If you are one who is offended easily, I ask that you don't continue reading this, if you are willing to walk this road with me, welcome to my world at the moment.. Realize I'm not a fancy writer, and I am a woman which means you will hear emotion. You have been warned.
Something that has completely been plaguing my soul is materialism among Christians- myself included. It's one of those things that I will never fully get a grip on, and I'm aware of that, but something that God has really been working in my heart about. The problem is that it can depress me when I see it around me. It feels like walking into a smoke filled room and not being able to catch some fresh air for my suffocating lungs. Strong imagery- maybe. But I'm simply being honest here. It can literally flatten me. Recently this happened where a Christian purchased something that floored me. I looked at this item and thought that it in no way matched the life they say they valued. But how much of it is just my opinion- and how much of what I feel is a righteous anger? That's the something that I haven't figured out quite yet. It can be hard to sort through because the thoughts and emotions are intense and strong. I think of what Jesus had and it was pretty close to nothing. He had the sandals on his feet, the cloak on his back and no where to rest his head, no kitchen to come home to with stocked fridges. I hear Christians say all the time "well, God wants us to enjoy what He has given us." Ok, I can agree to a point. But at what point are we interpreting what "enjoy" means? He has given us a beautiful world to enjoy- flowers, mountains, trees, oceans, beautiful views. But does this mean that as a Christian I can "enjoy" my beach house in FL and my boat in the dock, my cabinet full of all I love to eat/drink, etc? Hopefully you get where I'm going with this. What does it mean as a Christian to store up treasures on earth and to store up treasures in heaven? Where's the balance? Where does "give all you have an follow me" come into play?
19 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. Matthew 6:18-20
All the time I see Christians living in immaculate fancy houses, driving brand new cars and living a lifestyle that is, frankly, pretty expensive. Sometimes I want that life. Sometimes I see that nice car and think " man, all I've had are "lemons" so far and boy would it be nice to cruise around in that car." Then I have to ask for forgiveness for coveting, and think about what we are able to give and do because we don't "live fancy". It's pretty humbling and I ask myself why I care about that stuff in the first place. "I like nice things" I think to myself often "Man, it would be nice to buy something instead of making it", or "<sigh> it gets SO tiring to penny pinch all the time and to have this budget." But ALL of this is Satan's way of getting me to desire the "American dream" or simply- what I don't have. In reality I want to live the "Heavenly dream" and get to heaven with nothing! But what do I do in the meantime with the hoards of Christians I see asking people to give to God's work, yet they live in houses that look JUST like the neighbor next to them who doesn't know Christ. If I was a lost person, I think I might have a hard time with that- wouldn't you? I mean, Jesus lived pretty much like a homeless person. Yet we strive for all of this "stuff"- what are we? We are missing the point. Now I don't think that we should all walk around without a home, but the point is- what do we do with what we have?
When i die - the last thing I want God to say to me is "you failed to give". I don't know what giving looks like in the life of each individual believer, but I believe it looks a lot different than how we are doing it currently. Where is our trust that God will supply all our needs? How do we have wisdom to save to provide for our families but not hoard? I don't know. But I wish I did. I wish that I could turn off my brain when I see Christians living in excess so that I don't have to process how I feel about it. I don't know why I care so much to be honest!!! It's just plaguing me.
Matthew 19:21
Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”
Luke 12:33
Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will never fail, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys.
We as Americans have so much. I forget that sometimes. But all it takes is pulling out my "memory lane" book in my head and remembering my times with the less fortunate. Oh, then I remember - fast. I remember what hunger looks like. I remember what being cold feels like. I remember what sickness smells like. And I purge. I purge our home of stuff, I find people to give to. I ask forgiveness from God for falling into the greed I see around me. I really don't want to sound like I hate everybody with money- that's simply not true and if you know me, you will already realize that. What I hate is how blinded we can be to the blessings and glory (for the Lord) there is in giving ourselves and our possessions away. We are first hand recipients of this! About 80% of everything we have has been given to us. Or sold to us at a miraculously low rate. I know that some "big name" preachers have felt this because they write about it. They sell their homes to live in something 1/3 of the size. I don't think I'm the only one with this burden. And I'm not the only one feeling the tug-o-war between what God wants and what the World is advertising for us. Everyday we are solicited. It can be hard to ignore. They know their stuff!! They know how to entice you and get you to want what they have to offer. It's one of the reasons we don't watch TV shows. I know that if I watch designer home shows that i will covet. I will look at my house and not be satisfied- Oh God forgive me!!! We have been given SO much, have I said that already- here goes my heart again. Do not take this as a judgement,I confess that I have judged people before, but this was written simply to process- not judge. This "thought purge" will be left unfinished because the truth is that I don't know the answers to my questions, God's not finished with me yet. And I cannot type while I cry.
Good thoughts.
ReplyDeleteJust remember that God uses different vessels for different things.
Lydia provided a place for people to worship as she was a wealthy Christian woman in the early church. She also used her wealth to make garments for those who needed them. Yet, I do not think that she herself went around in rags. :)
I think it is an idividual thing- I think one has to wrestle with the Lord as to what He would desire from you personally as his daughter. You cannot decide that for someone else and trying to will only bring you grief and the Spirit frustration since He is working in you and the response he wants is not about the other people...it is about you. (or me ...whomeever is seeking his answers)
Your heart is beauitul and as you wrestle through this I am sure that the Spirit will show you how He wants you to respond.
Rachel, I am totally with you on this one. I have been struggling with this very topic. Have you read 7 by Jen Hatmaker? I can lend you mine when I get it back from another friend. Unfortunately, or fortunately, it may make the need to purge and look at the world differently even greater. This is such an important topic for the church right now. How are we spending our money? How can we use what we have to give glory to God? The answer will not make us look like the world, i'm sure.
ReplyDeleteOh Rachel! Do not cry! God is glad that you are asking these questions. Because they are tough questions---and not enough people are asked these things! I *hate*hate*hate* American Materialism. Where is American Spiritualism?
ReplyDeleteIt's way harder to find, but the rewards ARE so much greater leading spiritually rather than materially. From someone who notices this difference, you have to wonder how the heck people handle all the excess sometimes. I think that it depends on the person. If it is someone who doesn't have God in their lives, God eventually comes and puts a fire in their golden households, trying to make them see him in times of suffering.
If we are talking about say, those churches that are Monster Churches, (like the one on the news i saw) You wonder how and why this so-called Priest, with his family, lived in such an affluent neighborhood. It is like they are walling themselves off to the poverty of the people that actually surround them. It all seems a bit hypocritical doesn't it?
You have to know, that you can lead a horse to water but you cannot make it drink. The horses that hold on too tightly to their material possessions and don't drink the nectar of God's word are deep down, very scared, and need a lot of love, even if they are in denial about it. A lot of it, is our own American society, that has been so dummied down, that subsequent generations do not know how to bridge the gap between their affluence and their inherent spiritual nature. How do you get their attention, so they will want to hear what God has to say? You have to give them a show a bit. You have to figure out where and why you are feeling the things you are feeling, and then when you are around those people, you have to own those shadows because somewhere in their deep dark minds and hearts there is a fire burning, and sometimes you need to give them some air to get them going. You have to debate with detachment and love.
This is what I have to say. Call me anytime, Rach. <3 You!
Rachel, I just wanted to say I know exactly what you mean. That has been my struggle since moving to Wheaton. I see so much of that here. Thank you for posting your thoughts on this.
ReplyDelete