Things are useful and some are needful in this life. However, it is so easy to find oneself not owning things but rather being owned by them. Advertisers vie with each other proclaiming to have a complete and orderly life one must have their brand of trinket, gadget or soothing liquid. This is slavery of the most pernicious kind. Our adversary uses this to occupy our hearts and minds instead of what is permanent, undefiled and does not waste away.
1 Peter 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you ESV
The trinkets go out of style. The gadgets break or are stolen. The soothing liquid is used up or goes stale and has to be replaced. These results will take the Christian’s eyes off Jesus and our inheritance and place them on the temporary and passing away world and its delights. What becomes of this during times of either personal or national economic upheavals? We become weary and defiled with these items and the seeking for more.
Jesus, when on earth, had no possessions standing in his way of loving God with his whole heart. He was not here for the purpose of accumulating things. We are not here for that purpose either. We of course cannot do that for we are not perfect humans much less God. How wonderful that we have his robe of righteousness dressing us so that we are credited with the following:
Matthew 6:19 Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. ESV
Our goal and motivation are clear in this section. As stated before we are incapable of divorcing ourselves from coveting luxury. There is no one so devoted to Jesus that he or she cannot be soiled by worldly prosperity. Here again is ample evidence that we never out grow our need for our crucified Lord.
Grant us repentance Lord and renewed faith and trust in your will and provision. In the name of Jesus. Amen †
2 comments:
Then He said to them, "Beware, and be on your guard against every form of greed; for not even when one has an abundance does his life consist of his possessions."
Every once in awhile I have thoughts of letting go of all my possesions and living the simple life of service that our Lord has not only shown us but has asked(commanded us)to live.
But the old man inside of me will not have it.
I am a sinner. Not just a little bit of a sinner, but the full blown terminal kind of a sinner.
Thanks be to God that He loves sinners. He's not too crazy about their sin, but even then He wants all of it. Indeed He will have all of it. He has already taken upon Himself the sin of the whole world, so who am i to try and keep mine away from Him?
Yes, I am a self obsessed idolator and covetor of things.
I am also loved and forgiven by my creator and am declared righteous for His sake. That is the only truth about me that will stand on that last Day.
Thanks, St. David, for that great law/gospel posting!
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