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You've likely been dismayed to hear the crazy news stories of families who have left their homes for a period of time, only to return and discover that squatters have broken in and taken over their homes.  Even more dismaying is the fact that squatters often possess more legal protections than the actual homeowners.  Law-abiding citizens have been devastated by the actions of law-breaking criminals, who gleefully cash in on our broken judicial systems.

Those news stories remind us of the travesties that occur when someone claims rights over something that someone else owns. However, while the unbelieving world along with many Christians might collectively position themselves in the former category of law-abiding citizens, they often simultaneously claim squatters' rights in their own lives. Consider the following declarations:

  • "No one is going to tell me how to live my life."
  • "I have the right to marry any person that I choose."
  • "I decide what's right for me and my family."

Scripture is abundantly clear that we have been created by God for His purposes, for His good pleasure, and for His glory.  We simply do not possess the legal authority to claim that our lives belong to us, in order to live our lives the way we desire.  And as if God needed more legal titleship to our lives, we know that we who are Christians have been called, have been chosen, have been redeemed, and have been forgiven by the same God.  It is undeniable that we belong to our Creator.

Yet there are many Christians who have chosen to commandeer their own lives in a worldly fashion, in spite of this clear biblical truth.  1 Corinthians 6:19-20 reads "Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God?  You are not your own; you were bought at a price.  Therefore honor God with your bodies."  As if we needed even more evidence that our Lord is our legal owner, the apostle Paul writes that we are indwelled by the Holy Spirit. 

Christians cannot claim self-ownership in order to pursue happiness, self-actualization, or any human endeavors.  Many have listened to the promises of the "prosperity gospel" (which is no gospel at all) that promotes self above God.  Prosperity preachers will tell you that it's all about your destiny, your breakthrough, your comeback, your victory, your achievements; it's all about you.  Only when we understand and follow scripture do we take our eyes off of ourselves and onto our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  Only then we will understand that our God-given purpose is far greater than anything we can conjure on our own.

Let us be reminded today and every day, that our salvation has been purchased by the precious blood of Jesus.  Don't claim ownership over that which you don't own.  We belong to a God who loves us more than we can possibly imagine!