Buying stuff and selling our souls

This past Sunday, we talked about the persuasive power of the world, and God's grace which sets us free to realize that our value comes from a right relationship with our Creator.

I wanted to clarify, though, that I am NOT against buying nice things. There are definitely times and places (anniversaries, graduations, special occasions) where a gift of a 'nice thing' can be a special and touching thing, and that it is nice to occasionally purchase a 'nice thing'.

But the question is - and it's always this:

Whom do you serve?
Who's your Master?

If you just 'gotta go shopping'... if you can't imagine not having your premium cable package... if you're feeling like your neighbors have the nicest stuff... then it's time to stop and think:

Who's my master?

The world's Big Business wants us to think that when we've got $, then we're empowered, and that it's THEN that we've made it, that we're our own boss, and we can call the shots, if we want it, we can buy it! The world sells this, but God tells us not to buy it. Don't fall for the prostitute's promise of good feelings, don't become the world's tool.

Why not?

Because there is only one who is the "Lover of Our Souls" and He is waiting to transform us into all that we were made to be! This world, with all of its stuff, and all the TV ads that sell that stuff, is passing away and it won't last. And no sacrifice we make for His sake can compare to daily experiencing His grace in our lives.

For more on this subject, here is a great article in Christianity Today by fellow Alliance pastor Skye Jethani:
"We find ourselves in a culture that defines our relationships and actions primarily through a matrix of consumption. As the philosopher Baudrillard explains, "Consumption is a system of meaning." We assign value to ourselves and others based on the goods we purchase. One's identity is now constructed by the clothes you wear, the vehicle you drive, and the music on your iPod.
"In short, you are what you consume.
"This explains why shopping is the number one leisure activity of Americans. It occupies a role in society that once belonged only to religion—the power to give meaning and construct identity."

Skye's last word is great, though:

"After all, in a consumer culture the customer, not Christ, is king."

"With her [Bablyon, the world's Big Business] the kings of the earth committed adultery and the inhabitants of the earth were intoxicated with the wine of her adulteries." (Revelation 17:2, NIV)

Don't be seduced by Babylon's wine, dear friends. Make Christ the King of your life -- including your wallet.