September 6, 2026
Psalm 24
Theme: God Owns Everything
Scholars widely agree that Psalm 24 was composed by David. It is likely connected to the procession of the Ark into Jerusalem (2 Samuel 6). It is a liturgical psalm proclaiming God’s sovereignty over creation and celebrates the holiness required to enter God’s presence. The opening verse sets the tone for stewardship: “The earth is the Lord’s and all that is in it” (v.1). This psalm reminds Israel ─ and reminds us ─ that everything begins with God, belongs to God, and returns to God.
As we enter this season of stewardship, we begin with a simple truth from Psalm 24, “The earth is the Lord’s and all that is in it.” This is the foundation of Christian stewardship. Before we talk about giving, before we talk about budgets or pledges, we begin with God’s ownership.
Merriam‑Webster defines stewardship as “the careful and responsible management of something entrusted to one’s care.” That means stewardship is not about possessing; it is about entrusting. It is not about owning; it is about managing what belongs to God. Everything we have ─ our time, our gifts, our resources, our very breath ─ is entrusted to us by the One who created all things.
Psalm 24 reminds us that God is not only the Creator but the rightful Owner of everything. “The earth is the Lord’s.” Not part of it. Not some of it. All of it. And if God owns everything, then our giving is not losing something; it is returning something. It is an act of gratitude, not an act of obligation.
Here at St. Paul’s, I want to pause and say thank you. Thank you for your generosity. Thank you for your faithfulness. Thank you for the ways you support our worship, our outreach, our children, our youth, our pastoral care, and our mission in Batesville. Your giving keeps our ministries alive. Your giving keeps our doors open. Your giving allows us to be a place of welcome, compassion, and hope.
But Psalm 24 also invites us to ask a deeper question: If God owns everything, how might God be calling us to give more ─ not out of pressure, but out of trust? Not out of fear, but out of faith? Not only because the church needs money, but because we need to grow in generosity.
Stewardship is spiritual formation. When we give, we participate in God’s work. We join God in caring for the earth, caring for the church, and caring for one another.
So, as we move through this stewardship season, let Psalm 24 be our guide. Let it remind us that everything we have is a gift. Let it remind us that giving is worship and returning our gratitude to God. Jesus has reminded us in the gospel of Matthew.18:19 today that “if two of you agree on earth about anything you ask, it will be done to you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in my name (Jesus), I am there among them.” My friends in Christ, God is in our presence and whatever we ask in His name will be given to us.
May we continue to ask God to bless us with resources to give faithfully. May we continue to give joyfully. And may we continue to give in a way that reflects our trust in the God who owns everything and who has given us the gift of life.
This week our Acronym is G.I.V.E
G-Gratitude: Pause daily to thank God for one thing He has entrusted to you.
I-Intentionality: Be intentional about how you use your time, resources, and talents for God’s purposes.
V-Vision: See your giving not as loss, but as participation in God’s work at St. Paul’s and in the community.
E-Engagement: Stewardship is a lived response to God’s ownership.