By Riley Nelson, Minister, Richmond Hill Church of Christ
When the focus of a home is on material things, before long the gathering of possessions becomes the most important thing to the household. Families grow apart as the god of materialism is worshiped; by the need to work longer hours, take on extra jobs. If a family is not extremely careful one day the home will be destroyed for a lack of love for each other. How strange it is that some couples have worked and worked to have things and in the end that’s all they have, and no one with whom to enjoy the things. God’s word is not silent on this issue, in fact it gives warnings against such a thing happening. “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also” (Mt.6:19 – 21). Those who worship at the altar of the god of materialism fail to see the “heart trouble” which will lead to their spiritual death. Jesus continued the same line of thought when He said, “No man 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 serve God and mammon … Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them… Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof” (Matthew 6:24 – 34).
Jesus warned against serving the god of materialism. “And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth” (Luke 12:15).
When a person is caught up in this sin he becomes a slave to his own lust for material possessions and cannot be a servant of God. Possessions become more important to this individual than seeking after God. This is not something that is new, Jesus talked to a man who was guilty of this sin, but thought he was a true follower: “And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet? 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. But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions” (Mt. 19:16 – 22). Men must realize that possessions are only for a little while, one day they will be gone.