“Jesus said to them, ‘The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who exercise authority over them call themselves Benefactors’” (Luke 22:25, NIV).

A benefactor is someone who gives money to help a person or a cause. These rulers were calling themselves benefactors. They were telling people that they were the ones taking care of them, providing what they needed.

God is our benefactor. He’s our provider, protector; He’s our support. We need to not let anyone take His place. Governments try to take God’s place. They start welfare programs and give housing and food and all sorts of things to get people to rely on them, to call them the benefactor.

We also need to not put ourselves in a position of being benefactor to someone else. We may take care of someone for a time, meeting a need, but it must always be God who is providing, even if it’s through you. We must not let others look to us as their “god,” as the one who provides and supports and cares for them.

We can love and give and do all we can, but it must be as a representative of God. We serve in Jesus’ name, not in our own name. We don’t give with a press release or to have our names listed somewhere as the benefactor. We give quietly and in the name of Jesus. It’s His money after all. Isn’t it?