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Sidney, a big fan of the New York Yankees baseball team, telephones Pastor Williams. He says, "Pastor, I know tonight is our annual Covenant Renewal Prayer Service, but the Yankees are in the playoffs. I'm a life-long Yankees fan. I'm sorry, but I must watch the Yankees game on TV." The Pastor replies, "Sidney, that's what video recorders are for." Sidney, surprised, exclaims, "You mean I can tape the Service?!"
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24You cannot be the slave of two masters! You will like one more than the other or be more loyal to one than the other. You cannot serve both God and money.
25I tell you not to worry about your life. Don't worry about having something to eat, drink, or wear. Isn't life more than food or clothing? 26Look at the birds in the sky! They don't plant or harvest. They don't even store grain in barns. Yet your Father in heaven takes care of them. Aren't you worth more than birds?
27Can worry make you live longer? 28Why worry about clothes? Look how the wild flowers grow. They don't work hard to make their clothes. 29But I tell you that Solomon with all his wealth wasn't as well clothed as one of them. 30God gives such beauty to everything that grows in the fields, even though it is here today and thrown into a fire tomorrow. He will surely do even more for you! Why do you have such little faith? 31Don't worry and ask yourselves, "Will we have anything to eat? Will we have anything to drink? Will we have any clothes to wear?" 32Only people who don't know God are always worrying about such things. Your Father in heaven knows that you need all of these. 33But more than anything else, put God's work first and do what he wants. Then the other things will be yours as well.
34Don't worry about tomorrow. It will take care of itself. You have enough to worry about today.
*Matthew 6.24-34 (CEV)
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We, in the United States, are in difficult economic times, and it could get worse, and soon. Without pointing figures, I want to address a Christian response to the challenges economically.
Jesus in Matthew addresses the singularity of our devotion to the Creator. We cannot give our allegiance to "mammon" (KJV), or materiality, and God.
When working as a janitor in college, my ex-spouse and I were both going to school and had little money. I looked at a soda machine one day during my work. I would have enjoyed a drink. At that time, in the early 80s, the drink would have cost 35 cents. I did not buy one, for we did not have money to be buying soda drinks.
Yet, at that time, we were both focused on serving Christ and preparing ourselves for a future in ministry. We were among hundreds of others, singles and couples from age twenties to sixties, with the same focus.
I can reflect on those days as fulfilling. The joy of focus on serving others, growing in Christ, and preparing to serve God gave a fulfillment that is beyond words. I would choose any day that fulfillment over obeisance to money and materialism.
During difficult economic times, we can be reminded of our first-love spiritually. Possibly some of you, like I did, fell in love with Christ when you had little of this world's goods. Love can lessen, however, while we get distracted and overly-pleased with "things."
Regarding the basic material needs - not wants - the Scripture says, "But more than anything else, put God's work first and do what he wants. Then the other things will be yours as well." The traditional King James Version reads, "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you."
Note, basic needs are "added to" us. We are not to prioritize material concerns and place spiritual matters as the "added to" part. When we reverse this, we become controlled by disordered passion, we violate a spiritual law of Life.
So, nowhere does the Gospel devalue interest in material need or the right to possession. The Gospel does give the priority that defines a spiritual person.
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How are you seeking God and God's kingdom first in your life?
Are you growing in your first-love spiritually? Explain.
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*For submission of prayer requests, write to Brian at barukhattah@embarqmail.com .
*Charitable contributions would be appreciated to assist Brian in the continuance of his work of ministry. For contributions, contact Brian at barukhattah@embarqmail.com .
*Brian's book of spiritual love poetry, An Ache for Union: Oneness with God through Love, can be ordered through major booksellers, or through the Cokesbury on-line store, at www.cokesbury.com .
*Brian K. Wilcox lives in Punta Gorda, FL, and Clearwater, FL, with his wife, step-son, and two beloved dogs. Brian has an independent writing, workshop, and retreat ministry focused on Christians living as spiritual disciples of Jesus Christ in everyday life. He serves the Christ Community United Methodist Church, Punta Gorda, FL. Brian is vowed at Greenbough House of Prayer, a contemplative Christian community in South Georgia. He lives a vowed, contemplative life and inspires others to experience a more intimate relationship with God-in-Christ. Brian advocates for a spiritually-focused, experiential Christianity and renewal of the focus of the Church on addressing the deeper spiritual needs and longings of persons.
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