There was a time in my life when I thought the things I possessed were mine—my money, my assets, my achievements, my time, even my body. I worked hard, made sacrifices, hustled with all my strength, and in return, I thought I owned what I earned. But as I’ve grown in both age and in faith, the Lord has consistently reminded me: just because something is in your hands doesn’t mean it belongs to you.

God, in His grace and wisdom, allows us to possess certain things—but He never relinquishes ownership. He entrusts, but He doesn’t transfer title. That’s a sobering truth for any of us managing wealth, influence, or even our very lives.

“The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein.”

— Psalm 24:1 (ESV)

Everything belongs to Him. Everything. The air I breathe, the resources I earn, the skills I use—they are all part of His creation. I’m not the source. I’m not the owner. I’m a steward. It’s humbling to realize that what I call “mine” actually has someone else’s name on the deed: God’s.

This is reinforced in Psalm 50:10–11, where the Lord says:

“For every beast of the forest is mine, the cattle on a thousand hills. I know all the birds of the hills, and all that moves in the field is mine.”

When I read that, I’m reminded that God isn’t just the Creator; He’s the true and rightful Owner of all creation. Even the wealth we think we earned through our own grit comes from Him.

“You shall remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you power to get wealth.”

— Deuteronomy 8:18 (ESV)

This verse always brings me back to the foundation of my financial teachings. Yes, we work, we plan, we budget, we invest—but the very ability to do those things is a gift from God. Our strength, our intellect, our opportunities—they are not self-manufactured. They are God-given.

“Behold, all souls are mine…”

— Ezekiel 18:4 (ESV)

It goes even deeper: we ourselves are not our own. Every soul, including mine, belongs to God. That means even my body, my time, and my very existence fall under His rightful claim.

“The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, declares the Lord of hosts.”

— Haggai 2:8 (ESV)

There it is—God claiming even what we count as tangible wealth. I’ve seen people clutch money tightly, thinking they are in control. But silver and gold were God’s before we had any say in how they were used. We’re just passing through this world, temporarily holding resources that ultimately return to the One who owns them.

So what should our response be?

“In him we live and move and have our being.”

— Acts 17:28 (ESV)

We don’t exist apart from Him. He sustains us. That means every decision we make—financial, relational, or spiritual—should be grounded in the awareness that we are stewards, not owners.

And if that’s true, then our response should be like Paul’s urging in Romans 12:1:

“Present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.”

A living sacrifice. That’s what true stewardship looks like. I offer everything—my money, my time, my skills, my relationships—back to the Lord as worship. I don’t just give God 10% and claim ownership of the rest. It’s all His.

Even success doesn’t guarantee ownership. Ecclesiastes 9:11 gives this sobering insight:

“The race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong… but time and chance happen to them all.”

This verse reminds me that outcomes are not always about effort alone. Sometimes, success or failure is beyond our control—because again, we are not the masters of everything, even if we possess certain things for a time.

So what’s the point?

Possession is temporary. Ownership is divine. We may hold things, but we don’t own them. And the more we understand this, the more we’ll learn to live with open hands—ready to give, to serve, and to obey.

I often tell people: You don’t take anything with you when you leave this world, but you can leave behind a legacy of stewardship that points others to the true Owner of it all.

Let’s live with the mindset of a steward. Let’s honor God not just with what we give—but with how we live.

“It is required of stewards that they be found faithful.”
— 1 Corinthians 4:2 (ESV)

Lord, may I be a faithful steward of all You’ve entrusted to me—knowing it was never mine in the first place.