All Encompassing (Irreducible Complex part 2)
"And He said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth." (Luke 12:15)
Life
God is the ultimate giver. When you think about it, if you believe He created you, it should follow that He intends to outfit you throughout your life. He gives life. He sustains it. With reference to stuff though, I think it's a blessing that the things we own wear down, break down and fail. And with certain objects and possessions, it's a sort-of comfort to know we can fix them should need be. Maybe not a car, but certainly a bicycle? Maybe we can't fix our computer on our own, but it certainly makes for praise and adulation and respect toward the one who can. We can live with one kidney and one lung—and one heart. There are things, however, that we must, must, care for and learn how to maintain because God gives us one. We get one chance to get it right and barring some sort of supernatural miracle (God's good for it, just so you know), it's not likely we'll get a chance to do it over.
Breath
"In that day, he which shall be upon the housetop, and his stuff in the house, let him not come down to take it away..." (Luke 17:31a)
Who knows what time it is. In the grand scheme of things, it would seem it's later than we know. Things are falling apart for lack of care and we're caught in the middle for better or worse. Infrastructure in some parts of America is in such a sad state that it's a miracle we're still able to live the way we're accustomed, let alone unaware of it. I don't fully understand all the issues surrounding Global Warming but I do know that the amount of plastic in our oceans is appalling and execrable. All this aside, it's certainly not a time to be worrying, nor is it a time for a misplaced reveling that doesn't look at a grander picture. And as Christians, there is a greater picture than just the ground on which we live and walk. Pan out.
"But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out." (1 Timothy 6:6-7)
But it doesn't mean we don't care for the things we already have. How can we move on (and not just to Heaven) unless we meet and complete the requirements God has laid out for us now? What do you think those who have invested their lives in the care and concern for a habitable habitation (i.e. Earth) think of Christians who couldn't care less for the world, whether God created it or not?
"That which has been is now; and that which is to be hath already been; and God requireth that which is past." (Ecclesiastes 3:15, emphasis mine)
All things
"He giveth to all life, breath, and all things." (Acts 17:25)
Boil it down. Give all those things that God gave (including life and breath) back to Him. No, this doesn't mean you pull a loaded-to-the-gills moving van up to your local shelter and donate your whole life. It means to consciously look at what we have and see it as something that leads back to "Our Father who art in Heaven". If you can't see it as such, maybe there's someone else out there who can? The Holy Spirit will let you know who to give it to. Everyone acting in concert, following God's leading for their lives as it pertains to possessions, will change the world.
"All things are delivered to me of my Father: and no man knoweth who the Son is, but the Father; and who the Father is, but the Son, and he to whom the Son will reveal Him. And He turned Him unto His disciples, and said privately, Blessed are the eyes which see the things that ye see:" (Luke 10:22-23)
See, Jesus is our greatest possession. And yet, we belong to Him. How does this work?
