“Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;” 1 Timothy 6:17. 

Our giving and receiving in life can be synonymous to the image of a closed hand or open hand. We tend to hold on tight to our accomplishments, careers, family, material substances, dreams, hopes, ambitions and put them in a closed hand; with the mind-set that these things are all mine… it is my stuff, my career, my time, and oh yeah… my money and I do not have to share or let any of it go!

The word of the Lord sends the message loud and clear that everything belongs to Him! “The earth is the Lord‘s, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.” Psalm 24:1.

The eye-opening parable of a certain rich man brings home the point that nothing belongs to us… “And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?”

The question is are we willing to open our hands-releasing all that we have so graciously receive to be used for the furtherance of God’s kingdom, the benefit of others and your own spiritual growth and development? “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:” Matthew 6:19-20.

No, it is not easy to release things that we have lived with for quite some time…but nothing can compare to the riches that God has in store for us… my friends, let it go! “Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;” 1 Timothy 6:17. 

May God help us to live with open hands, remaining steadfast in prayer; casting our all our cares on Him; trusting Him to be faithful to His word- prove me says the Lord! “Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.” Malachi 3:10.

Blessing and peace be with you always.