Day 21 - Since It All Belongs To Him...
- Pastor b.Side
- May 20
- 3 min read
For “The earth [is] the LORD's, and all its fullness.” - 1 Corinthians 10:26
When it comes to following Jesus, there is a critical step that all true Christians must take. We must first deny ourselves. We need to die to our flesh – our personal ambitions, affections, and desires that compete with God’s eternal and spiritual purposes. By dying to ourselves, we can then follow Jesus, who, when He died to Himself, focused on the spiritual needs of others. That was the point the Apostle Paul aimed to convey in 1 Corinthians 10:26. The overall context of that passage focuses on how true Christians can bring glory to God by following Jesus, which means dying to “self” for the spiritual benefit of others. Paul illustrated what this looks like in practical terms by referencing the Old Testament scriptures as his basis.
“The earth is the LORD’s…”
This excerpt from 1 Corinthians 10:26 is a quotation from Psalm 24:1. Paul wasn’t stating anything new. He was simply agreeing with statements God previously made. That entire psalm refers to the supremacy of God’s authority and majesty. Psalm 24 begins by establishing God as the Creator and Sustainer of everything on Planet Earth. It ends by exalting God even further by calling Him “the King of glory.” It’s true that the LORD owns Earth as the Creator. However, the bigger emphasis is that the glory of His authority keeps Him exalted above all things. This is a quality of authority that can’t be measured, demonstrating God’s transcendence.
“And all its fullness…”
God is in constant control of every element on our planet, encompassing both visible and invisible aspects. Paul quoted this verse to encourage the church to prioritize the well-being of others over their personal preferences, using food as an illustration to support his point. He urged the church in Corinth to eat whatever was sold without worrying about its origin or prior use. Why? Ultimately, it all comes from the LORD. While Christians may have personal convictions regarding our relationship with material things in this world, we should not be dogmatic about these matters, especially at the expense of someone else’s spiritual growth.
Knowing that everything belongs to God, we should remember that He always intends to produce good results through every aspect of His creation. Rather than scrutinizing trivial things, we should prioritize yielding to the convictions of the Spirit, considering the spiritual needs of others, and how we can use what God has entrusted to us for their eternal benefit. After all, that’s what the King of Glory did. He took what was used for corrupt purposes – flesh and blood – and used it as an instrument of righteousness to save souls from sin, death, and hell as Jesus Christ! That’s how God exercises His transcendence to express His goodness.
Prayer for today
Our heavenly Father, thank You for providing us with the perfect example of goodness and righteousness through the testimony of Your Son. Help us to remember that everything belongs to You and should be used for Your glory, which requires our focus on the work of the Gospel. Enable us to be doers of Your Word and not merely hearers, in Jesus’ name. Amen.
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