“Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” Luke 2:14
We achieve peace of mind once we realize the air, the sun, and all material matter belong to all of us. Even our health and possessions are a part of this collective ownership. We will never escape the rat race, the urgency of always trying to get ahead unless we realize all things are collectively owned. We own nothing. We are holding what we have for God to use as He sees fit. We are mere stewards.
Let’s say I’m rich and this other person is poor. Am I better than this person? Am I more successful and well off? No. I’m nothing more than a steward holding on to what belongs to this other person. I have what belongs to him or her because we collectively own all things! If we get into the mindset that we are responsible for others and holding what belongs to them, we will not hesitate to offer our lives and possessions for that person’s sake. We will use it for the gospel without hesitation.
We get into trouble when we think what belongs to me belongs to me. I do whatever I want with what I have because it’s mine. And when I give to others, it’s out of the goodness of my heart. It’s mine, but I’m giving others a piece of it. This kind of thinking gets us into a whole lot of trouble. When we become stingy with what we think belongs to us and refuse to acknowledge I’m a mere steward holding on to things that belongs to others, we become lonely and isolated. Stingy people are the loneliest people in the world. They have a lot of “stuff” around them, people and things, but they’re lonely. If you feel lonely and isolated, take a look at yourself and how you view your possessions.
And when you have the mindset of “what is mine is mine,” you open yourself up to a whole array of sins. You begin to covet what others have. You become jealous and petty. Why do people suffer? They suffer from aching and wanting things they don’t have. And when you have this frame of mind, you focus on adding to what you think you have. “It’s all mine, and I want more.” More and more. At this stage, you begin to form enemies. You’re lonely. You’re troubled because you’re jealous of others. You make enemies because you’re only goal in life is to make more. This is a recipe for a miserable life.
We can liberate ourselves from this wretched life if we realize everything is collectively owned. The air we breathe, the sunlight hitting our faces, and the water we drink- all of this belongs to everyone. And even my wealth, health, and possessions belong to this collective ownership model. What I have, I’m holding and managing for others. It all belongs to God. When He says to use it, use it. When He says to save it, save it. In the end, none of it belongs to me!
Why do you feel alone? Why is your soul troubled? Why are you in constant competition with the people around you? Take a look at your world view and your view of worldly possessions. A troubled and tortured life starts with this perception that what you have belongs to you and only you. Once you realize everything belongs to God and you are a mere steward, life becomes easier, peaceful, and full of hope.
GOD FIRST 
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