A wealthy landowner took his pastor to the top of a hill and waved his hand towards the broad countryside before them. He said, “Everything you see belongs to me.”
The pastor said, “Oh no. Everything you see belongs to me.”
The landowner was puzzled. “What do you mean?”
“Scripture says that everything belongs to Christ and
because I belong to Him, everything He has belongs to me. This is as much mine
as it is yours, but for the moment you have the responsibility of tending it,
being a steward of it, and making it yield something for the glory of God.”
The startled landowner fell to his knees and dedicated
himself, his family, and his lands to God. The pastor spoke and the landowner
responded according to these verses . . .
For all things are yours, whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas
or the world or life or death or the present or the future—all are yours, and
you are Christ’s, and Christ is God’s. (1 Corinthians 3:22–23)
In context, this statement is made to people who were
putting those they “followed” on pedestals and using that association to
elevate themselves beside their heroes. This happens today too. People boast of
their human leaders or others, putting them on a pedestal, perhaps not
realizing this is idolatry.
I could do this. I could brag of once being a member of
the church led by a very prominent pastor, writer and Bible teacher. I could
boast that I’ve had lunch with famous authors, visited the home of noted
scholars and teachers, and engaged in correspondence with those whom others
have elevated to star status. The temptation is there, but doing this is folly.
For one thing, the prominent pastor occasionally loses his
car keys like the rest of us do, and the authors cannot balance their
checkbooks or are extremely disorganized. Even the “stars” make typos and
misspell words. Each of us has our quirks and foibles. No one is pedestal
material.
For another thing, relying on people for status is
idolatry. Christ is the only perfect person and worthy of honor and glory. If I
need any standing in this world, any sense of importance of being special, I must
get it from belonging to Him, not from the people I know, or anything else.
However, I can say this far more easily than living it.
When put down, or feeling discouraged, or thinking my worth in the world is
less than zero, I tend to want human praise and encouragement. I want a friend
to tell me I’m okay, or good, or helpful. I want to be special, even if it is
merely by knowing or standing beside someone that is highly respected, as if
their glory will rub off on me.
Every day I look at three letters; L – A - C. They remind
me that I am loved with an everlasting love (Jeremiah 31:3), accepted in the
beloved (Ephesians 1:6) and made capable in Christ (Philippians 4:13). Jesus stands
by me and elevates me. I am His child and He belongs to me just as I belong to
Him.
Putting people on a pedestal because of what they have or do
makes no sense. All things belong to God (and to me) and everything we have,
including the ability to draw our next breath, comes from God also. He is our
source and resource, and He alone is worthy of our allegiance. He calls on us
to hear and obey Him, to realize all things are from Him, and to call upon Him
in our need . . .
Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving, and perform your
vows to the Most High, and call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver
you, and you shall glorify me. (Psalm 50:14–15)
Whether it is land and other possessions, or people and
our associations with them, all belong to Jesus Christ. He freely shares
whatever I need and freely offers people to encourage me, yet all goodness and
help comes from Him. To Him belongs the glory.
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