It was the usual muddy day in the country.  The first grade teacher, Miss Brown, had just finished putting the 36th boot on the 18th pair of little feet and was anxious to finish the last pair so she could go to lunch.

The last pair of boots was for little Johnny Smith, a quiet boy.  Miss Brown had a very difficult time getting his boots on as they were a bit too small for his growing feet, but she finally won the battle.

To her dismay, little Johnny looked blandly up into her face and announced, “Teacher, these boots aren’t mine.”  In a hurry, but wanting to be kind, Miss Brown groaned, but with grim gentleness removed the boots and straightened her aching back.

Whereupon Johnny continued, “They’re my little brother’s, but Mommy said I could wear them to school today.”

I feel like little Johnny because I, too, can say, “These aren’t my boots. These aren’t my clothes.  This isn’t my house.  This isn’t my car.”  As a child of God, I recognize that everything in my possession belongs to Him, and He has merely allowed me to use them for a while.

“For every beast of the forest is Mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills.” (Psa. 50:10)

The word the Bible often uses to describe this relationship is the word “steward.”  In the first century, a steward was a servant who was left in charge of the household.  Everything in the house was his to use, but he was also held responsible and had to give an account for what had been done with it.

It makes a tremendous difference in my perspective to realize that all I have belongs to God.  He has merely given me these things to use for a while (and then I have to give an account).  Listen to these words by William How which we often sing:

“We give Thee but Thine own,

Whate’er the gift may be:

All that we have is Thine alone,

A trust, O Lord, from Thee.”

“But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to offer so willingly as this?  For all things come from You, and of Your own we have given You.” (I Chron. 29:14-15)

–Alan Smith