So help me God.. to put my faith in You..

Materialism

What a dirty word, imposing guilt on those who indeed live comfortably. "Why should I feel guilty? I certainly have a lot less than Jo Blo across the street, and I still give away twice as much as he does." Thus, taking offense to the guilt we feel, we disregard any notion that we might indeed have a problem.

Our focus, however, must not be on feeling guilty over affluence, but rather on our attitude toward it.

Should we as Christians live in poverty? Certainly if a vow of poverty made us godly, then the vast majority of those living in slums, even those who do not know Jesus, would be more righteous than any affluent Christian. No, having money does not make you unspiritual, nor does being poor increase your status before God (K.P. Yohanan, sermon: "Christ's Call: Follow My Footsteps").

Why then is materialism a big deal at all? It is a big deal because it affects our usefulness for God's kingdom here on earth. So long as the cross of Christ comes second to our own comfort, the furtherance of the gospel will be hindered.

So let me ask: if God asked you to part with your home, your vehicle, to indeed sacrifice in order to support His work; if God asked you to leave your homeland and live in a foreign country; if God asked you to die tomorrow for His name's sake ... would you? Would your attitude toward your affluence enable you to obey even to that degree? Or would you instead, having many possessions, turn and sadly walk away from Christ (cf. Matt. 19:16-22)? On what values, or valuables, do you set your mind?

Brethren, join in following my example, and not those who so walk, as you have us for a pattern. For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame--who set their mind on earthly things. For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself. ~Phil. 3:17-21

posted by D-Rock @ 10:23 PM