Children of God are also suffocating under the weight of too
much. Our intentions initially are good – to provide the best we could for our
families like good Christians should. But we too fall into the guilt-trap of clever
marketing tactics that cause us to feel “less than” if we don‘t keep up with the
“Christian Jones’” in the next pew, and soon our buying/hoarding addictions are
out-of-control and we can’t seem to quit.
Our homes are crammed to the rafters with items our families
do not need or use; cars live on the street or in driveways year-round to leave
garages free for our “extras”; and we pay for additional space in private storage
units. Still, from now through the end of the year, we will be among the masses
at shopping malls or online adding even more stuff to our already crammed
spaces. On and on we go refusing to admit that physically, mentally, and
spiritually we are exhausted and barely hanging on financially.
In Luke 12 Jesus
tells the parable of a farmer who keeps tearing down and extending the size of
his barns to hold more and more so that one day he could “Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.” In the story God Himself calls him a rich fool who would die in the night with
no warning and leave everything behind for someone he doesn’t even know. Jesus
tells us that the lesson we are to learn here is, “This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but
is not rich toward God.”
To have an abundance of worldly possessions but little peace
and joy is totally opposite from how a child of God should live. It displeases
God when wealth has greater significance in the life of a child of God than God
Himself – to worship the created more than the Creator is idolatry. “I am the Lord your God”… “You shall have no
other gods before me.” Exodus 20:
2-4
Isaiah 54 and 55
tells of Israel making idols of gold, silver and wood to worship instead of their
Creator. God warned them that their behavior was depraved disobedience and the
consequences would be harsh. But because God is forgiving and gracious to His chosen
people He told Israel exactly what to do restore the relationship with Him and enjoy
His favor again. “Come, all you who are
thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat!...Why
spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen,
listen to me, and eat what is good, and you will delight in the richest of
fare. Give ear and come to me;
listen, that you may live.” Isaiah 55: 1-3
If God’s children are as consumed by our possessions and our
pursuit of them as the rest of the world, how can we fulfill our purpose as God’s
light in a world of darkness? How can
we be effective in helping the broken-hearted to heal and the hopeless to know
the joy of the LORD?
We must learn “the
secret of being content in any and every situation.” Philippians 4:12 - a lifestyle of self-denial that makes us look odd to the world, as we ought to be; light
and darkness have nothing in common. “Come out from (among) them and be separate” 2 Corinthians 6:17.
To be continued…
Prayer and
Thanksgiving: Holy Father, Jehovah-Jireh, the LORD who will provide, the
LORD who is the same yesterday, today and forever. Thank you grace and mercy
and not giving us what we deserve when we put idols before you. Teach us not to
lust and covet after what does not remain; help us to remember that wealth and
possessions are not the cure for our brokenness and wounded spirits, that only
the Good Shepherd, the Prince of Peace can fix our lives and make us whole.
Thank you for your Word that is alive and gives life and hope. To you, Father,
be dominion and power for ever and ever. We pray and ask all in Jesus’ name.
Amen.
Always by God’s Word and prayer,
Cecile
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