"And I separated twelve of the leaders of the priests ... and weighed out to them the silver, the gold, and the articles, the offering for the house of our God which the king and his counselors and his princes, and all Israel who were present, had offered. .... And I said to them, .... 'Watch and keep them until you weight them before the leaders of the priests and the Levites' .... So the priests and the Levites received the silver and the gold and the articles by weight, to bring them to Jerusalem to the house of our God."
Ezra 8:24-25, 28-30
King Artexerxes had decreed that money from the king's treasury was to be given to build the temple in Jerusalem (see chapter 7). So Ezra gave the responsibility to the priests to take care of these gifts. According to the margin, the current value of these gifts was over $825,000,000. The money did not belong to the priests. They were only stewards or caretakers. In like manner, we have received gifts from God – time, talent, ministry, and money. These do not belong to us; we do not own them. They are only placed in our care by God. We are responsible for how we use the gifts God has entrusted us with. How we use them determines whether we are faithful stewards. "It is required in stewards that one be found faithful" (I Corinthians 4:2).
Have a faithful day. Love you.
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