Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” Luke 2:13-14

If we want to live on this Earth in peace and harmony, we must recognize all things, including the air, wind, sun, matter, health, and possessions do not solely belong to us: they are collectively-owned by all living things. If we live with this frame of mind, our anxieties, restlessness, and uneasiness will dissipate, and we will experience genuine peace and harmony. Before reaching this state, we can mistakenly think having and using more will fill us with peace. However, this desire for “more and more” causes angst, misery, and underhandedness.

Think to yourself, “Nothing belongs to me. We are all co-owners!” If you are rich and someone else is poor, the dynamics of the relationship are simple: I am nothing more than a steward watching over and safeguarding the possessions of someone who has less than me. Be careful to watch over his or her possessions properly! Only when we are aware of this fact, that we are nothing more than stewards for others, can we treat others the right way. God showers us with His blessings. He feels comfortable giving us more because we are faithful stewards working for others, and we have transcended the notion, “Everything I have is mine!” When we understand this principle, we invest our mind, body, and possessions into the gospel and saving others.

If you are stingy about using your health, possessions, and whatever you consider “belongs” to you, you become lonely. It becomes a solitary and desolate life. If you are feeling lonely, isolated, and empty, think about how you have lived your life. Have you been stingy? Have you forgotten you own nothing, that you are merely a steward for others? Have you forgotten your mind, body, and possessions do not belong to you? If you have, go back and reflect on the root of your loneliness.

In addition to being miserly, you may covet what doesn’t belong to you. So you are stingy with what you have, and you desire what others have. A bad combination! This desire is the root of all pain. Covetousness and agony go hand in hand. Why do people suffer in life? When you earnestly crave for something, it looks beautiful and amazing; however, anxiety and pain ride the coattails of that desire into your heart, and the cravings never stop. More and more! How can I make more money? How can I get more of what that person has? If this becomes the driving force in your life, from that moment on, you form enemies on all fronts. God has a plan for how much we should have. Desiring more only brings pain and suffering. Put everything into God’s hands!

When we disregard these principles and live thinking we own what we own, act miserly, and covet what belongs to others, we create our own hell. We concoct our own solitude, anxiety, and enemies. We are killing ourselves. If you recognize everything you have belongs to others, that we co-own everything, you become peaceful and warmhearted. All worries and anxieties go out the window. Use what you have for the salvation, life, and peace of others! Diligently use what you have for others! Then witness loneliness and pain leaving your life forever.

Summary
1. All things are collectively owned including what belongs to me.
2. We are stewards safeguarding what belongs to others.
3. Loneliness comes when we are stingy with what we have.
4. Pain comes when we covet what others have.
5. We have a responsibility to use all that we have for the salvation of others.

Click for Korean sermon.