For every beast of the forest is Mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills. I know all the birds of the mountains, and the wild beasts of the field are Mine. (Psalm 50:10-11)
It is far too easy for us, in our pursuit of prosperity and contentment, to think that whatever we attain in life is due to our efforts alone. Certainly, hard work and perseverance matters; laziness and apathy seldom reaps a bounty. But to consider that we, unassisted and in our own strength, are responsible for our blessing and prosperity is to ignore the goodness and beneficence of God. As it is written, “It is the Lord who gives you power to get wealth” (Deuteronomy 8:18). Therefore, if we are fortunate enough to attain a level of prosperity that allows us to provide adequately for our families, we should gratefully acknowledge our Benefactor — the Creator of all things.
As is acknowledged in the verses above, everything belongs to Him. It is true that all the resources He provides in the earth were given to aid us in our journey through this life for this reason — above all others, man is the gem of His creation. That being said, He reminds us that nothing we possess — whether lands, herds or flocks — truly belongs to us. All that we consider as “mine” is given to us that we might live, and ultimately serve Him. For that matter, He reminds us that even those created things we don’t possess — the wild beasts of the field — belong to Him. To think otherwise is to fall into the trap of self deceit which typically leads to tragedy. It is as Lincoln once said of the nation: “We have vainly imagined, in the deceitfulness of our own hearts, that all these blessings were produced by some superior wisdom and virtue of our own.”
If every beast of the forest, every wild beast of the field and bird of the air belongs to Him, then it stands to reason that we, as created beings, are to be subject to His sovereignty and ownership as well. True, far too many have determined to break away from their Creator and strike out on their own at their own peril. But those who have committed to follow and serve Him must remember that we are not our own; we were bought with a price (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). As followers of Messiah, we have pledged to live the life of a bondservant, and as such, we are responsible to serve His Will. So with all things, whether the blessings He bestows upon us or the blessing of life itself, we must remember — nothing is mine; all belongs to Him.
Blessings and Shalom,
Bill
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