Is not yours to give!

"But me - who am I, and who are these people, that we should presume to be giving something to you? Everything comes from you; all we're doing is giving back what we've been given from your generous hand. As far as you're concerned, we're homeless, shiftless wanderers like our ancestors, our lives a mere shadows, hardly anything to us. God, our God, all these materials -  these piles of stuff for building a house of worship for you, honoring your Holy Name - it all came from you!  It was all yours in the first place! I know, dear God, that you care nothing for the surface - you want us, our true selves - and so I have given from the heart, honestly and happily. And now see all these people doing the same, giving freely, willingly - what a joy! Oh God, God of our fathers Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, keep this generous spirit alive forever in these people always, keep their hearts set firmly on you." 1 Chronicles 29

Yes, nothing is ours.  We had nothing to do with the family to which we were born, our physicality, our house, our health, the time in which we were born, the situations we find ourselves in that might bring us fortune ... ALL of this came from God, our Father. 

So when we give, are we really giving of ourselves? Absolutely not. In actuality, we are giving what God gave to us. We're paying it forward.  Our, we should be.

Call to action:  Stop thinking of your treasures, your talents, and your time as yours. It's not. You may have worked hard, but who gave you that work ethic? It's all His. And when He gives you an opportunity to give, just give. That's obedience.

Your talents, treasures, and time are yours to keep.  Give like you trust God and His promises that He will provide all that you need if you just simple trust and obey.