Everything belongs to God...

You are rich

So often as a student I saw myself as poor, having to carefully consider what I could do due to their financial cost. I forgot that actually I am rich. You’re probably reading this off your laptop or smart phone, or maybe even a tablet. All signs of our wealth that we ignore. We have food in our cupboards (even if its the basic range) and clothes to wear, we are able to go out and socialise with friends. Yes, we have to budget, yes we have to turn down opportunities, but no, we are not poor.

Whilst as students we don’t really earn a salary, most of you will either have a student loan or receive money from your parents and I’m suggesting that you start to think of that as your income. It is a gift from God.

If you receive a student loan of £3500, you are in the top 25.09% richest people in the world. That means that 74.91% of the global population are financially poorer place than you. So stop comparing yourself against those who are richer than you, and start seeing what God has blessed you with, start being grateful that you have money to budget, rather than ungrateful because you have to budget.

God has blessed you with so much, and yet how often do we say “Is that all?” Everything you have belongs to God, it is a blessing from him, but when was the last time you gave anything back to him?

“But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand.”

1 Chronicles 29:14

The verse from 1 Chronicles comes after David calls upon the Israelites to give gifts to God to build the temple, and I love that David recognises the dependency of the Israelites on God for wealth and material goods. Over the next week I would like to challenge you to also ask God for this outlook upon your material wealth, remember that everything comes from God, and that he has richly blessed you. Rather than watching the bank balance decrease, focus on thanking God as you spend your money.

Also, if you have the time, work out your income (including maintenance loans/grants) and check out this website to compare yourself against the rest of the globe.

This is the first in a two part series, if you want to be challenged further read ....so what are you giving back to Him?

(This blog was originally posted on www.belfreystudents.org/blog)