All That Is Mine Is Yours

He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you.

John 16:14

Sometimes when you listen to Bible teachers today, you get the idea that there is to be a kind of Jesus-oriented Bible teaching with which we begin the Christian life but that as we mature we are to move on to Spirit-oriented truth, to recognize that the sign of maturity is to be concerned no longer with Jesus but with the Spirit. Nothing could be further from the truth! The work of the Spirit is to glorify Jesus. The Spirit-filled life is the life in which Jesus is central. And the one who matures is the one who grows deeper in an understanding of Jesus.

How encompassing is this range of teaching? All, Jesus tells us. All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will take from what is mine and make it known to you (John 16:15).

A young man asked me the other day, Is it right for a Christian to study secular subjects that have nothing to do with the Bible?

My answer was, Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 3, All things are yours, and you are of Christ; and Christ is of God (1 Corinthians 3:21-23). And Paul, speaking of Jesus Christ, tells us in Colossians 2, In him are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. (Colossian 2:3). As you investigate any realm of science or knowledge, if you do so in reliance upon the indwelling life of Jesus and the teaching of the Spirit of God, He will open that branch of truth to you.

George Washington Carver was born a slave, but he managed to get an education as a scientist. He said that the hunger of his heart was to discover the secrets of the universe. But, he said, God said to me, George, that's too big for you. I've got something more your size. You take a peanut and work on that. And so he began to investigate what God has hidden in a peanut. He found over 330 different products that could be made from the peanut, revolutionizing the technology of his day. But he always remained a simple, Bible-believing servant of God who relied upon Him to open his mind to truth. That is what Jesus means. All that belongs to the Father is mine, and it will be made available to you through the Spirit.

Lord, thank You that You would share with me all that the Father has. Teach me to listen to what Your Spirit is saying to me through Your Word.