David points out in our verse today that ALL of life is pretty much like that. None of what we have is actually ours. It belongs to God. We aren’t the owners of anything. We’re just stewards of it. We didn’t bring any of it with us when we came into the world, and we won’t take any of it with us when we leave. How will God feel about the way we handle His stuff? His home that He provides for us, His job that He allows us to have, and His money that He entrusts us to handle? Hopefully, we’re doing that well. After all, it’s not ours.
David takes it a step further. “The world and all its people belong to him.” Hold on, because this is going to hurt a bit. How did you treat your spouse this last week? How about your kids or your parents? How did you treat your neighbors, your fellow employees, or the clerks at the stores where you shop? You see, these people aren’t yours to treat however you want. These people all belong to God. They’re His. He just gives you the privilege (and challenge) of living with them. So be careful how you speak to them. Be gentle as you handle them. Be loving and caring with each of them. They aren’t yours.
One last thing. How have you been treating YOU lately? You see, YOU are one of the people that God owns. You are not your own. God created you. He also purchased you with His own life. Your life is not yours to abuse, yours to despise, or yours to treat cheaply. One day, when you stand before God, you’ll not only have to give an account of how you handled God’s stuff and treated God’s people. You’ll have to account for how you treated YOU. Life is a gift. Treat it as something incredible, wonderful, and precious. And enjoy it to the full the way Jesus wants you to. Just don’t forget it’s not yours. That’s God’s Word for you today.