Stealing from God: A Matter of Ownership

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As I began today, one of my devotional readings included a thought from "Margaret McDonald Bottome" about STEALING FROM GOD. Most Christ followers quote the Malachi 3 and leave it at that, but MS Bottome takes it to a level of thought and truth that few see. Her words spoke to me. 

Most of us think of theft as taking something that belongs to another person. But there is a deeper, more subtle form of larceny that happens in the quiet of our daily lives: stealing from God. This isn't about breaking into a church; it’s about mismanaging assets that were never ours to begin with.

The Misuse of Entrusted Assets

We often view our time, talents, and money as personal property—resources we earned or lucked into. However, from a biblical perspective, these are "entrusted funds." When we funnel these resources exclusively into our own comfort, egos, or entertainment, we are essentially embezzling.
If God is the source of our breath (time), our abilities (talents), and our provision (money), then withholding them from His service is a quiet act of theft. We "steal" when we take what was meant to reflect His glory and use it solely to build our own little kingdoms.


The Theft of Self

The writings of Margaret MacDonald Broome take this concept a step further, moving from what we have to who we are. Broome suggests that the greatest theft is using ourselves for any purpose other than God.
This perspective is rooted firmly in 1 Corinthians 6:19: "Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own."
If we are "bought with a price," then our very existence is God’s property. When we dedicate our energy to bitterness, selfish ambition, or mundane distractions, we are using "God’s equipment" for unauthorized projects. To live for ourselves is to occupy a space that has already been deeded to the Creator.

From Theft to Stewardship

Recognizing this doesn't mean living in guilt, but rather shifting toward stewardship. Stewardship acknowledges that the "title deed" to our lives stays in God’s hands.

When we stop "stealing" our time and ourselves, we begin to live with a higher purpose. We realize that using our lives for God isn't a loss of freedom—it's finally using the tool for the purpose it was designed for. The outcome may be that we discover and unusual peace; peace with others, peace with self, and ultimately, peace with God.

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