Mine!

Leah and I have a twenty-month-old little girl living with us. She learned a new word in the past few weeks. She says, “Mine!” When taking her seat on the couch, she says, “mine!” When she grabs her blanket: “mine!” When fighting over a toy with her brother: “mine!” She wants to tell everyone that everything is hers.

Most of the time, her possessive declarations are good spirited. Sometimes, they are not. Rather than enjoying what she has, she wants to make sure others have not. “Mine” becomes a way of saying, “Not yours!”

I am sure many adults can relate. At our worst, we want to make sure our adversaries don’t have. We want to take from others in order to win rather than focusing on and enjoying all that we already have.

The scriptures call us away from such an impulse. Acts 20 says, “It is better to give than to receive.” Our possessions are not to be lorded over those who don’t have. Our possessions should be enjoyed as a blessing for others.

This week, see how your possessions can bless others. Loan out a tool. Take a loved one to lunch. Give a friend in need a ride. As you do, you’ll see that what is “mine” is not necessarily intended to be all about “me.” What is “mine” is intended to glorify God as a blessing for others.