Monday, July 24, 2006
Psalm 24:1 The earth is the Lord's, and all its fullness, The world and those who dwell therein.
GOD: THE OWNER OF ALL THINGS
Imagine the freedom, the sense of release you would feel if nothing at all belonged to you. This may sound a bit strange, but according to the Psalmist you don't own anything at all.
This passage explains to us that the earth is the Lord's, including everything and everyone on it. Since all things of and on this earth are the Lord's, He is the owner. He owns the earth, the things on the earth, and you.
He owns all things, therefore you own nothing. Of course this runs contrary to our everyday way of thinking, since from little on we have been taught concepts such as "that's MY bike", or "I own this car", even "that's MY toy and he took it from me!" We have been taught to think in terms of personal ownership. However, this passage and many others inform us that we own nothing. All things are owned by God.
Of course to function in our society we do need to have our names ascribed to certain possessions. If the deed to a house did not have your name on it, anyone who happens by could claim it as his own. The same holds true for a car with a title in your name, or even a pair of socks with your initials written on them. For the sake of order, we need to have possessions that we "own."
But what better true owner can there by than the Almighty God who made all things? There is none other who can compare. All selfishness be gone! It is the good and gracious Lord who owns and rules all things. That's great news for us.
The LORD is gracious and full of compassion, Slow to anger and great in mercy. The LORD is good to all, And His tender mercies are over all His works (Psalm 145:8-9).
