“John answered, ‘A person cannot receive even one thing unless it is given him from heaven’” (John 3:27, NIV).

My good friend and brother in Christ shared this grandad story with me at a recent mission meeting:

“Last night I sat on the patio watching my granddaughters, Chloe and Piper, play. Chloe clutched a bag of Goldfish crackers as if she had baked them herself. Piper toddled over and asked, ‘Can I have one?’ Instead of offering her one, Chloe turned away, gripping the bag tighter. ‘No!’ she said and walked away. I was amazed. Chloe had a whole bag of Goldfish. Why couldn’t she share just one? I was disappointed in my granddaughter—until the next morning, when I read the verse above and understood that I was much the same. God has handed me my own bag of ‘Goldfish.’ How often do I clutch the blessings in my life as if they were mine? My skills, my patients, my time and even my family—all are gifts from God, not of my own making. I scatter a few of them here and there to take the edge off my own selfishness, but the whole bag is mine! As followers of Christ, we are stewards, not owners. Our calling is to open our hands to use what God has given us for His glory and the good of others.”

—Mark Johnston, physician and founder of Johnston’s Hope Foundation

My friend and fellow servant of Christ who wrote these words is the one I’ve mentioned before who developed a new procedure for esophageal disease and gave the entire resulting royalties to God’s service. If he comprehends the selfish nature of his own heart, how much more so should I?

It’s a long road that leads us to a full understanding of ownership and our service to the Lord. It’s a complex pathway we follow in determining how many of our blessings we should keep for our personal/family fulfillment and how much we should hand back to God for His use in caring for the disadvantaged and drawing the world to Himself.

Most of us need to change our hearts. Personally, I’ve discovered that the best way to transform my heart in the area of ownership is to give more, not in a legalistic way from guilt but in a deeply grateful way as a response for all that we have received, trusting God that He will guide us as we hold out our open hands, not to receive but to release.

Lord,

Help me to see every blessing, every patient, every opportunity as a gift from you. Teach me to open my hands in trust and generosity, so my life and work may point others to Christ.

Amen