Love Forever
I always felt that I was able to carefully protect myself from being materialistic. I try to constantly remind myself that God has chosen to bless me with material gifts. I do know that I can only enjoy these gifts, if I keep God as my one true source of joy. I've focused on this a lot over the past few weeks, and I thought it could help me overcome my worldliness.
If only it were that easy. In all my effort to focus on overcoming materialism, I gave another one of my weaknesses room to work.
1 John 2:15-16
Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For everything in the world-the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does-comes not from the Father but from the world.
I didn't notice it until it hit me right in the face. I let myself fall into the trap of intellectualism. I confess that my academics are going very well this semester. Due to my foolishness and the fact that I let my guard down, the success developed into pride and the pride placed in me a sense of entitlement. Entitlement is such a dangerous mindset. We think people should treat us better. We feel that we should get some kind of reward. Finally, when things don't go well, we look to God and say "I don't deserve this."
What do we deserve then? Truthfully, we deserve NOTHING. What have you done for God that can add to His glory? What can we ever do to add to God's glory? Again, NOTHING. So why do you have some things? All the things we have is only by grace, it is a gift from God. If we think about it, it's actually a wonderful way to consider everything. Alone, we all have no worth, we all can do nothing. God gives us everything we have as a gift, so that no one has anything to brag about.
Philippians 4:11-13
I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength.
If only it were that easy. In all my effort to focus on overcoming materialism, I gave another one of my weaknesses room to work.
1 John 2:15-16
Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For everything in the world-the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does-comes not from the Father but from the world.
I didn't notice it until it hit me right in the face. I let myself fall into the trap of intellectualism. I confess that my academics are going very well this semester. Due to my foolishness and the fact that I let my guard down, the success developed into pride and the pride placed in me a sense of entitlement. Entitlement is such a dangerous mindset. We think people should treat us better. We feel that we should get some kind of reward. Finally, when things don't go well, we look to God and say "I don't deserve this."
What do we deserve then? Truthfully, we deserve NOTHING. What have you done for God that can add to His glory? What can we ever do to add to God's glory? Again, NOTHING. So why do you have some things? All the things we have is only by grace, it is a gift from God. If we think about it, it's actually a wonderful way to consider everything. Alone, we all have no worth, we all can do nothing. God gives us everything we have as a gift, so that no one has anything to brag about.
Philippians 4:11-13
I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength.