Will there be private ownership in heaven?

One Christian author categorically states "people won't own anything in heaven." He believes this will assure our equality.

But what about the different "dwelling places" believers will have in heaven (Luke 16:4,9)? What about the treasures Christ commanded us to store up "for ourselves" in heaven (Matt. 6:20)? What about the different crowns and rewards God will hand out according to our works (2 Cor. 5:10)? What about the fact that we have an "inheritance" that will be given us in heaven (Col. 3:24)? Doesn't the word "inheritance" mean something tangible that will belong to us?

Will one believer's crown be as much mine as it is his? Of course not. What about the white stone God promises to give to overcomers, with our new name written on it, a name no one else will know (Revelation 2:17)? Will you and I have equal possession of those stones or names? No. The one God gives you will be yours, not mine. The one he gives me—if I'm an overcomer—will be mine, not yours. Is this ownership wrong or selfish? Of course not. Ownership is never wrong when it's God distributing to us possessions he wants us to own!

Heaven is not a socialist utopia in which private ownership is evil. Materialism, greed, envy, and selfishness are sins—ownership is not.

Our different personalities, rewards, positions, and names in heaven not only speak of our individuality, but of how God, who loves us all, finds unique reasons to love us. I love my wife and daughters, but I love different things about each.

Of course, God is the ultimate owner of all things. He owns not only all of heaven, but everything on earth (Deut. 10:14; 1 Chron. 29:11-12), including the land (Lev. 25:23), the animals (Ps. 50:10-12), and all wealth in the possession of people (Hag. 2:8). He owns not only all things but all people (Ps. 24:1). He owns our very bodies (1 Cor. 6:19-20).

So what is "ours" is ultimately God's, including whatever he gives to us. But that is every bit as true here on earth as it is in heaven. And the fact that God owns whatever is "mine" does not mean there is no distinction between what I own and what others own. The early Christians generously regarded their possessions as not just for them, but for others, and shared them generously (Acts 2:44-45; Acts 4:32-35). But this did not negate private ownership. Peter told Ananias that his property belonged to him before he sold it, and the money belonged to him after he sold it (Acts 5:4). His sin was in claiming to give to God and others what he secretly kept. While in heaven we will no doubt delight in sharing our treasures with others, they will still be our treasures, generously given to us by God.

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Luke 16:4,9

“Ah, I know how to ensure that I’ll have plenty of friends who will give me a home when I am fired.” . . . “Here’s the lesson: Use your worldly resources to benefit others and make friends. Then, when your earthly possessions are gone, they will welcome you to an eternal home.” 

Matthew 6:20 

“Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal.” 

2 Corinthians 5:10

“For we must all stand before Christ to be judged. We will each receive whatever we deserve for the good or evil we have done in this earthly body.” 

Colossians 3:24

“Remember that the Lord will give you an inheritance as your reward, and that the Master you are serving is Christ.” 

Revelation 2:17

“Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches. To everyone who is victorious I will give some of the manna that has been hidden away in heaven. And I will give to each one a white stone, and on the stone will be engraved a new name that no one understands except the one who receives it.” 

Deuteronomy 10:14

“Look, the highest heavens and the earth and everything in it all belong to the Lord your God.” 

1 Chronicles 29:11-12

“Yours, O Lord, is the greatness, the power, the glory, the victory, and the majesty. Everything in the heavens and on earth is yours, O Lord, and this is your kingdom. We adore you as the one who is over all things.  Wealth and honor come from you alone, for you rule over everything. Power and might are in your hand, and at your discretion people are made great and given strength.” 

Leviticus 25:23

“The land must never be sold on a permanent basis, for the land belongs to me. You are only foreigners and tenant farmers working for me.” 

Psalm 50:10-12

“For all the animals of the forest are mine, and I own the cattle on a thousand hills.  I know every bird on the mountains, and all the animals of the field are mine.
If I were hungry, I would not tell you, for all the world is mine and everything in it.”

Haggai 2:8

“The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.” 

Psalm 24:1

“The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it.  The world and all its people belong to him.” 

1 Corinthians 6:19-20

“Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.” 

Acts 2:44-45

 “And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need.” 

Acts 4:32-35

“All the believers were united in heart and mind. And they felt that what they owned was not their own, so they shared everything they had.  The apostles testified powerfully to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and God’s great blessing was upon them all. There were no needy people among them, because those who owned land or houses would sell them and bring the money to the apostles to give to those in need.” 

Acts 5:4

“The property was yours to sell or not sell, as you wished. And after selling it, the money was also yours to give away. How could you do a thing like this? You weren’t lying to us but to God!” 

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By Randy Alcorn
Eternal Perspective Ministries
39085 Pioneer Blvd.   Suite 206
Sandy, OR 97055
(503) 668-5200
www.epm.org
www.randyalcorn.blogspot.com