We hold the world together because we care

“God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by his Son, whom he has appointed heir of all things, through whom also he made the worlds; who being the brightness of his glory and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high” (Hebrews 1:1-3 NKJV).

On a bill-board just outside the international airport in Dhaka, Bangladesh is the following proud boast: “We hold the world together because we care.” The company making this claim is a manufacturer of zippers.

On first reading this I chuckled and applauded the company’s clever allusion to the nature of its product.

Zippers are indeed used worldwide to hold things together. Further reflection however caused me some serious points of contention.

First, I question any commercial company’s claim to be doing business because they are so concerned about their customers’ well-being. For-profit corporations are in business for profit. They want to and must make money and that need / desire dominates virtually all decisions and activities. That is just the nature of the enterprise. Yes, they may be compassionate and show concern for the environment, humanity or other entities, but they are in the business of making money.

More importantly however, zippers don’t really hold the world together. I know the company was being cute and not seriously making that bold of a claim. However, it is easy for any person or organization to develop a magnified sense of their own worth. A company can grow large enough, and its products be popular enough, that it feels a sense of entitlement and importance far out of proportion to reality.

It is not an accident that the first requirement to a real personal relationship with God is humility. “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble” (1 Peter 5:5). “Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord and he will lift you up” (James 4:10). Whereas the world wants to exalt self and claim great importance, people of faith recognize that only God is great. We are his servants. Jesus taught, “So likewise you, when you have done all those things which you are commanded, say, ‘We are unprofitable servants. We have done what was our duty to do'” (Luke 17:10).

Hebrews 1 makes a legitimate claim about holding the world together. Jesus, the Son of God, created all things and upholds them by the word of his power. And he really does hold it together because he cares. “For God so loved the world…” (John 3:16) explains all of his gracious gifts including but not limited to Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross.

The most powerful and useful fastener ever developed is not a button, zipper, snap, or hook. It is love. The love of God sustains the created universe. Our love for him and for one another builds relationships, empowers families, and provides motivation for all of our productive activities.

Zippers are indeed used worldwide to hold things together.

“Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing” (1 Corinthians 13:1-3).

— by Michael E. Brooks

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