The contention about the ownership of the world is put to rest in Psalms 50: 12 if I (the Lord) were hungry, I would not tell you, for the world and all that is in it is mine. Aside God, no one or power or authority has ever claimed ownership. In deed not only does God own the world but also its contents.
God’s statement dispels the belief that we are here by accident. We are here by God’s purposeful design to bear his image and to superintend over his creation. David wrote in Psalms 8: 3-6 when I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars that you have established; what are human beings that you are mindful of them, mortals that you care for them?… you have given them dominion over the works of your hands; you have put all things under their feet.
So, why did God put us in charge of his creation?
By God’s divine favour
Paul wrote in 1 Thessalonians 5: 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. We must give thanks in good and bad times, in joy and in sorrow, in abundance or nothing, in fullness or emptiness, in sickness or in health, beauty or ugly, in accordance of God’s will in Christ Jesus for us because we did nothing to deserve God’s favour and grace bestowed on us.
To the extent that God is in charge of his creation, he wants us to depend on him and not on our own subjective evaluation of circumstances or what people say. It is written in Proverbs 3: 5-6 trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own insight. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. God knows his creation and he is able to lead us through.
To be disobedient to him
When we sideline God or ignore him we fail to acknowledge his ownership. God said in Hosea 4: 6 my people are destroyed for lack of knowledge; because you have rejected knowledge,… And since you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children. The manual of creation is God’s word without which we cannot effectively superintend over his creation we will thereby fall short of his glory.
Whenever or wherever we feel challenged in discharging our divine duty as God wants we have to go back to his manual for fresh instructions. God said in Psalms 50: 15 call on me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me. Nothing happens without God’s knowledge. It is written in John 1: 3 all things came into being through him (Jesus), and without him not one thing came into being.
We can’t win without Jesus
John 1:16 says from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. Without God’s grace through Christ Jesus, it is impossible to have divine control in this complex world. Colossians 1: 15 says he (Christ Jesus) is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.(Read also Matthew 28: 18) In Colossians 1: 18; Revelation 1: 5 he is the firstborn from and of the dead.
Hebrews 12:9 says we had human parents to discipline us, and we respected them. Should we not be even more willing to be subject to the Father of spirits and live? We must therefore accept his corrections in utmost good faith. Jeremiah 29: 11 says for surely I know the plans I have for you, says the LORD, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope.
We must be content with God
The world and its fullness thereof belong to God so we must be satisfied with him rather than seeking security or comfort elsewhere. 1 Timothy 6: 6-7 says there is great gain in godliness combined with contentment, for we brought nothing into the world, so that we can take nothing out of it. Psalms 37: 16 also says better is a little that the righteous person has than the abundance of many wicked.
We are consumed by insatiable greed because we do not know our creator. We read from Proverbs 15: 16 better is a little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure and trouble with it. We further read from Proverbs 16: 8 better is a little with righteousness than a large income with injustice. Our perfect God knows our needs and gives us our needs not our wants which could destroy us.
God has already made provision for us to complement our weaknesses with his sufficient grace in Christ Jesus. Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 12: 9 but he (Jesus) said to me, my grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness. The world does not belong to any other authority or being but God who is the only true light. John 8: 32 says and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.
What is the truth?
The truth is what God says. May we know the truth of God through his only begotten Son our Lord and Saviour, Christ Jesus by whose blood we will be redeemed and restored to the Father in heaven. Let us submit to his will and pleasure to his glory and honour in Christ Jesus.
Prayer
Dear Lord Jesus, we acknowledge you as the final authority in creation. Our lives are yours and you do whatever you will with us like water in your hands. It is upon you we depend therefore to preserve us in your love and mercy that we may be pleasing in your sight always as worthy servants. We pray in your holy name, Amen!!
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