Materialistic Stains, expounded

So, I opened up discussion about being stained by the world in the area of Materialism. This is a tricky one to address, as all North Americans have been born into a culture which thrives on excess. We can't dwell in guilt for having been born into this nation while so many are born into poverty...God is sovereign, and has a sovereign purpose for placing people where He does. But, we honor the Lord by considering how to be stewards of what we've been given, and we worship Him by being cautious to remain unstained by the materialistic mindset of our culture.

HOW?

1. Let's consider the things we think we "need". Luke 12 gives an account of Christ speaking about this sort of thing. You know it, I know you do. He talks of ravens and the grass of the fields. He speaks of earthly treasures and how our heart is shown in what we deem valuable. He speaks of faith, and reminds us of how much more valuable we are to God than the birds of the air or the flowers of the field.

-Do you daily recognize the abundance you live in?
-Do you know that you have far more than you could ever need?
-Do you daily acknowledge that all of it belongs to the Lord?
-Do you gladly give first to the work of the Church or do you give whatever is left over after you pay your bills and buy that thing you've been waiting to get?
-Do you store up for yourself, or do you trust the Lord for His provision, and pray about ways you can use your abundance to bless others?
-Are you entrenched in home decorating, the latest finds, the cutest and best for your baby, or the best way to maximize your retirement dollars?
-DO YOU REALLY NEED THOSE THINGS?


2. Let's consider the things we think we have a "right" to.

North Americans have a perspective that we have a right to certain things...like a home, heat, food, clothes, education, a steady income, health care and a secure retirement plan. In our society, we have been taught that those things are the "right" of the people in the land of the free.

Consider how the Bible often deems "riches" with a negative. In the parable of the seeds sown into different soils, (Mark 19), Jesus speaks of the worries of the world and riches being deceitful, and the desire for other things coming in and choking out the Word, making it unfruitful.

That's pretty clear.

Do you want the Word to be choked out of your life? Do you wish to be unfruitful?

The Lord knows what we need, and is faithful to supply our needs. Consider the Bond-servant...no right to anything, but a willingness to serve his master completely and forever. Nothing is his own except his eternal reward. The bond-servant has no earthly riches, but his needs are provided for, and he gladly serves.

I think that is a picture of what we are called to be as true disciples. Our hearts are to be concerned with serving in gladness, our wealth, our abilities and our time to be used for giving, our hope to be in our eternal reward not earthly treasures. Our focus is not to be on the latest and greatest, but on the least and the lowest. Our sovereign placement in a rich society is to be used for His purposes in advancing His Kingdom. Our heart bent is to trust, obey and to love through sacrificial servant-hood.

Our undefiled worship is in remaining unstained in this materialistic world, as we share Christ with the people who make it and like it that way.