We Own Nothing, Job 1:21amp
Job 1:21 AMP
[21] He said, “Naked (without possessions) I came [into this world] from my mother’s womb, And naked I will return there. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; Blessed be the name of the Lord.”
I love this passage because it is a gentle but direct reminder that we own nothing. You own nothing. You came into this world without anything and that’s exactly what you leave this world with: nothing. So, why do we work so hard to accumulate wealth or possessions? The author of Ecclesiastes already told us that everything is meaningless. Here Job says the same thing except this is more direct. It is the Lord that gives, and the Lord that can take away. Let me put it the way Vader would say it: You are insignificant to the power of the Holy Spirit. However, because He is a compassionate God, He allows us to have things that give us enjoyment during our short time on this planet (Read Ecclesiastes). It is a mad blessing to have whatever possessions you may have. It is the Lord that has blessed you and no one else. It is the Lord that has blessed you with life everyday so far and no one else. This is why we give back to the Lord and to the body of Christ because it belongs to Him in the first place. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 says, Rejoice always, 17 pray continually, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. This really puts Job 1:21 into perspective. Always rejoice because the Lord has blessed you and kept you. Pray continuously that He will give you the strength to get through every day and that you would stay humble amidst His many blessings. Not only give thanks in all circumstances but give thanks for everything that HE has given to you because without Him you would have nothing.
This passage defines one of my grandmother’s favorite sayings: I’ve never seen a hearse pulling a u-haul.
That being said, whatever you need He will provide and whatever you think you need or want trust me you don’t. It’s not that big of a deal. You can’t take it with you anyway. The only thing you need is Jesus and He is everything. Furthermore, if or when you are called home not only is He the only thing you can take with you, if you have Him, He’s already waiting for you where you’re going, to welcome you home.
#prodigalpastor #devotional #possessions #world #hearse #home #Lord #need
ReplyDeleteGreat devotional. I am a person who is content with what I have. There are things I like to have from time to time, but I am not one to actively search for the next best thing. I am also a man who is always curious as to why people want to hold onto all the possessions when a loved one passes. My mom passed in Dec 2020. I kept a couple of items that remind me of her, but my Dad and I got rid of the rest.
The only thing I want to hold onto is of things above, not things below.
Amen brother!
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