National Consumption Day

A Florida station reported today that security guards at Wal-Mart wrestled a man to the ground after he attempted to cut in line to buy a laptop computer that was on sale.

In last Saturday’s Washington’s Post, Paul Blustein tried to help Americans understand their own consumer culture by describing the contrast between two company head executives – one American and one Korean. The Korean firm is a leader in motorcycle helmet manufacturing and their US partner manages the distribution and sales in the United States. Bob Miller, who heads up the US partner, has built a life in Southern California with all the bells and whistles: tennis courts, Jacuzzi, a collection of classic cars including a vintage 1979 Ferrari, blonde wife, etc. etc…. Scott Hong, President of the Korean motorcycle helmet manufacturing company, also worth millions, drives a 3 year old VW Passat and lives a life of relative frugality in a modest apartment in Seoul, South Korea. The article also noted that the consumer behavior of each of these executives is mirrored by their employees. The Korean employees of Mr. Hong wisely save between 10-60% of their income while 80% of the American employees for Mr. Miller do not even contribute into their 401K.

When Danielle and I came back from Ireland, one of the most difficult items to adjust to was the outward prosperity of the United States. The luxury cars, houses, furniture, etc. took our breath away and left us amazed at the money on display everywhere we looked. Through the media, Americans are bombarded by advertisements that awaken our desires to buy X, Y Z. Paying is a breeze, just pull out the plastic and sign. If we can’t pay the full credit card bill this month don’t worry just pay the minimum until the cards are maxed. When the cards are maxed, not to worry, with home appreciation, we can get a 2nd load to finance our credit cards and buy more. I love statistics so here are a few ones that highlight the problem:

• Americans spend $1.22 for each $1.00 they earn.
• Average credit card debt is over $8,000.
• Personal bankruptcies have doubled in the last 10 years.

No society can go on living on this type of a binge. The American society is like a drunkard who discounts the destruction of his liver because it hasn’t happened yet. The affects of this borrowing mentality will come home and bring their just desserts in time. These will include a lower standard of living, higher unemployment and potential political instability.

These material consequences are serious, but what is of greater concern is if the spirit of materialism and its love of money and pleasure has permeated into the Christian church. In Revelation, chapter 3, the Lord shows us an example of a New Testament Christian church which though founded by the Apostles has fallen into the trap of materialism. Jesus sends the following stern message to the church in Laodicea,

I will vomit you out of My mouth. Because you say, I am rich and increased with goods and have need of nothing, and do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked, .” (Revelation 3:16)

This is not the only warning in the Bible. Jesus has a sermon to the covetous Pharisees in Luke 16. Please note verse 11, Jesus states the importance of money.

If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches? (Luke 16:11)

The words are clear. If you cannot handle money faithfully, you are not a Christian. Jesus affirms this interpretation in verse 13.

“No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one, and love the other, or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot server God and mammon. (Luke 16:13)

The Pharisees, who were the teachers of the church in Jesus’ day, derided his message because they were covetous. How our sin can blind us!

In the Old Testament, there is another very powerful example of covetousness in the church. In Deuteronomy Chapter 28, God states the blessings and curses that accompany faithfulness and unfaithfulness. One of the curses of unfaithfulness is poor financial stewardship. Verse 44, notes that in their unfaithfulness, they would borrow from strangers. The end state of their unfaithfulness would be their destruction at the hands of the Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar. The sin that underlies the society is described by Jeremiah and Ezekiel.

And they come unto thee as the people cometh, and they sit before thee as my people, and they hear thy words, but they will not do them: for with their mouth they shew much love, but their heart goeth after their covetousness. (Ezekiel 33:31)

Sin deceives that heart. Note, Ezekiel declares that the people of Judah “shew much love” in their fellowship. These nominal believers are fervently fellowshipping, but their heart is after material possessions. Jeremiah also notes that this sinful behavior exists and that it exists throughout the entire social strata from the top to the bottom.

For every one from the least even unto the greatest is given to covetousness, from the prophet even unto the priest every one deals falsely. (Jeremiah 8:10b)

This pursuit of money by the people of Israel lead to their destruction. The book of Jeremiah and Ezekiel are filled with God’s warning to the people of Judah. In the end, the people, the church and the government fail to listen, repent and live an obedient life.

How much is the church in America like the church of Israel? Are we like the children of Israel capable of deluding ourselves into believing that we are God’s people because we trust in outward manifestations? Could the words of Lord to the Church at Laodicea be also meant for our church?

If we doubt our faithfulness with money to the Lord, I suggest we follow the challenge laid down in Matthew 19:21. Jesus says, the following to the rich young man that would like to know for sure he is right with God.

Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me. (Matthew 19:21)

This man is like those in the days of Ezekiel who outwardly are following God but in their hearts are idolaters. Jesus is telling the young man to remove the hidden idol of his life – money. To make this clear, Jesus provides an absolute choice of following God or money. The young man is sad because he wants both. Sadly in the end, he picks money. Please remember, this young man was following the Law of Moses. He was certainly tithing his money to the church, but was still an idolater. We need to examine the power of money in our own hearts and not be blinded by our token obedience in tithing.

Jesus provided the following advice.

I counsel you to buy from Me gold purified by fire, so that you may be rich; and white clothing, so that you may be clothed, and so that the shame of your nakedness does not appear. And anoint your eyes with eye salve*, so that you may see.” (Revelation 3:17-18)

*salve means a medicinal ointment

Jesus is offering us an incredible business proposition. Invest your current money in the next world by putting your money to work for God. We need to challenge ourselves to invest more of our money and heart in the God’s business. Maybe some folks could provide me some comments on how they see God opening doors for using money in His service.

Scripture taken from the King James and the Holy Bible, Modern King James Version
http://www.mkjvonline.com/
Copyright © 1962 - 1998
By Jay P. Green, Sr.
Used by permission of the copyright holder.