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“My heart overflows with a good theme; I address my verses to the Kind: My tongue is the pen of a ready writer.” Ps 45:1
Have you noticed that the world around us is filled with things? Things are hard to escape, even if we wanted to. Consider the bed in which we sleep, our clothes, the home we live in, food we eat, tools with which we perform our jobs or hobbies, the cars we drive; even the trees with all their brilliant, changing colors are part of our environment. They are simply there and we accept them without much conscious thought. Isaiah 26:3—“You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, whose thoughts are fixed in you.”
A peek at our early environment:
Surroundings play a considerable role in the early development of children. Children born in the inner cities have many difficulties to overcome. They are not responsible for their environment, but if they grow up in the inner city, they will undoubtedly inherit most of the environmental difficulties, which their parents experienced. Children born into affluence will have a different outlook on life, but they, too will have their own unique environment to deal with.
Poverty or wealth is not always the final determinant factor. See I Peter 5:8. We all know respected leaders who were born out into abject poverty or disadvantage. Likewise, many criminals have come from homes of great wealth and culture. The attitudes we assume about our world demands that we come to terms with our environment. We can choose to live within the environment into which we were born, or learn to rise above it.
Are We Obsessed With Things?
Today’s society is obsessed with the need to acquire things. Materialism plays a greater role in our lives than care to admit. Many people are more concerned and interested in making a living than making a life. Of primary importance are the paycheck and the things it will buy for them. This is contrary to the life of Paul, for example. He had nothing more than what he could carry with him, and he more than likely carried it in a canvas bag. His great commission was to spread the Word. This he did with the zeal of a man driven with a passionate mission.
Material possessions obviously are of greater value to many than the peace which comes from a life driven by a passion for the work of the Lord. (Ps 37:7) He requires that we worship Him, not his creation.
Driven By A Desire For Things
There is little we cannot buy in these times. If we do not have the cash, we are enticed to use credit cards. If you choose, you can even mortgage your future to buy those coveted possessions. For many, the mark of success is the number of things the world counts as important.
Many have the desire to have as much as their friends, and even just a little more – why are mail order catalogs are so popular? People can look and dream and scheme to have just a little more. Most of us have those things, which make our lives convenient, when in reality; some things are used so little they are of very little value. But, they are things, and we must have them!
Where does this striving for things lead us? To name a few: it creates a spirit of discontent, which is most unhealthy—emotionally, mentally and spiritually. If we allow materialism to dominate us we will reap jealousy, envy and even strife. These things ought not to be (Heb 13:5). I wonder what Jesus thinks of opulent displays of wealth (things) on Christian TV. I know what I think! Thank God for the pastor whose heart is set on serving the needs of the lost and hurting rather than an edifice used once or twice a week for a religious performance.
Can We Learn To Be Content?
This materialistic spirit has been with us a long time. The Bible speaks out against it in on uncertain terms. As rich as King Solomon was, the cry of his heart was, “Give me neither riches nor poverty; feed me with the food that is needful for me.” Paul certainly was detached from the material world when he says, “I have learned in whatsoever state I am, there to be content….”
Many Christians have yet to learn there are things money cannot buy. This need for more and more is the source of quarrels, hurt feelings, bitterness and anger. This is nothing more or less than vanity in action. It is also one of the reasons for emotional tensions and physical breakdowns.
As children of God, we must not allow ourselves to live under the tyranny of things. Rather, let us see the grace and mercy of God in all that we have. Let us consider that our things are only on loan to us and that they are of little value or consequence in Gods sight. They can even be a stumbling block to a non-believer.
Am I proposing that Christians have a massive yard sale and sleep on the floor? Not necessarily, but if God so directs, you would do well to follow His instructions. Friends, things can be acquired and lost within seconds—consider the immediate destruction of a massive tornado or earthquake. Ask those involved what they would have restored: a loved one or their things. I think their answer would be quite obvious. Things can be replaced. Do we need all the things we think we do? The degree to which we are emotionally attached to things generally determines the degree to which we are attached to the Lord.
Are you forever worrying about things? This anxiety moves in the world of the material (carnal) rather than of the spiritual. These are materialists and the god of things is worshipped much more than the God in heaven. I don’t find the basis for this thinking in scripture. In summation, consider the words from Psalm 107:9: “For he satisfies the thirsty soul, And the hungry soul He has filled with what is good.” What does he satisfy? The things of the spirit. Our greatest hunger ought to be the will and heart of the Father. When we hunger for spiritual things the need for material things be replaced.
Copyright 2001 Lillian Hines
