Luke 4: 5-8 Satan Uses His “Stuff” To Tempt Jesus.

5Then the devil took him up and revealed to him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. 6“I will give you the glory of these kingdoms and authority over them,” the devil said, “because they are mine to give to anyone I please. 7I will give it all to you if you will worship me.”

8Jesus replied, “The Scriptures say, ‘You must worship the LORD your God and serve only him.’^c”

“because they are mine to give to anyone I please.” Really, Satan can give the kingdoms of the world and their authority to anyone Satan wants. The world suddenly becomes a very scary place if you think that is true. Of course in another place Jesus refers to Satan as “a liar and the father of lies.” But look at Jesus’ response. He doesn’t argue that these kingdoms aren’t Satan’s to give. He does NOT accuse Satan of lying.

So what does that mean to me? I look around at all the “stuff” I own and wonder, what of it came from Satan? What did I do for him to give it to me? I’m likely going to far here because I do believe God blesses us, but perhaps all of this “stuff” is not really a blessing at all. Perhaps what I own is a trap set by Satan…or worse yet, a reward for worshipping him is some convoluted way. How can I know?

My only thought is that if in my heart I truly give all I have over to God for him to use it as he sees fit, then my future is secure. Not secure as in financially, and the future I’m thinking of may not be this short time between today and the last day of my earthly life, but I can be sure my real future is really secure.

I know that giving all I have to God is a lifelong process, and I know that avoiding worshipping Satan in all the false forms he takes in this world is also a constant struggle. If God took all I had and used for his Kingdom in some way I didn’t understand, would I be upset? I don’t know. I hope my motto would be Job’s : “The Lord giveth, and the Lord taketh away. Praise be the name of the Lord.”

Lord, help me to always see the traps of Satan. Help me to see the riches of the world as tools Satan can use to make me fall. Help my to always worship you by having the courage to truly give all I have in this life to you and trust you completely with my future, both in this life, and in my eternity with you.