... a biblical perspective on money and possessions in light of eternity

Sunday, 8 February 2015

Materialism: Proud and thankless


The Bible is full of references proving that our tendency in prosperity is to believe we deserve the credit for what we have and to grow proud and thankless.  Paul asks the prideful Christians of Corinth --
For what gives you the right to make such a judgment? What do you have that God hasn’t given you? And if everything you have is from God, why boast as though it were not a gift? - 1 Corinthians 4:7
Paul tells Timothy --
Teach those who are rich in this world not to be proud and not to trust in their money, which is so unreliable. Their trust should be in God, who richly gives us all we need for our enjoyment. - 1 Timothy 6:17
 After all, God is the one who has given us our intellect, our abilities and our capacity to earn money.

Paul reminded the proud Corinthians that the Church is made up of the dregs of this world.  Elitism boosts our egos by making us think we are somehow more worthy than others.  Few things are more repugnant to the Lord than the rich despising the poor.  Yet our clubs and social circles, sometimes even our churches, foster this very attitude.






Recognizing Materialism, and Understanding its Dangers


The Thankless Persuasion

Pope Francis in South Korea: Anti-materialism message a tough sell for pope


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