Materialism. In the economic connotation, it has to do with the acquiring of stuff, but that is only one dimension of it...
The teacher John said it like this: "Do not love the world or anything in the world. If you love the world, love for the Father is not in you. For everything in the world - the cravings of sinful people, the lust of their eyes and their boasting about what they have and do - comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever." (1 John 2:15-17)
I watched a few episodes of "The O.C." tonight with my friend Chris (Crarey) - it seems I have an abundance of friends and acquaintances with that name! Must be a Portland thing. As we were watching the show, I was struck by the opulence of the cars and houses - even their clothes. These kids have a school that looks more like a luxury day spa! We sat down to watch this show AFTER we spent an hour or so playing with his new Apple MacBook Pro... Needless to say, I already had the envy bug at this point.
I grew up in Bellevue, where most kids inherit Dad's BMW if they're unlucky. I didn't get my first car until I turned 20. My whole life I've been the kid in last year's sale fashions, driving a beater or taking the bus...
I'm not feeling sorry for myself (too much). If anything, I'm scared. I want to move to L.A. and live in a giant house, drive a sexy car, date a model, wear the labels. My heart scares me.
In Scripture, Christ tells parables to warn about this: The rich man who counted his money and reveled in it died that very night, a victim of his greed - judged and found guilty by the Lord. "It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom..."
Forget those forbodings for a minute, and look again at 1 John 2. "If you love the world, love for the Father is not in you!!!!
Tonight, I'm questioning what's in my heart. Do I love things more than I love the very God who created me? Am I that American?!
Lord, help me love you more than what I see around me.
