What does "not be sold" teach about stewardship of God's provisions? Starting with the Text “The land must not be sold permanently, because the land is Mine, and you are but foreigners and sojourners with Me.” — Leviticus 25:23 Why God Gave the Command • God identifies Himself as the true Owner. • Israel’s role: temporary tenants who manage, not merchants who dispose. • The Jubilee framework (Leviticus 25:8-24) anchored every family’s inheritance, preventing accumulation of land by the wealthy and protecting the poor. Core Stewardship Principles • Ownership belongs to the Lord. • Management is our responsibility. • Transfer is regulated by God’s terms, not human profit motives. • Provision is meant to serve community well-being, not individual gain alone. Echoes in the Rest of Scripture • Psalm 24:1 — “The earth is the LORD’s, and the fullness thereof.” • 1 Chronicles 29:11-14 — “All things come from You, and from Your hand we have given You.” • Deuteronomy 8:17-18 — Ability to produce wealth comes from God. • Matthew 25:14-30 — Parable of the talents: accountable stewardship. • 1 Corinthians 4:2 — “Now it is required of stewards that they be found faithful.” What “Not Be Sold” Teaches Today • Treat resources—property, finances, gifts—as on loan from God. • Resist a mindset that values possessions only for market profit. • Guard against exploiting others through economic advantage. • Plan generosity into budgets, seeing surplus as God’s tool for blessing others. • Practice Sabbath rhythms: periods of rest and release remind us we depend on God, not nonstop production. Living It Out 1. Inventory God’s provisions in your life (home, job, talents). 2. Identify ways each item can serve His purposes before personal gain. 3. Establish boundaries that curb over-commercializing what He entrusts. 4. Build habits of regular giving that mirror the Jubilee spirit of reset and relief. Conclusion “Not be sold” anchors stewardship in the unchangeable truth that everything belongs to God. We manage His assets for His glory, the good of His people, and our own faithful joy. |
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