Luxury Lust

I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store my surplus grain. And I’ll say to myself, ‘You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.’ But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’ This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God. Luke 12:18-21

Lust for luxury is the natural progression of a cultural craze for more things. This materialistic addiction is never satisfied, as it wants just a little bit more. Relationships are patronized, sacrificed and neglected for the purpose of material gain. Image, not intimacy, is what’s valued by those discontent unless they are able to upgrade. Ironically, insecurity drives this abnormal notion of security they strive in vain to achieve.

Bigger is not always better, because bigger brings complexity, not simplicity. Bigger requires added cost for upkeep and attention. What starts out as a desire for something nice can get out of hand and became a hindrance, instead of a help. A bigger bank account, a bigger house and a bigger car can become a distraction to God’s purposes.

“But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction” (1Timothy 6:6-9).

Covetousness can creep up on us like a lion stalking prey. When startled, we finally come to our senses, but find ourselves in the clutch of debt’s grip. The remedy for a rich man’s ruckus is found in being rich toward God. Our identity is not in the abundance of our possessions, who we “are” is defined by the abundance of our life in Christ.

What does it mean to be rich toward God? It means that wealth brings faith to a soul, not folly. Treasures are not meant to be stored for self, but in service to the Lord and others. Filthy lucre on earth is replaced with eternal reward in heaven. The wealth of the next world is pursued over the wealth of this world, when Christ captivates a heart.

“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Luke 12:34).

Therefore, resolve to the wise way of engaging God and His purpose for your life. Avoid the mind games that money plays on foolish souls, seek instead valid security in Jesus. Determine to build a bigger belief in the Lord and a smaller perception of stuff. Soul fulfillment comes from building the Kingdom of God and His righteousness.

“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well” (Matthew 6:33).

1st things 1st

 First Things First

But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Matthew 6:33

Whenever I feel like my life is out of sync, I have to be reminded of what my priorities are. It is

so easy to get consumed by everyone else’s agenda around you. You can feel like you have

accomplished nothing although you have been busy all week. Beloved, I must be honest with

you. It is not material things I want most from God. I want what money cannot buy. I want

God’s righteousness, His peace, His joy, His love, His purity and perfection, His mind, His

kingdom. I am at a place in my life where I don’t have time for foolish pursuits and wasted time

on people who just want to play with life. I want to be everything God ordained for me to be. In

order for that to occur, I must put the first things first.

Our verse tells us to seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness. Sounds like a

big chase doesn’t it? How can I go after something I cannot see? How can I be motivated to

pursue something I have never touched? The kingdom of God and his righteousness cannot be

obtained physically nor through my intellect. I must open my heart and mind and pray for God

to come in. Our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit according to I Corinthians 6:19. The

temple is the place God wants to dwell. The first thing I must do is invite Him in. I can simply

pray, “Lord you are welcomed in my mind, body, and soul. I totally surrender all of me to you

this day in Jesus’ name, AMEN.” Beloved if you pray like this today, you are putting first things

first. Then all of the other things that Matthew 6 alludes to will be yours.

Let Him in

 To the Church in Laodicea ] “To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: These are the words

of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation. Here I am! I stand at the

door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that

person, and they with me. Revelation 3:14,20 

We simply have to let Jesus in. He is so faithful to his word to always be standing at the doors of our hearts knocking. When we didn’t love ourselves, he was at the door knocking. When we had no regard for his love, he was at the door knocking.

When I was deep in my sins, he was at my door knocking. The angel of the church in Laodicea

was giving these words to John while he was on the prison island of Patmos. The angel said that

these words are of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation. The angel

was telling John whose words were these.

These are the words of Jesus beloved. He stands at the door today still knocking. In the

day you hear His voice, harden not your heart. Please let Him in. He desires fellowship with His

creation. He died for us just so that he could come in. He was beaten for us so that He could

come in. He shed His blood so that He could come in. He gives you and I the power however to

open the door. You have a choice to keep the door shut. But, I beg you today by the mercies of

God, please open the door and let Jesus in to stay for good. Don’t let Him just be a visitor.

Let Him remain forever.