Articles / Class Lessons
“Winning the War With Things”
Many of us need a stiff warning concerning the possession of too great an affection for things. Jesus said, life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions, Luke 12.15. Containing and cooling our covetous desires is the most common struggle that burdens most Americans.
The world can get a grip on our entire being and it can affect our spiritual heart. How do you “see” things? How do you “look at” things? We need to address our feelings, affections, love, and sensibility.
What we do is a result of what we think. Earthly treasure can affect every aspect of our life. It can cause us to vacillate between two masters. We need to know that we cannot split the difference between God and the world. God asks us to serve Him. Not halfway and not with halfhearted service. God demands all that we have. Nothing on earth is more precious, Matthew 16.26.
By using “Mammon” in Matthew 6.24, Jesus shows us how the love of money can become a rival with true commitment for God. “Mammon” is the Aramaic word for wealth. There is no such thing as a little covetousness. We must see the danger in any fascination with the wealth of this world. The love of things has no rival and will push God out of our lives. This leads us to a place where we find no peace or satisfaction.
God desires to have us exclusively for Himself. Money will consume us. God will fill us. It has been said that men who have been made for God will know no peace apart from God.
We will have success in our neverending war against “things,” when we realize:
- God is the giver of every good and perfect gift, James 1.17.
- God gives all things richly to us to enjoy, 1 Timothy 6.17.
- We are stewards of the property and blessings God has given us.
What are your dreams? Are your dreams concentrated more on the physical than the spiritual? If we succeed in having treasure in heaven, it will be becasue we have dedicated our entire self to the matter.
Have you chosen heaven? Matthew 6.33
- 08272011_-_DDN_Ar ... Against_Things.do (19.97 kB)
