A while ago I posted about stains...specifically, how we, as Christians, can live in a filthy world, love and share the Gospel with the lost, but remain unstained. After all, it says in James that pure and undefiled religion (worship) in the sight of our Lord is ....to care for widows and orphans in their distress, and to keep yourself unstained by the world.
My first topic in this unofficial "Stains" series was about drunkenness, or more specifically, if Christians can live a lifestyle around parties and drunkenness, yet worship the Lord by remaining unstained all the while. My own thoughts on that were pretty clear, and those posts generated good discussion...thank you!
Next in line: Materialism
Let's face it, most of my readership lives in North America, a very affluent, and extremely materialistic society. We are blessed to have been placed in such affluence, when millions around the world go hungry. But at the same time, we are extremely challenged as Christ followers, not to fall into the trap of materialism. This is less by choice than my last topic, as it touches each of us by default.
I would like to have some discussion with you about this: How do we live in an affluent part of the world, but remain as pure and undefiled worshipers of our Lord by not bowing our knee to its affluence? What is the difference between need and want in our society? What can we do to pour out purer worship on our Lord in this respect? Does living in this part of the world mean we are automatically stained?
If you live outside of North America, I would love to hear about this from your perspective!
I value your Biblically-founded discussion.
4 comments:
Hi Elizabeth, I loved this post. Some thoughts I've been mulling around with sense I read it yesterday....
This one's a lot harder than alcohol, because if you think that drinking is bad, you just don't drink. It's a lot harder to just stop buying everything, impossible in N. American really.
I think that you can deal with material wealth without being materialistc, but because we are around such mind-numbing wealth it's like trying to balance on the edge of a knife constantly. How do deal with material wealth without become materialistic.
Here is my little checklist of tests to see if I have a problem with materialism (based on Biblical principals, but not specific verses, so I'm not quoting anything)
1. Do you see yourself as poor, and are jealous of people that have more money than you?
Everyone is N. America is rich by the world's standards. Not to say that there are no legitimate financial struggles, but there are so many helps avaliable from government, private charities, local churches(hopefully), that going to bed hungry or dying from a treatable disease like strep throught dosn't need to happen here to anyone.
If you can't understand that then there is a perspective problem, and if you allow jealousy to enter your heart than it's a good sign that there is a real problem.
2. Do you refrain from being generous because of the things you are planning to buy?
This could mean two things. The first is that you spend all your money as soon as you get it on things you don't really need, so that when something important comes up you don't have anything to spare. The second is that many of the most gererous people I know have no money. They find ways to be generous without spending money. If you can't think of any way to pour into someones lives without spending money, it's probobly because you can't imagine anything making you happy except material possesions. Not good for a child of Christ.
3. Do you shop when you are upset or angry?
Making material things anything emotional is pretty much the very definition of materialism.
4. Do you see blessings from God coming to you in primarialy material ways.
I'm not saying that God dosn't bless in material ways- but of you count God's blessings in your life and the majority of them are things (your house, laptop, iPod, ect), than I think that your perspective is a little skewed. God's blessings come in so many ways that aren't material, a phone call from friends, a beautiful sunset, people that God has put him your life, and the very presance of God. These things are better than any material object anyway, because they create a closer relationship with God.
Okay, this train of thought may come in increments. My first thought is I know both POOR and RICH people that are materialistic. And I know both POOR and RICH people that are generous and giving. I think it has less to do with what you have or don't have and more about the way you give of what God has given you. More thoughts on this one later...I think :)
To support what Melinda posted I'll share a story of a man I once went to church with and how he tried to keep himself in check.
This man was rather wealthy, he had been a professional baseball player and then did well in business. Early into his baseball career he bought himself a new car. The first new car he had ever owned. As he walked to his brand new car to drive it off the lot, the Lord asked him to check his motives. He had been wise in his purchase, buying a reasonably priced car rather than the expensive car he could have afforded, but he knew that he was coveting this new possession even before driving it off the lot.
As a reminder that his worth is in the Lord and not the car he drives, my friend took the key the salesman had just handed him and put a scratch down the length of the car. This is just one example of how this guy reminded himself that all that he owns belongs to the Lord, not himself. When he recognized that a scratched car was just good as a pristine vehicle it helped him learn not to hold on tightly to possessions, but to hold them loosely so they could be given to others when a need would arise. This lesson carried over to all he owned his home, his car, and his money. He poured out to help fill needs.
This world sure throws many dark and evil things at you..diligence in prayer is a must!!! It's so hard to not want these days... it's hard to remember only what you need and living in the truth that the Lord will give you what you need.... and not let the lust of the eyes take over...
...no matter what's in your check book...it's a heart attiude..and you have to remain faithful in prayer to overcome letting the balance in your checkbook (a lot or a little) and the schemes of the enemy take your heart and bend it toward the 'things' of this world..and pray that your heart stays bent toward the things of God!
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