Christian Living
Sue sat glued to the television. Wow! “That’s what we need to do,” she remarked excitedly to her husband. “Our house, especially the kitchen, could certainly use a make-over. If they can do it in a weekend so could we.”
Jeff looked up from his newspaper and frowned. “And just how do you propose to do that? Where will we get the money and whose going to do the work?”
“We could borrow the money and you could do the work. You are talented and I would help.”
“There’s no way I could do all that in a weekend or even a week. Two or three months, maybe, if I worked late every night. I do have a job you know,” Jeff countered. “And besides,” he continued, “there are permits needed, there would be tools needed that I don’t have, and remodeling jobs always cost more than one plans on. Besides that, how are we going to squeeze another payment out of our budget? We are extended to the limit now. We haven’t paid for your last project yet, remember.”
Sue sulked. “I hate it when you are so practical. You have no vision and you just don’t want us to have nice things. You’re so content!”
Content? Jeff mulled the word over. “Yes,” he assured himself, “I am reasonably happy and satisfied with the way things are.”
He mentally surveyed their home. It was nice, comfortable, cozy and nearly paid for. True it certainly wasn’t like those houses on TV with their expensive furnishings and price tags but who needed that to be happy?
Slowly a scripture that he had learned in his childhood seeped into his consciousness. 1 Jo 2:15-17 “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth forever.”
“Was Sue lusting after the things she saw on television?” He asked himself.
How would you define lust? According to the Microsoft® Encarta® 2006. © dictionary the word has two meanings. 1. sexual desire: the strong physical desire to have sex with somebody, usually without associated feelings of love or affection 2. eagerness: great eagerness or enthusiasm for something, a lust for power, (position, things).
Advertising fuels lust. It is designed to make one discontented with what one has and to desire what one does not have. When we were in business we were taught that we needed to “create a desire in people to have what we offered.” That is the essence of salesmanship, creating desire.
Immediately defenses and objections arise at the suggestion of being content with what one has. “It isn’t wrong to want to better oneself!” “Other people have nice things. If they can have it why can’t I?” “We can afford it.”
But what is the motivation behind our desire? Is it necessity or a want? Is it a desire to keep up with the neighbors? Or is it a desire to have “better things” than the neighbors? Is it a desire for comfort? I’m not sure that I personally like the answer to that question so rest assured that I’m not pointing any fingers. But we do need to be honest about what we think is essential. Some people seem to “have it all” and yet they want even more. There is a dissatisfaction within them that never allows them to be content with what they possess. They are always reaching for that elusive something that will cause their cup of contentment to be full. Money or status in life does not necessarily dictate discontent. It may grow in all of us.
I believe discontent is a heart problem. It isn’t just about the “normal” desire to have nice things or to upgrade what one has. It is a condition of the heart. A lust, if you please, that drives one to possess, a consuming passion. A discontent that fuels thoughts and demands that one has to have “it” to be happy.
Paul said, 1 Ti 6:6 - 12 “But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.”
Mull over those words. Really pay attention to what they are saying. Be honest about what you perceive is being said. Our consuming passion in this life is not supposed to be about things but about righteousness. What a different world it would be if Christians would be consumed with a passion for righteousness instead of a lust for things.
Jesus said in Luke 12:15 “Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.” The context of this scripture was that a man wanted Jesus to make his brother divide an inheritance. And the above scripture was Jesus’ response. And then he launched into this parable. Luke 12:16-20 “The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? “
The problem was not about his abundant harvest. It was about the lust within him to take life easy and consume what he possessed on himself without thought for eternity or the needs of others.
Jesus went on to say, Luke 12:16–21-34. “So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God. And he said unto his disciples, Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat; neither for the body, what ye shall put on. The life is more than meat, and the body is more than raiment. Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them: how much more are ye better than the fowls? And which of you with taking thought can add to his stature one cubit? If ye then be not able to do that thing which is least, why take ye thought for the rest? Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. If then God so clothe the grass, which is today in the field, and tomorrow is cast into the oven; how much more will he clothe you, O ye of little faith? And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind. For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things. But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you. Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”
When our heart treasures righteousness there is a contentment that settles within us. The drive for bigger and better is toned down to a reasonable level. The thrust of our life becomes godliness rather than possession.
Many homes are wrecked and brought to destruction because of the lust for things. Wives cry from loneliness. Children suffer from neglect. Not the neglect of things but from a neglect of the investment of time and interest.
Sometimes Mom and Dad are both possessed with the drive to “have” more. The children become listed on the low end of priorities. It is always appropriate to spend some time taking inventory concerning our “want” list and ask the hard questions about our desire. It isn’t wrong for us to have nice things but it is wrong for nice things to have us.
Remember 1 Timothy 6:6 - 12 “But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.”
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