ALL OF US ARE TRUSTEES!
“The earth is the Lord’s, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.” Psalm 24.1
The above statement of the Psalmist is simple, saying that, not only do we belong to God, but so does the earth and its fruits.
A number of years ago, Methodist Bishop Hughes preached a sermon on “God’s Ownership,” using the Psalmist’s affirmation as his text. After worship he went home with a layman who owned a large farm. When they had finished eating a sumptuous meal, Bishop Hughes and the layman spent more than an hour walking, surveying with their eyes the hundreds of acres of beautiful bluegrass land. As they started up the stairs, back into the lovely old farmhouse with Corinthian columns supporting the two-story porch roof, the farmer turned to the bishop and said, “Bishop, in the light of your sermon today, do you mean to say that this land is not really mine? It belonged to my father and his father before him. All of us have deeds indicating that the property belongs to us.”
Bishop Hughes, with a twinkle in his eyes, replied, “Ask me that question a hundred years from now!”
How often, not only with regard to the soil, but with regard to everything in life, have we been willing to recognize that life is a gift, that the earth and its resources are gifts, and we are responsible to use them wisely for the benefit of all mankind. Whenever we abuse or misuse any of God’s blessings we are unmistakably being indifferent to those with whom we live and who follow us. Give the concept some serious thought. Read Luke 12:13-21. You might even read the whole chapter.
Since life – all life and all lives – is a gift, we are trustees of life, all life; let us, therefore, affirm our trusteeship of life! Life is ours; it is a gift, but it is a gift held in trust. We are trustees of life. God is the Giver, but He is the initial and ultimate owner. A trustee is not permitted to do whatever he chooses with a trust. His actions are governed by the owner’s desires and intensions. Only God has the first word and the last. -LJS
