Tempting,
seductive, dangerous and ruinous Stuart L. Brogden 10
Feb 07
From an AP article on Jan 23, 2007: “Studies suggest materialism has a tighter grip on the young than in the past. New polls indicate the obsession with material things is growing, and that being rich is more important to young people now than in the past.
“UCLA's annual survey of college freshmen, released last Friday, found that nearly three-quarters of those surveyed in 2006 thought it was essential or very important to be "very well-off financially." That compares with 62.5 percent who said the same in 1980 and 42 percent in 1966, the first year the survey was done.
“Researchers say materialism is an obsession that cuts across socioeconomic lines for American youth. Another recent poll from the Pew Research Center found that about 80 percent of 18- to 25-year-olds in this country see getting rich as a top life goal.
“David Walsh, author and psychologist, says, "A lot of parents have developed an allergic reaction to their kids being unhappy,"”
I would add, that a lot of adults appear to have the same
allergy for themselves and see a “blessed life” as that with no trouble
attending. We lose sight of the Truth
that, if we be in Christ, this world is not our home and we should not expect
“a rose garden” nor should our days be consumed with minding worldly
things. Luke 6:22 – 26 (Blessed are
ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their
company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of
man's sake. Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward
is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the
prophets. But woe unto you that are
rich! for ye have received your consolation.
Woe unto you that are full! for ye shall hunger. Woe unto you that laugh
now! for ye shall mourn and weep. Woe
unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to
the false prophets.), 1 John 3:13 (Marvel not, my brethren, if the world
hate you.), 1 John 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 for ever.),
James 4:1 – 4 (From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not
hence, even of your lusts that war in your members?
Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts. Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.), Romans 8:6 – 9 (For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.), Mark 10:23 – 27 (And Jesus looked round about, and saith unto his disciples, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God! And the disciples were astonished at his words. But Jesus answereth again, and saith unto them, Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. And they were astonished out of measure, saying among themselves, Who then can be saved? And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.).
Mickey Scott recently observed, “The curse of our age is covetousness, greed, frustration, and people who are discontent. It is a disease, a cancer of the soul, eating away at the fiber of our land, leaving men dissatisfied and disillusioned. The only cure is knowing Jesus as our constant Companion. He is the Source of our Contentment.” 1 Timothy 6:6 – 8 (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.).
(the following taken from William S. Plumer, "The Ten
Commandments")
"People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a
trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into
ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds
of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and
pierced themselves with
many griefs." 1 Timothy 6:9-10 (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.),
1 Peter 2:11 (Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims,
abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;)
By reason of sin, riches are ordinarily tempting,
seductive, dangerous and ruinous. A right view of the perils of
wealth would, with the divine blessing, have a mighty efficacy in curing
our covetousness and discontent, and in causing us to cease improperly to love
what we have, or sinfully to desire that which belongs to others.
When one says to himself, "You have many goods stored up for many years.
Take it easy; eat, drink, and enjoy yourself!" destruction is already at
the door! Luke 12:16 – 21 (And he spake a parable unto them, saying, 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? So is he that layeth up treasure for
himself, and is not rich toward God.).
No state of mind is more opposite to the spirit of the gospel, than that
of slothfulness, high living, banqueting, and carnal mirth. "Sodom's sins were pride, laziness, and
gluttony." Ez. 16:49
Wantonness and luxury, sloth and corruption usually go together. The great
nourisher of these is wealth.
"Covetousness is idolatry." It disowns Jehovah. It sets up gold to be
worshiped. It brings man, like the serpent, to lick the dust. It sadly perverts
God's mercies, as well as all our own thoughts. It makes men believe in . . .
no God but mammon,
no devil but the absence of gold,
no damnation but being poor,
no hell but an empty purse.
David speaks of "men of the world, who have their portion in this
life." Psalm 17:13 - 14.
1 Timothy 6:17 – 19 (Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate; Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.), Philippians 3:18 – 19 (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.), Galatians 6:7 – 9 (Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.)
The Lord speaks of those who mind things of this world – Matthew 16:22 – 28 (Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee. But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men. Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works. Verily I say unto you, There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom.). Focus on what He said to Peter in verse 23: “Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.”
To lead a Christian life is to give up one's idols. Oh that men would believe
their final Judge, when He says, "You cannot serve God and
mammon!" (Matthew 6:24)
He gives this counsel: “Two things have I required of thee; deny me them not before I die:
Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me: Lest I be full, and deny thee, and say, Who is the LORD? or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God in vain.” (Proverbs 30:7 – 9) Walk in obedience, honor the One you call Lord.