How should the church respond to all of this, outlined in the previous blog entry? After all, this is main question we should be asking ourselves if we are followers of Jesus. The church’s response to a culture of consumption lies within finding a balance between one’s “needs” and one’s “wants.” At the same time, we must take into consideration the stewardship of our money, especially in a time of great need in our world and country. Godly stewardship commands that all of one’s belongings are truly God’s, rather than one’s own.
Looking at “needs” verses “wants,” biblically speaking, God provides for the things we “need,” not for the things we “want.” Jesus, in Matthew 6:24 states, “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes?” In this verse a person’s basic needs are addressed; Jesus outlines that God will care for this people, and therefore, we are not to worry about our basic needs. It is important to also remember that there are people in the world that are without these basic needs and it is the church’s job to care for these people. In fact, this is exactly how God hopes to care for those who are in need in the world. God calls his Church to take into consideration those who are in need in their community and world when contemplating how to spend their money (Matthew 25: 31-46, Acts 2: 42-47). Caring for those who are poor is the topic of greatest concern in all of scripture, with over 3,000 references to the topic of poverty; this should be one of the Church’s greatest concerns.
When it comes to “want,” especially in the United States, it is easy to mix up “needs” for “wants;” and let me be the first to say I struggle when drawing the line between the two. It is helpful to ask yourself if you are really in “need” of a certain item or if you just “want” that item. When the line between “wants” and “needs” becomes blurred it is easy to become controlled by your “wants.” For instance, when annual cell phone contracts are up for renewal and the old cell phone is in fine working order, meeting our needs, how many of us, including myself, just go and purchase the newest phone, satisfying our “want”. Somehow, we have convinced ourselves that we need a new phone, when in fact we probably do not. It is even more questionable when we start purchasing everything we “want.” Soon before we realize it, our “wants” become what controls our behaviors and desires. Jesus reminds us, “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money” (Matthew 6:24 TNIV). This might seem like a harsh stance for Jesus to take, in fact, I am sure there are many people who have somehow skewed this text to make it say what they want it to. Yet, it seems pretty plain to us, if a person is serving money, material objects, stuff, and/or anything that will parish, they are not serving God.
Ultimately, that is the key. Are you serving God or money? How has control over your stuff, your money? When it comes to this holiday season, are you purchasing stuff just to fill someone’s or your own stocking? Are you taking into consideration those who are in need in the world? Are you serving money or God with what was never yours in the first place?
You see, despite what commercials tell us, material objects cannot fix your family, but God can. Clothing cannot make you get into the holiday season, but focusing it on God can. Providing your family with what they want will not make your or their holiday better, but seeing your holiday as a time to worship God can. As a Christian, I am embarrassed to know far to little about other holidays, but I can say with great conviction that there are no holidays that will occur this season that are focused on what people “want,” the stuff being exchanged, or the gifts given. Holidays are about celebrating what the creator has done for his creation. When God stepped into time he intervened in a salvific way to redeem his people. Therefore, as we sit on Thanksgiving and look through all the Black Friday ads that fly across our television screen or litter our newspaper, let us ask ourselves, is my God being honored this holiday season with how and where I am spending my money? Are my “wants” controlling the way I view this holiday season? Or, is God asking me to change, to do something different this holiday season?
May all of you have a blessed Thanksgiving with the people you love, and may you also remember it is not about what you have as much as who you serve. God Bless.
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