Have you ever borrowed something from someone and the borrowed item getting damaged or lost — or worse — while you had it? It can be a stressful thing having to tell the owner that such an incident has occurred. It happened to me not long ago when something I loaned out was returned to me in a much different condition than the borrowers received it in.

Several of the young ladies from the church planned a few days away with their children. They asked about borrowing our ice chest and it was certainly fine with Gale and me for them to use it. Somehow as one of them was cleaning it before returning it to us, an unusual and unfortunate anomaly took place. While using the top of the stove as a work table, somehow one of the surface units got turned on. With the plastic cooler on top of the unit as it heated up unnoticed, it was not long before the incinerating material started to reveal what was taking place. But by then it was too late and the damage had been done. That was probably the first time that those girls got a firsthand look at the insulation on the inside of an ice chest, which is usually hidden by a decorative and protective outer shell — but after being charred by the hot unit of an electric stove it quickly became fully viewable!

It seemed a bit odd that Kim called Gale to inquire about where we bought the cooler, but we still did not realize what was going on. I suppose it is a little hard to call your pastor to tell him that you have accidentally nearly demolished what you borrowed from him, but after putting herself through unnecessary agony over it, she finally got the nerve to reveal the mishap. We assured her that all her worrying was unwarranted and we were not upset about what happened.

God has entrusted to us the care and use of many things, but in reality, we do not really own anything; everything belongs to Him. Neither health, nor wealth, nor time, nor talents are really ours; they are on loan to us from God and we are called to serve as good custodians of what He has entrusted us with. Job was a wealthy and Godly man whose story is recorded in the Old Testament. After undergoing great suffering and loss, God reminded him to whom everything really belongs: “Who has a claim against Me that I must pay? Everything under heaven belongs to Me” (Job 41:11, New International Version).

When we use what God has loaned to us for Him, He is honored. But when we fail in this area by misusing and abusing what God has entrusted us with, genuine fulfillment will be lacking. Satisfaction can only be restored by confessing our shortcomings to God and allowing Him to get us back on the right track. Proverbs 28:13 provides outstanding wisdom and guidance: “He who conceals his sins does not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy.”

The words of Romans 11:35-36 give us a glimpse of God’s supremacy and His ownership of all things: ““Who has ever given to God, that God should repay him?” For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever! Amen.”