The Lust for Things
During my trip to Africa last year I found, to my surprise, that there was just as much materialism there as I had seen in the States. Not materials themselves (as there was very little to be had by anyone); but the desire to obtain them was present everywhere, making my fair skin an akward statement of my relative riches. And I hated it, because I knew so strongly in my own heart the emptiness behind all the simple things I owned.

But living in America can influence you unknowingly. The temperature has been dropping quickly here in Baltimore, and I need a winter coat. Only finding the right one has been a long, frustrating ordeal so far, and I am so weary of my own felt need for buying things. Shopping! I both enjoy it and abhor it--no; I abhor my desire for more that seems to strengthen when I am in the bright, alluring surroundings of the nearest department store. And in light of this inner war, God used my devotional this morning to bring me back to His side...

A man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.

A little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of many wicked. — Better is little with the fear of the Lord than great treasure and trouble therewith. — Godliness with contentment is great gain. Having food and raiment let us be therewith content.

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. — Give us this day our daily bread.

Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? — When I sent you without purse, and scrip, and shoes, lacked ye any thing? And they said, Nothing. — Let your conversation be without covetousness: and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

Luke 12:15. Psa. 37:16. Prov. 15:16. I Tim. 6:6,8. Prov. 30:8,9. Matt. 6:11. Matt. 6:25. Luke 22:35. Heb. 13:5.

Isn't the Bible an amazing gift? I never knew there were so many verses that spoke about contentment in this way. The first verse in bold from Luke 12 is one that I had never noticed before, but I am going to carry near to my heart in future days--especially this Christmas season, when the strategy of our enemy is in full swing against us. The natural man uses people and loves things. The spiritual man uses things and loves people. Lord, give me neither poverty nor riches. Amen.