Personal Possessions Or Government Property?

What if each item we claim as our own were marked
 "Kingdom Property--For God's Use Only"?

At first glance it seems extreme for baptized followers of Jesus to think of their personal property as having been totally re-assigned to God's ownership.

Yet most Christians have been taught that very concept all of their lives. We've labeled it "stewardship," meaning we no longer claim ownership of anything, but now see ourselves as trusted managers, or "stewards" of the wealth and property that is totally our Creator's. Using wealth primarily to benefit ourselves would thus be a form of embezzlement.

Having said that, this stewardship concept has never seemed to make much of a difference in how we think of possessions. Our incomes are still thought of as ours, except for the ten percent we may offer to our church or to charities. Our investments and our purchases are still seen as purely personal matters about which we make decisions based on our individual conscience.

But Jesus clearly asks us to think of ourselves and our belongings as now being a part of the "Kingdom (Rule) of Heaven", a worldwide government in which God is supreme owner and Lord of all.

As an example of this, in each of the first three gospels, Jesus states that we must become like children in order to become shareholders in this glorious enterprise. Not only does this mean becoming childlike as in having a dependent, innocent or impressionable disposition, but that in becoming born all over again, we voluntarily give up our claim to adult power, prestige or possessions. God's cause is so great that we consider nothing as being just about us anymore, but about the furtherance of God's will on earth as it is in heaven.

Immediately after each of these stories about Jesus welcoming and blessing children, there is the account of the "rich young ruler" who comes to Jesus to inquire about how to be assured of eternal life. His answer is stunning. If you are serious about gaining stock in the eternal 'Company of Heaven', he says, "Sell what you have and give it to the poor." Give it all up.

Thus whenever we acknowledge God's rule, we surrender all. Kingdom-enlisted men and women, our bodies are a living sacrifice, our finances are no longer our own, our possessions are all marked "Kingdom property." All of them.

Which is actually what we say and what we sing every Sunday, as in "All to Jesus I surrender" or "Take my life, and let it be consecrated, Lord, to thee"--including our silver and our gold, not a mite of which we withhold. Really?

Tell me if I'm wrong, as a part of me wishes were the case, and that I could avoid actually giving up any of the comfort, convenience and privilege of being in the top tier of the wealthiest people on earth.

Kyrie, eleison.
Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.

Here's an opportunity to give as though God really owned everything you have:
https://harvyoder.blogspot.com/2018/05/four-major-obstacles-to-raising-million.html