“Materialism” – including a fixation and preoccupation with the status material things bring, the desire for “stuff,” the competitive atmosphere of “keeping up with the Jones,” the pursuit of material “security” and the “love of money” – is the “spiritual virus” that has sadly captured the hearts of many Christians in America. In fact, for many American Christians it would be a healthy tonic to visit passionate followers of Jesus in a 3rd world country – no, better than that, to live with them for awhile – and see, feel, and taste their single-hearted devotion for Christ and His cause in the absence of material prosperity. Here’s a biblical fact regarding Kingdom values… “Spiritual prosperity trumps material prosperity!” You can have both, but it’s difficult to keep the proper balance and perspective… Who said so, Jesus Himself! (Matthew 19:23-30)
I read the Kingdom warning of Jesus in Matthew 6 on this issue during “coffee with the Lord” this morning and I prayed that God would always help me keep its important truth clearly in focus…
“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also… No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money!” (from Matthew 6:19–24 ESV)
I want my investment policy to prioritize “the Kingdom of Heaven” and I want generosity to flow easily through my life… Don’t you?
I’m so impressed with the level of commitment and resolve of Job in the Bible… after the tragic loss of his children, the destruction of all his possessions, physical pain and suffering… even the unjust accusations of his “friends” who believed there must be some sin or failure that brought about what Job was experiencing… here is what Job declared…
