The Greatest Commandment: One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?” “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” “Well said, teacher,” the man replied. “You are right in saying that God is one and there is no other but him. Mark 12:28-32

Theme: When someone entrusts us with their property, we honor that trust. Meaning: These verses show how God values integrity. If something goes wrong, the truth matters. God expects fairness, neither false accusations nor hidden guilt. Stewardship is spiritual practice.

It reads in exodus 22:7-15 Easy: “Someone might give some money or tools to a neighbor for safekeeping. What should you do if someone steals those things from the neighbor’s house? If you find the one who stole them, then that thief must pay twice as much as the things are worth. If you don’t find the thief, then the owner of the house must go before the judges who will decide if that person is guilty. “What should you do if two men disagree about a bull or a donkey or sheep or clothing or something that is lost? One man says, ‘This is mine,’ and the other says, ‘No, it is mine.’ Both men should go before the judges who will decide who is guilty. The one who was wrong must pay the other man twice as much as the thing is worth.“A man might ask his neighbor to take care of an animal for a short time. It might be a donkey, a bull, or a sheep. But what should you do if that animal is hurt or dies or someone takes the animal while no one is looking? That neighbor must explain that he did not steal the animal. If this is true, the neighbor will promise the Lord that he did not steal it. The owner of the animal must accept this promise. The neighbor does not have to pay the owner for the animal. But if the neighbor stole the animal, then he must pay the owner for the animal. If wild animals killed the animal, then the neighbor should bring the body as proof. The neighbor will not have to pay the owner for the animal that was killed.“If a man borrows an animal from his neighbor, and the animal is hurt or dies, then the neighbor must pay the owner for the animal. The neighbor is responsible, because the owner was not there himself. But if the owner was there, then the neighbor does not have to pay. Or if the neighbor was paying money to use the animal for work, he will not have to pay if the animal dies or is hurt. The money he paid to use the animal will be enough payment.

Father God, You, see every exchange of trust between neighbors. Teach us to handle what belongs to others with honesty and care. Make our hearts clean, our words truthful, and our actions faithful. When questions arise, guide us toward fairness and peace. Shape us into people who protect trust rather than break it, and who honor You in every responsibility we carry. Love You, thank You, praise You and give You all the Honor and glory in Jesus Precious Name Amen.