Materialistic me

I read a devotion today about materialism, well it was about Unwavering Conformity. This particular devotion took a look at materialism and idolatry. In ancient Israel there was a constant struggle between worship of God and worship of idols. In our culture the idols usual are not carved of stone or wood but they do exist as "strongholds" in our minds.
This stronghold of materialism has crept in to our churches and lives so much so that it is hardly even noticed anymore. Materialism is defined as:

1 a : a theory that physical matter is the only or fundamental reality and that all being and processes and phenomena can be explained as manifestations or results of matter 

  b : a doctrine that the only or the highest values or objectives lie in material well-being and in the furtherance of material progress  

c : a doctrine that economic or social change is materially caused — compare historical materialism

2: a preoccupation with or stress upon material rather than intellectual or spiritual things 

It is the second definition that has crept in. Not so much a doctrine or theory but a definite preoccupation with material rather than intellectual or spiritual things.  We do however invent or create doctrines to prop up the materialistic mindset. How many times have we been told that Jesus said "All these things would be added to you."? He did say that but only after he said, "Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added to you." The kingdom comes first. Also, Jesus said these things, and here is is speaking of material stuff, would be added to you. (Emphasis mine). Our problem is we tend to multiply these things to ourselves instead of letting God add them.
Further in our desire to prop up our materialistic drive with spirituality we talk about success and favor. Reducing the favor of God; granted to do exploits like set nations free, slay giants, win tremendous battles to something God grants so that we make more money!
I have taken several trips outside of the United States and been very blessed to meet some of God's children in some of the poorest nations on earth. I met people who have dirt floors in their churches and in their homes. People who spread jam on bread so thinly that the color of the bread barely changes, because it has to last, it is a treat. People who still draw today's water from a small well. I met people who have never tasted any meat other than chicken in their entire lives. One thing that I noticed immediately was the joy with which these people served the Lord.

It made me wonder, how can they be so happy with so little? It made me wonder, what is wrong with me? I have everything, (comparatively) yet I do not know this level of joy, contentment, and peace.

We have fallen into belief that joy comes from stuff. Joy cannot come from stuff, joy is a fruit of the spirit.
Materialism is truly driving the church insane we like the church with daycare, theatre seating, cafe's,  short sermons, good music and low commitments. In our homes we have all the latest technology and comfort while working two jobs to pay for everything. We have huge mortgages and high property taxes because schools in low property tax areas are woefully unsuited for our brilliant children. 
We have become the people of Haggai 1:6 We planted much and reaped a little. Why? Our priorities are out of whack.
I don't mean to say we need to be poor and have nothing; I mean to say we need to believe we don't need everything. We have to get the focus off of our wants and return to a simpler life. One of trust in our Abba to supply all of our needs according to his riches in glory.
If we are not careful we end up acting like the Philistines of the Old Testament book of Judges. They capture the Ark of the Covenant in battle and set it before the idol of Dagon in their temple. When they came in hte next day Dagon was face down in front of the Ark. They proceeded to prop their god back up in front of the Ark. The next day they came in and Dagon was on his face again this time his arms and legs were CUT not broken, CUT off. Materialism is a false and powerless god that cannot stand in the presence of GOD.

Groundhog's Day & Valentine's Day

February is the month of Groundhog's Day and Valentine's Day.  It is interesting that those two holidays fall in the same month.

Valentine's Day has been celebrated for years.  We see cherubs, cupid, hearts, candy hearts with  messages on them, etc.  Groundhog's Day is a crazy day in which for some reason all eyes are fixed upon a hole in the ground and a furry little rodent who supposedly foretells the time remaining until winter's end.

One of the holiday is about love and the other is a fun but really pointless exercise.  Which holiday will you live out this month?  Most people remember the movie Groundhog's Day.  Bill Murray is a reporter sent to cover the event in small town Pennsylvania, and he gets stuck in that town and in that day.  He works hard to get out of the time loop, but he remains there until he personally changes.

This month instead of going through the same old motions over and over, instead of fighting the same old battles again and again, embrace the holiday of love.  Not just the love of your family, focus on the source of love.  1 John 4:8 says, "God is Love."  This month reach out not just for love but for God who is love and break the hold of the same ol' same ol'.  Change, learn, grow.  Say goodbye to Groundhog's day and the fun but pointless exercises of life.

Pastor Chris

Do You Not Perceive It?

                              Image: FreeDigitalPhotos.net

The beginning of a new year has always seemed to hold out so much hope to me.  I think about Isaiah 43:16, “See I do a new thing!  Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?  I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.”

The part of that scripture that grabs my attention is the question, “do you not perceive it?”  Here the Lord is speaking to His people telling them He is up to something new and He stops to ask if they have noticed it!

Look, He is making a  way in the desert.  Deserts are inhospitable, yucky, sand and heat.  They are difficult to travel across now, let alone in the days of the Old Testament, and God is telling His people, “I am making a way, in the desert.”  God is taking a place of difficulty and making it easier to get through.  They still have to go through it but it is easier now than before.

Further, He is taking wasted space, wastelands and putting streams in them.  What was wasted space, not good for farming or anything is about to become fertile land!  God is saying He is taking what we consider wasted, or troublesome and making it fertile soil with refreshing streams flowing through it.

If last year looks like a desert or wasted space, praise God!  You are about to look back and see that He made it easier to get through than you thought.  You are about to be refreshed from what you thought was a wasteland.

The question remains, though; will you perceive it?  Stop looking through the eyes of worry and defeat.  Stop counting all the bad, start looking at things through redeemed eyes  Don’t miss what God is doing in your desert wastelands; perceive in Jesus’ name perceive!


Pastor Chris