Materialism - we have it too!

We have more the spirit of materialism in us than we care to admit. Just looking at the things I have in my own home is proof enough. I have more clothes and ties than I can wear in a month. I tend to look at and read about the latest gadget out in the market to "help us save time". My store room is full of things I rarely or never use anymore. 

King Solomon (supposedly the wisest man in his time) once indulged himself in an extreme experiment in real life. He put it this way: "“Whatever my eyes desired I did not keep from them. I did not withhold my heart from any pleasure…” (Ecclesiastes 2:10). That's as good a description of the materialistic outlook as it can get. 

Joseph Stowell makes a sharp observation about materialism:

The real point of materialism is

• Not how much we have, but what has us.
  
• Not what we hold, but how tightly we hold it.
  
• Not what we have, but how we got it.
  

If I think about this seriously enough, it gets pretty uncomfortable. How much of a grip does materialism have in our lives? Does it matter? 

Money, money, money...

There was a time when I had to live by faith. I went to serve as a missionary on MV Doulos of Operation Mobilisation. Going out without a guaranteed support was scary and I was only in my early 20s. Yet, God provided faithfully during the two years away. My support was met all the time. For that, I was very grateful. Even though I did not have much money when I was on board the ship, yet I had learnt to tithe and continued to do so. It was actually quite a miserably small sum...which I would be embarrassed to mention. 

But this reminds me of the story of the poor widow in Mark 12:41-44. She gave out of her poverty and Jesus loved it...far more than the big givings of the rich. Jesus said she put in all that she had. That is really challenging and also disturbing. Does that mean, we need to do the same? Does it mean that we should give until we hurt? What do you think?

Desiring to be better...

I wish I was more holy than I appear to be. It is easy to put up a mask of "holiness" as long as we don't spend too much time with people. It is hard, though, to be continuously good because somehow the old man (flesh) do hit us from the side when we least expect it.

I was thinking of this at the traffic lights at Queen Elizabeth Hospital today and a thought came to me. A love for God will motivate us to desire holiness but a fear of God will make and keep us holy. Consider this verse from the Bible:

"Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and depart from evil." (Proverbs 3:7)

"Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God." (2 Corinthians 7:1)

What is this fear of the Lord? Let me ponder more on this and see where it leads us...

Esteeming God

I think I have been guilty of taking God too casually. Thinking of God as a buddy just don't seem to cut it for the God who is so other compared to me. He is so much more holier, powerful and exalted.

A.W. Tozer says that what we think about God is the most important thing in life. I agree. So, if we think wrongly about God, we err seriously in life. But if we think rightly about God, it will make a huge, positive difference.

So, I am now trying to think of God with greater respect and awe.

What brought this about? I was attending the funeral of a friend and standing at the casket saying my last goodbye surfaced all kinds of feelings. Among it was my own creatureliness...how fragile life is.

My only comfort was to place my hope in God and esteeming Him as the One in full control.

Maiden Journey

This my maiden journey into the waters of blogging. So, encourage me even if there are hiccups. Blessings. GB