"A man's life consisteth not in the abundance of
the things which he possesseth" (Luke 12:15).
I recently encountered a gentleman who was in a
near panic because he feared losing some precious possessions. The
experience caused me to ask our Lord for His ongoing searching of my own heart
to ensure that my possessions do not possess me. "Search me, o God, and
know my heart. Try me and know my thoughts, and see if there be any wicked
way in me. And lead me in the way everlasting" (Psalm
139:23-24).
God blesses us with things needed, and with things
desired. We do well to give thanks, and to obey Scripture by enjoying the
things He so richly provides (I Timothy 6:17). We also do well,
however, to realize that the gifts are not the Giver, and that we are not the
owners of things, but stewards. Everything the Christian has and
everything he is belongs to the Lord Jesus Christ. We therefore serve as
caretakers of His possessions, holding all things lightly in the
knowledge that our Lord may do with His things as He pleases. If He
chooses to allow things to remain with us, we rejoice in His vouchsafing.
If He chooses to remove and transfer things elsewhere, we rejoice that our life
does not consist in God's gifts, but in Himself. "He is thy life"
(Deuteronomy 30:20).
Fewer sighs of relief will ever grace us than
the one exhaled as we realize and affirm, "It's all Your's, Lord! Every
atom of every thing in my life belongs to You." We will need to be
reminded and refreshed often concerning so vital a matter, and our Heavenly
Father will actively engage His hand to ensure that our hands hold all things
lightly. As He graciously works to deliver us from the delusion of
ownership to the delight of stewardship, blessed peace will fill our hearts
as we rightly possess our possessions.
"Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these
things shall be added unto you."
(Matthew 6:33)
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