Materalism vs. Contentment
Monday, August 21, 2006
"No one can serve two masters. 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 both God and Money. -Matthew 6:24
Materialism is not a tangible commodity.
Don't live to get, live to give.
Materialism is an intangible condition of the heart.
For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. -Matthew 6:21
Materialism if fueled by two things: Greed & Jealousy
II Kings 5 - GREED
This story begins with Naaman, a commander of the army of the king of Aram. He has leprosy. So he goes to the prophet Elisha in Israel for help. In verse 10 Elisha tells Naaman to Go, wash yourself seven times in the Jordan, and your flesh will be restored and you will be cleansed." Naaman did as he was told, and he was healed. Naaman wanted to give an offering to Elisha for healing him, but Elisha wanted nothing of it. In verse 16 Elisha says: "As surely as the LORD lives, whom I serve, I will not accept a thing." And even though Naaman urged him, he refused.
Gehazi, the servant of the Prophet Elisha heard what was going on, and wanted the reward.
Verse 21: Gehazi hurried after Naaman. When Naaman saw him running toward him, he got down from the chariot to meet him. "Is everything all right?" he asked.
22 "Everything is all right," Gehazi answered. "My master sent me to say, 'Two young men from the company of the prophets have just come to me from the hill country of Ephraim. Please give them a talent of silver and two sets of clothing.' "
23 "By all means, take two talents," said Naaman. He urged Gehazi to accept them, and then tied up the two talents of silver in two bags, with two sets of clothing. He gave them to two of his servants, and they carried them ahead of Gehazi. He couldn't even carry them himself. He was greedy he took more than he could carry.
24 When Gehazi came to the hill, he took the things from the servants and put them away in the house. He sent the men away and they left. 25 Then he went in and stood before his master Elisha.
"Where have you been, Gehazi?" Elisha asked.
"Your servant didn't go anywhere," Gehazi answered.
Gehazi lies out right to Elisha.
John 12:3-8 JEALOUSY
3- Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus' feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. 4- But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, 5- "Why wasn't this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year's wages." 6- He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it.
7- "Leave her alone," Jesus replied. " It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial. 8- You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me."
How do we avoid Materialism?
1. Admire without the need to acquire.
2. Develop an attitude of gratitude.
3. Learn the secret of generosity.
We break the back of materialism when we show the Love of God!
posted by Andy and Amanda Wheeler @ 8/21/2006 08:43:00 AM,
2 Comments:
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At 9:28 PM,
Linda said...
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Ooh, just made your raspberry oatmeal bars and they are wonderful. No wonder there are no leftovers at your house!
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At 7:00 PM,
Linda said...
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I am eager to hear how your fist day went!
