Baptizing Your Stuff

Good Morning,

The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it the world, and all who live in it. Ps. 24:1

Sam Houston, was referred to as “Big Drunk.” He was larger than life, and he was rough around the edges. He was a life-long brawler that could handle himself in a fight, whether it was a political one, a military one, or even a marital one.Finally, after 61 years of fighting the English, Mexicans, fellow politicians, and his own sin, he turned his life over to Christ. On the day he was being baptized the pastor said to him, “You better take off your watch and hand me your wallet” to which Sam replied, “My wallet needs baptized too”.

Has your wallet been baptized? How about your lake cottage, your vehicles, your house and your toys? It is so easy to compartmentalize our life including our finances.  For many, it is understandable that we give God a portion of our paycheck. But we tend to keep our hands closed tightly around our other “stuff”.

There is an error in wording in this previous paragraph. Do you see it? I used the term “our paycheck”. But according to Ps. 24:1 it isn’t our paycheck at all, but rather God’s. When we give to God we are really giving back what is His already.  This is a fundamental change in thinking for most of us.

We are not the owners of our stuff; we are the stewards. We are called to manage what we have for the owner’s benefit and in ways that will make Him happy. Sam Houston seemed to have grasped this concept. When he accepted Christ every aspect of his life was touched and changed including his watch and wallet. He knew that from that point on he needed to release his grip and take an open-handed approach to giving and living.

What can this look like for us? The obvious one is that when we get paid our first check (or electronic payment!) should go to God. But beyond that, when a missionary needs a place to stay and we have an empty room are we willing to offer it?  If God has blessed us with some fun toys, will we consider sharing them with someone with whom we could make a memory? If we have 200,000 bonus miles and someone who can’t afford it needs a plane ticket home to see their parents or kids will we consider giving them the ticket?

These are just some examples to get you thinking. They reflect a change in thinking that reflects the truth of God as owner of everything.

Is there something you are holding onto tightly this morning that needs to be baptized?

Live on purpose,
Ron Klopfenstein