"Mine!"
When children first learn to talk, the parents are
overjoyed with each sweet word that is uttered by their protege.
"Dada!" "Mama!"
Then other words begin to appear, and these words can be
underwhelming.
"No!"
As a toddler's vocabulary increases, so do the words we
don't want our sweet babies to say. Then the parents must adjust their
conversation to protect the child's budding vocabulary. Remember the
spelling years! I-C-E C-R-E-A-M!
Even with all we do to protect our brilliant off-springs,
they will still pick up some unapproved words. A word in our house that
seeped into our young children's vocabulary was "MINE!"
I have no idea where my children could have heard such a selfish word...she lied.
MINE, when spoken in a possessive way, reeks of
selfishness. I understand selfishness all too well. I'm in a
continuous battle with this ugly word, "MINE!"
It's my time.
It's my money.
It's my car.
It's my phone.
It's my desk.
It's my IPad.
It's mine, mine, MINE!
I've heard my husband teach many times on tithing. In
an attempt to help people understand what is actually theirs and what belongs
to God. He says that when we ask this question, "How much of my
money belongs to God?" We have the wrong
premise because in actuality everything we have is 100% God's and that 100% isn't taking only about money.
I have one of those Bible apps on my phone that gives me
the scripture of the day and a few weeks ago this was the scripture that popped
up on my screen.
"Don’t you know that your body is a temple that belongs
to the Holy Spirit? The Holy Spirit, whom you received from God, lives in
you. You don’t belong to yourselves. You were bought for a
price. So bring glory to God in the way you use your body."
1 Corinthians 6:19-20. (GW)
Time, money, cars, and phones seem small in comparison to
my very being. This scripture sets the record straight. I don't
even belong to myself let alone own all my worldly possessions.
Next time I get in a tug-of-war over ownership, I need
to remember what's really "MINE!"
The only time that word sounds good, and
can even bring peace, is when God looks at me and says, "MINE."
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