A Remedy Against Kingdoms of Ashes - Part 3

Content on what the Lord provides in our lives.It was Henry David Thoreau who said, “A gun gives you the body, not the bird.” Likewise,in this context, materialism, and the fervid pursuit of it, can provide clutter…but nevercontentment.Therefore, Christians are never defined by the accumulation of items that our hands can hold, but rather by holding steadfast to the pierced hand of our Savior, our truest definition is revealed.Now there is great gain in godliness with contentment, for we brought nothing into theworld, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing,with these we will be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, intoa snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin anddestruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this cravingthat some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. I Timothy 6:6-11The American business concept of capitalism denies this passage and defines ‘greatgain’ solely by means of monetary accumulation and market value. However, regardlessof the grandiloquent amount of items accumulated to ‘define’ our ‘self-worth’…in theend…it…all…burns. [Matthew 3:12, Luke 3:17]Thus, before God’s Bema Seat of Judgment we will see business giants, household names, and legendary figures standing humbled and ashamed before their Creator amidst their own personal kingdoms of ashes.Consequently, society’s dependency on materialism as a determining factor of personal ‘worth’ is at the crux of Emil Brunner and Jacques Ellul’s assertion that ‘technology is today’s metaphysic’; where ultimately the only thing that matters is if the outcome works. In stark contrast, the Christian rests in knowing that our ‘outcome’ was attained on the Cross at Calvary and in no greater truth can we possibly find an explanation for our contentment and for our lack of desiring to be defined by the ‘seen’ and ‘temporal’.Hence, faithfulness with little, amidst a culture that is addicted to excess and finds no satisfaction in any state that doesn’t demand attention and accolades, is VERY unpopular.We practice our Oscar acceptance speech before we ever even take our first acting class. We imagine our set list while playing to a sold out crowd at Wembley Stadium but give little regard to what we perform at a local outreach with a handful of spectators. We’re too theologically- qualified to assist playing on the floor and wiping noses in the nursery, or cleaning toilets and windows, but feel entitled to be the first person contacted to preach on Sundays in the event that the pastor out of town.However, without complete faithfulness in all aspects of our stewardship, then anyseemingly ‘insignificant’ thing Christ has called us to oversee will go unappreciated, unvalued, and under-committed. Ultimately, these opportunities serve as a ministerial ‘tar pit’ where we either learn gratitude in serving the Lord in ANY circumstance or we sink into unusable nothingness."One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in avery little is also dishonest in much. If then you have not been faithful in the unrighteouswealth, who will entrust to you the true riches? And if you have not been faithful in thatwhich is another's, who will give you that which is your own?” Luke 16:10-12Thus, the writer of Hebrews advises Christians everywhere to,” Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you." Hebrews 13:5In valuing Christ above all else we will find rest from this fallen world’ s definitions of ‘value’and ‘worth’ and discover contentment in all things the Lord entrusts to our lives.We all need periods of quiescence.The enemy of our soul makes this very difficult to attain.However, we belong to a Savior who has said,” Come to me, all who labor and are heavyladen, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentleand lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and myburden is light." asks that our ‘cares’ be ‘cast upon Him’ and in return we carry His ‘lightyoke’. Matthew 11:28-30So, while Red Bull claims to ‘Give You Wings’, Monster urges you to ‘Unleash the Beast’, and Rockstar Energy Drink encourages you to ‘Party like a Rock Star’, they all fall horrifically short of the Lord’s promise to satisfy us completely: 'Whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life." John 4:14Ezra Boggs is a regular contributor to The Paradox blog.