Although I rarely purchase Tupperware, my collection of those handy re-sealable containers continues to grow. Granted, I may wash and “convert” an exhausted soft margarine tub – but too often, I borrow a friend’s nice Tupperware and I never give it back. I don’t mean to be thoughtless, it just happens. Once entering my home and being cleaned, the container sits on the kitchen counter to be returned- until the night I use it for my leftover spaghetti sauce. Eventually, after a series of uses and washes, I can’t even remember who loaned it to me. Unless somebody speaks up, it’s as good as mine.
“Mine.” Isn’t that a lovely word? “Whose car is that?” “Mine.” Who’s kid’s?” “Mine.” Whose home, job, pantry?” “Mine, mine, mine.” There is such security in knowing something is yours and yours alone. Yet like my borrowed Tupperware, none of these things are really mine. They’re just on loan.
See your blessings are on loan from God. Even though your name is on that paycheck and you worked hard for it, it’s still not yours. It’s God’s. James 1:17 says Every good and perfect gift is from above. “Every good and perfect gift”. That includes both the gifts you had nothing to do with like a soft sunset as well as the things you work hard for like the roof over your head. All good things come from God.
I find this whole idea of my blessings being on loan from God a little frightening. Why? Because it’s so easy to take blessings for granted. Like my friend’s Tupperware, over time, I begin to think of it as mine. Looking at your blessings you might think “Look at all these incredible blessings in my life: my health, my loved one, my finances, my home. These must have been given to me for my purpose.” The truth is God has blessed you for His purpose.
It’s like God said to you “OK. Tell you what. I’m going to give you the food on your table, your health, your intelligence and even someone to love. I want you to care for these blessings, multiply them and even enjoy them, but remember, they’re just loaners. As I continue to complete my plan to save mankind, I may ask for some of them back. But don’t worry because as you give them back to me, you’ll draw closer to me and that’s when the blessings really start!”
Matching you purpose to God’s purpose requires you to delight in the Lord. The psalmist tells us to “Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart.”
Think about that verse for a minute. When the things that delight the Lord, also delight you, then you’ll receive the desires of your heart. Why? Because you will only desire the things God desires. Isn’t that cool? When God’s desire is also your desire, His joy is your joy, and His purpose your purpose, you will find that you have all that you ever need. Believe me, God has plans for every blessing He has loaned you. Let Him be in charge of all you have, all you love and all you do because there is nothing as sweet as living for God’s purpose alone.
