In 2012, Robert Kraft, the owner of the New England Patriots football team, revealed to the world that Russian president Vladimir Putin stole one of Kraft's $25,000 Super Bowl rings. Don't feel too bad for Kraft—he has three more where that came from! But it's true: back in 2005, when Kraft was visiting Putin at the Kremlin, he made the mistake of showing the Russian leader one of his Super Bowl rings. Kraft took it out and handed it to the Russian leader, who put it on his finger and said, "I could kill someone with this ring"—because it was so massive. Then, according to Kraft, Putin put in in his pocket, his KGB guys surrounded him, and they walked out—with Kraft's ring! It even had Bob Kraft's name engraved on it!
Kraft talked to the State Department, and they encouraged him, in the interest of U.S.-Russian relations to lie and say that he gave it to Putin as a gift. But Kraft finally broke his silence in 2012.
But the point is this: Kraft did give Putin his ring—temporarily, to borrow for a few moments. He intended for Putin to use it for a few moments, put it on his finger, admire it. But he did not intend for Putin, once he took possession of it, to act as if this ring belonged to him!
Possible Preaching Angles: Isn't that what we're tempted to do—what we too often do—when it comes to stewardship. A "steward" is someone who manages finances, possessions, property, or real estate on behalf of someone else. Stewardship describes a Christian's relationship to all the good things that God has given us.
