Psalm 24:1-2 tells us, “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it; for he founded it on the seas and established it on the waters.”

Have you ever really stopped to think about that? The earth and everything in it and everyone on it ultimately belongs to God.

Yet, we walk around like it belongs to us. The world belongs to us. Everything in it and on it belongs to us. We even think that we belong to us.

I think that is why Jesus said in Luke 14:33, “In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples.” To be a disciple – a student, learner, follower of Christ, you have to make Him the most important thing in your life. You have to choose Him over anything and everything. You have to quit trying to own everything.

In a famous story dubbed “The Rich Young Ruler,” Jesus told this wealthy man that he had to be willing to sell all his possessions to follow him. It is said that the young man walked away dejected because he was very wealthy and he wasn’t willing to make Jesus more important than his wealth.

Now, does this really mean that Jesus literally wants us all to have nothing? No. It is both rabbinic hyperbole and a challenge to adopt a certain mindset. You see, rabbis often used hyperbole, speaking in extremes, to make a point. What was Jesus’ point in saying this? First, He wants to be number one in your life. Second, He wants us to adopt the mindset that we don’t own anything; to recognize that everything really belongs to God.

God owns the world. It is all His. We are merely stewards, caretakers, borrowers. We have to remember that and hold onto everything and everyone with open hands. We need to stop grasping and holding tightly to anything of this world.

In the story of Job, he declares that the Lord gives and the Lord takes away. He says this after he has just lost everything – his family, his wealth, his health. Yet, he still acknowledged that it all belonged to God and just as God had chosen to give it to him, God had also chosen to take it away. In the midst of his grief, he still maintained a heavenly mindset.

I used to hate the idea that God gives and takes away. Probably because I didn’t like the idea of losing anything. But, I finally realized something and it clicked for me.

God gives us abilities, people, prosperity, resources, talents, time, and on and on, in order to bless us and benefit us as we become who He wants us to be, and progress down His path, and further His kingdom, and point the way to Him, and bring Him glory.

It is a circular, mutual benefit. When it stops benefitting us or when it stops benefitting Him, He takes it away.

That’s another reason we need to hold everything with open hands. As soon as it becomes more important than God, as soon as it becomes a distraction away from what God wants, as soon as it becomes an idol of any sort, then it needs to go away. And, often, the one thing that you hold onto tightest, the one thing that you aren’t willing to give up, is going to be the one thing you need to loosen your grasp, and, probably, the one thing that you will be called to give up.

That’s a harsh thought, isn’t it? But, the reality is that living with open hands enables us to live with an open heart and a fearless faith. Fearless, because it takes away our worry. It keeps things really simple. It narrows everything down to living for Jesus.

In Matthew 6, Jesus tells us not to worry about anything, not even our most basic needs. God made us. He knows what we need. He wants to take care of us, but only if we look to Him. In verse 33, Jesus says that we must seek first His kingdom and His righteousness and then He will give us everything that we need.

Are you seeking Him first? Are you pursuing Him? Are you desiring Him?

Look for His will, purpose, and plan. Submit yourself to His authority. Enter into relationship with Him and be open to transformation. Then He will take care of everything else.

Open hands doesn’t mean we reject everything or we don’t care about anything. It doesn’t mean we don’t want, wish, desire, or dream. It doesn’t mean we shouldn’t have nice things or enjoy the bonuses in life.

Living with open hands simply means we hold it all with the understanding that it’s not really ours; with the attitude and willingness to let it all go, if called upon.

Be willing to give up everything.

Desire God more than anything else.

Remember why He gave you all that you have and hold it all with open hands.

It doesn’t really belong to you anyway.