So...no comments on my last post makes we continue to wonder what y'all think. I had a good conversation with one of my favorite friends yesterday who said, "OK, oh wise one...exactly how do I go about living the way that you said in your blog post?" :)
I replied, "Well since, clearly, I have it all together, let me explain..."
(Actually, I said "Ummm...I don't know".)
Lest my readership think that my "Materialism Expounded" post comes out of a life of pure perfection and complete understanding of the way to live in, but not of, the world, I will share some of my personal struggles with this, and some practical ways I have found to honor the Lord.
1. For many years after I was first married, I felt an intense pressure to present a home that was perfect...perfect in order, perfect in decor, and mature in furnishings. I looked in other people's homes and felt a desire to have the nice things that they had. I was always finding things about my home that did not satisfy me and that I felt needed improving. I devoured Home Decorating shows and magazines.
Eventually, I recognized that the Lord was trying to get my attention. He was showing me that my focus was wrong. As I was growing with Him, my confidence in who I was in Him grew, and my need for the approval of man was dwindling. I recognized that my need for a perfect home had come from a need to look good to my friends. The Lord convicted me of this so much that I quit Home Decor shows etc. cold turkey. What I found was, as I stopped filling my mind with the worldliness of those shows, my urgency to continually improve my home diminished. I began to appreciate what I had, I recognized how blessed I was to have a beautiful house to raise my family, and I began to see my house as a home, not a showpiece. I finally came to realize that the Lord gave us our house to bless others, and not only for ourselves. With that recognition, I can now honor the Lord by sharing our home for meals, for housing, for counseling, and for refuge. What makes our home most beautiful is a spirit of hospitality, not a new rug, a fresh coat of paint or a sweet new set of furniture.
I can truly praise the Lord that He has brought me through this one, and given me victory over this stronghold.
2. We are a Pastoral family. We have 3 children, and we have made our house a home for more than just our immediate family. On a limited income and a tight budget, we often are faced with bills we are unsure how to pay. I have often found myself despairing about how to pay the mortgage, pay for heating etc. , make student loan payments, fill the gas tank, and get groceries for 6+ all at the same time. I was often tempted to withhold my tithe to make it possible to pay something else. Does that sound familiar? I bet it does.
This reflects directly on the scripture I mentioned in my last post about worrying for your next meal etc. I definitely discovered the words of the WORD to be true...worrying did not add a day to my life. Nor did it pay the bills. I also discovered that my pure ingenuity of working out the bills just so did not feel like an act of worship. I could make numbers work out, but I would be bound by my own intellect, and would hold my breath from paycheck to paycheck.
So, I started laying out the bills on the table before me, and praying over them before I paid them. I thanked the Lord for providing me with heat, with electricity, with water, with food. I thanked Him for the money that we earn, and I told Him that I want to be a good steward with it. I thanked Him that He gave me a sound mind to reason with and to think through things with, and I asked for His help as I determined which bills to pay when. And He answered...He helped me to see clearly in what order to pay things. He helped me to worship Him by first setting aside the money for my tithe. I began to see more clearly just how much I had, and how it really was all His.
As I made it a habit to approach my bills in this way, I couldn't believe how the Lord responded. He was faithful to show me how to pay my bills. He was faithful to increase my faith, by working out the numbers for me. He was faithful to give me peace as I saw Him at work. He was faithful to provide surprise funds just when I needed them most. And He was faithful to show me ways to use what I had to bless others, not just pay the bills.
There are still expenses, and there will always be bills. When one comes unexpectedly, I am often tempted to try to figure it out myself, or to worry about it. But God is faithful to remind me what He's already brought me through with this.
So, I hope that those practical applications make some sense and totally reflect God's goodness, as I endeavor to honor the Lord. I have much to learn. I am still affected by our materialistic culture, but I love it when I am convicted and given the opportunity to submit something new to the Lord.
John 8:47 says "Anyone who belongs to God listens gladly to the words of God".
I know that if we listen gladly to His words which tell us that we don't need to worry about things like food or clothing, He will be faithful to show us just how abundantly He can provide not only the supplies, but peace and an increased faith in His ability and desire to provide for u.
3 comments:
Another very "Amen ouch" post... bills and finances are something that Darren and I struggle with so much..and the enemy loves to camp right in the middle of our stuggles.... .we are very aware that we are not doing it right...but our hearts desire is to be better...and to use our money and the handling of it to glorify the Lord...and sing His praises!!! Bills are such a burden...but they don't have to be... the flip side is discipline and that is equally difficult... To not overspend when you have a pile of bills at home that need attention...stop eating out when those bills are waiting to be paid...and buying a new purse isn't a need.... again, your post has challanged me to step up and handle our money, bills and finances in the fashion we are being taught... It's all His anyway... We most likely struggle for a long time to come with what to pay and who get's paid first...and someone will be waiting...and that's ok...we are a work in progress and your thoughts and idea's you shared are very helpful...and again, give me more to ponder ....Thanks Elizabeth!!!
I just read the last few posts- I loved them. Sorry I wasn't able to respond earlier, Luke and I have been traveling to a funeral this past week.
I see so much wealth around me all the time in DC. We have amabasador's mansions and congressional building that must cost millions to heat/cool a year. Then we have hungry kids and irresponsible parents who spend their money on a wide screen TV and cable and then come to emergency food banks for food.
I learned from watching this sceniero that materialism is an addiction just as strong as drugs can be. It destroy's lifes in the same way.
I'm also looking at the housing crisis- caused by banks lying to prospective home-owners, but just as much by people deciding that they didn't want to buy a modest house they could actually when you could buy they dreamhouse that was in reality more than they could really afford. Now they are having to foreclose. Their credit is destroyed and the've lost huge amounts of money- at the root of this I see materialism.
It's hard for me to not become materialistic right now. I'm not doing anything other than making money- it's the sole purpose in my life. Because of this I'm tempted to spend money on things I want instead of need- because if everything is about money shouldn't I get to at least enjoy being materialistic?
The place I'm at is temporary and I know I'll pass through it as much as I know that this is where I'm supposed to be right now. I'll just keep balancing between having to make money and becoming materialistic and hope this time will pass.
Well written article.
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