by Dave Breese

We must consider this question which has long been answered wrongly by almost everyone on earth. That wrong answer has produced untold tragedy and sorrow and continues to bear ruinous results in our present world. For want of ever having considered the proper answer to this question, millions of pitiful souls live their lives in error and consequent despair.

What is that question which is so often answered wrongly? It is a very simple one and it is this—“Who owns you?”

One day, in answer to this question, a foolish poet wrote,

“I am the master of my fate
I am the captain of my soul.”

These words make interesting poetry but very bad theology. Bad theology is one of the most foolish and dangerous commodities on the face of the earth today.

Quite obviously, no one alive can claim to be the master of his own fate or the captain of his own soul. Quite obviously, not one of us caused his existence and none of us lives his life in isolation. There are a thousand factors that impact upon our lives which become the components of our existence. We are not and cannot be the masters of our fate because our very existence was caused and will be consummated by another. Quite obviously, we do not belong to ourselves. The fact, indeed, the great truth of life is that we were created and are owned by another.

The Bible, being our most dependable source of information, tells us, “It is He (God) who hath made us, and not we ourselves” (Psalm 100:3). We, therefore, can know the answer to the question, “Who owns me?” because the Bible says God does. He owns us, first of all, by right of creation. Yes, creation ascribes to God the prior right of ownership from all of us.

Thinking people will also note that God created human life “ex nihilo” out of nothing. The materials for our physical being were not pre-existent. There is, therefore, no prior claim upon us because the materials—no one has a second mortgage on us—we're not furnished by another. He owns us by right of creation and the idea, the capability and the materials were all His. On the basis of creation alone, no person has any right to call his life his own. Virtually all of the difficulties of our world come because man creates a right of existence, prior to God, which is not a right at all. Such men, of course, are profound fools.

We know that we are owned by God also because of the right of purchase. The apostle Paul declares, “For you are bought with a price; therefore, glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's” (1 Corinthians 6:20). In order to make clear this right, Paul says, “You are bought with a price; be not the servants of men” (1 Corinthians 7:23). In another place Paul also says that we are “the purchased possession” (Ephesians 1:14).

So we see that all of the universe belongs to God by right of creation and also because we have been purchased by God from the dreadful bondage of sin. The fact that we are owned by God would, if recognized and practiced, change most things about our society.

The pregnant woman could not demand an abortion based on the argument, “I have a right to make decisions concerning my own body.” No one's body is his or her own. Each person's body belongs to God.

No one would commit suicide saying, “I have a right to end my life because my body is my own.” Suicide is a sin because it destroys a body which is owned by God.

Everyone would strive to be healthy because the body of each person belongs to God. We must not the file the body.

Considering that our bodies belong to God, how then shall we understand life? Is nothing my own?

We will understand life by recognizing that we are simply stewards of our physical bodies. Our bodies are something like rental property that must be turned back to its original owner. The body is, therefore, to be used and not abused. It is to be cared for, but not worshiped. We should respect, but not revere human life.

We must remember also that the ownership of the body reminds is, in fact, that God owns all things. He is the final owner of our money, our houses, our clothes, our possessions in total. This also applies to the total of our relationships. One day we will be carefully judged “according to the things done in the body” (2 Corinthians 5:10).

What shall we do with our bodies? After reminding us that we are bought with a price, the Scripture says, “For you were bought with a price; therefore, glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's” (1 Corinthians 6:20).

How sad that, despite this obvious truth, the world believes so many wrong things about life. “My body belongs to me”—that's a lie. “My body is for pleasure and fulfillment”—that is also a lie. “I can do with my body what I want to because I am the master of today and tomorrow.” This is the prattle of a demented mind.

Think of the difference which would be made in the world if, on every new day, each person said, “Today I will glorify God in my members which belong to him.” Suddenly some good theology would take over in our culture, for we know that bad theology can be fatal.

But, many will ask, “How can I live to the glory of God?” First of all, one must receive Jesus Christ as personal savior. Until a man or woman becomes a Christian, that person is an outlaw from the will of God. They are not simply mistaken, but they are living lives of treason, rebelling against heaven's great purposes. Upon believing, the Christian ceases to be an outlaw and becomes a citizen of heaven, where lives the owner of us all.

Secondly, we start to live to the glory of God when we really want to. This point is marked by commitment to Christ. It is called by the apostle Paul, “presenting your body a living sacrifice” (Romans 12:1).

It is with the body that every person on earth once served sin. It is now with the body that we are invited to serve Christ. The joy that comes from this transition is wonderful beyond description. That joy can begin for you this very day it is. It is called “joy unspeakable” (1 Peter 1:8).

Who owns your body? God does! What do you intend to do about that, starting today?