18 Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you thinks that he is wise in this age, he must become foolish, so that he may become wise.
19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness before God. For it is written, “He is THE ONE WHO CATCHES THE WISE IN THEIR CRAFTINESS”;
20 and again, “THE LORD KNOWS THE REASONINGS of the wise, THAT THEY ARE USELESS.”
21 So then let no one boast in men. For all things belong to you,
22 whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or things present or things to come; all things belong to you,
23 and you belong to Christ; and Christ belongs to God.” 1 Corinthians 3:16-23.
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Today, we will focus on the statement: “all things belong to you”.
First, there is the comfort of its inclusion in Scripture. It is the truth, and we can rely on it. But, there is more.
Second, there is the comfort that this statement is repeated in verses 21 and 22. We can rely on the truth of a statement made only once in Scripture. But, when a statement is repeated, that repetition is made for the purpose of emphasizing it, and we should accordingly pay greater attention to it and rely on it more.
Third, there is the comfort of the logic. “He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?” Romans 8:32. Likewise, because we belong to Christ, and Christ belongs to God, all things belong to us.
Fourth, we know that God loves us. If God so loves us, “how will He not also … freely give us all things?” “For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:38-39.
Fifth, we know that God considers His children. If God considers us His children, “how much more will your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him!” “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. Or what man is there among you who, when his son asks for a loaf, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, he will not give him a snake, will he? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him!” Matthew 7:7-11.
The Heidelberg Catechism must have considered the importance of “all things belong to you” in considering this truth in its very first Question and Answer.
Question 1. What is thy only comfort in life and death?
Answer. That I with body and soul, both in life and death, am not my own, but belong unto my faithful Savior Jesus Christ; who, with his precious blood, hath fully satisfied for all my sins, and delivered me from all the power of the devil; and so preserves me that without the will of my heavenly Father, not a hair can fall from my head; yea, that all things must be subservient to my salvation, and therefore, by his Holy Spirit, he also assures me of eternal life, and makes me sincerely willing and ready, henceforth, to live unto him.
How then should we live our lives?
Joyfully and confidently like children! Children may not see all things belong to them, but they show that they believe it. They know somehow that food, clothes, and shelter are provided to them. They know they have a father who will provide all good things to them. They don’t feel the need to carry a wallet or purse. They don’t worry. They are not anxious. They play joyfully and confidently which shows that like the righteous, they live by faith.
“For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they? And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life? And why are you worried about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin, yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith! Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?’ For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” Matthew 6:25-33.
Luke 12:32
“Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has chosen gladly to give you the kingdom.”
Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions 