Highlights

One-Kingdom living.  What does that mean or what does it reference?  When we go to the most fundamental question, we find ourselves looking at the question, “Who is in charge?”  It’s as old as going back to the Garden.

Two-Kingdom living can be identified by the fiefdom that comes into being, which we establish with ourselves in charge.  For this discussion, we are looking at money and possessions as the topics to be identified.  We go back to the idea of ownership of material possessions versus the stewardship of those possessions.

How do we want to handle material possessions?  Do we want material possessions to handle us?  We remember that Jesus told us that in Matthew 6:24, “No one can serve two masters.  Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other.  You cannot serve both God and money.”  And Paul tells us, “But godliness with contentment is great gain. … Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction.  For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil….”  I Timothy 6:6-10

How does God, the owner, want us, the stewards, to use our possessions?  We need to ask Him and get His direction.  I believe that we can receive some good guidance in the book of Proverbs, too.  You may find it somewhat surprising how much Proverbs speaks of generosity (you will probably have to search out various word usages such as generous or liberal or refreshes others, depending on the translation).  In reading those passages, I find it helps my perspective to not clutch onto the material but be willing to let it go.  Further, it is an ongoing thought process that I need to renew and remind myself of on a continual basis.

Have I built a fiefdom and do I need to regularly dismantle it?  Do I need to inquire of the owner how He wants me to steward His resources, whether for this ministry or another, and then proceed as He directs?

(Material from Development 101 by John R. Frank and R. Scott Rodin)