After WWII, the economy exploded as the technology for war could create fantastic items for peace. Factories turned out a myriad of products at a reasonable price that the average person never comprehended. Thus the age of materialism erupted around the world.
People that had survived the depression with the bare minimum either became hoarders and still lived in their minds under Depression conditions living as paupers and leaving great wealth at their death or became like crows and shiny things. The mind boggled at the available “necessities” for the modern man and woman.
We went from an enduring society where washers and refrigerators would last years to a consumer society where everything is built to fail, usually the day after the warrant gives. Grandma’s refrigerator built in 1952 and still running in 2002 is replaced by one that may last ten years.
Cars survived like immortals. They were easy to repair. Now they are mostly plastic and computers with manufacturers having numerous recalls and “shade tree” mechanics are hard to find since the dealers have all the fancy tools to fix things that you almost have to take the car apart whereas they used to be easy to do by a teenager.
A 1953 Chevy advertisement encouraged you to “Eye it! Try it! Buy it!” The lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh and the pride of life in three words because you want to be the first one on the block to have one. We are now swamped with gizmos and gadgets that we must have if we are to be happy or survive in these modern time. How civilization managed to survive on less is miraculous.
Our holidays are more about marketing then being a holy day, which is what holiday came from. Unless you buy everything possible and go into debt you can’t celebrate the birth of Christ? One church spent $250K on an Easter presentation when all it cost the Romans two boards and three nails. Even Jesus’ tomb was borrowed. Of course, we spend tons on candy for Easter and to prove your love once a day for your wife or girl friend. Indeed, life will be stressful if you don’t do hearts and flowers even though you show you love the other 364 days. And we must remember our other day promoting diabetes in October.
Everything has to be updated. It may not be broken, but it has to be in style whether that is the color of our walls, the ceiling fan or door knobs. If they are not in style, they have to go. I am of the old school that says if it isn’t broke don’t fix it.
Indeed, the prosperity gospel teaches that we should have the best of everything. One lad said to not just pray for tires. Pray for Michelins. Shoot, there was a time I had retreads or may pops as we called them as the tread could pop off at any time. Churches build Taj Mahals and the pastors and staff drive around in luxury cars wearing $8-10K watches and feel like they deserve it. If you sow the right seed, you can also have this lavish lifestyle.
The issue is that I cannot see a call to lavishness and materialism in the Word. Yes, the kings had great wealth, but not all were kings. Priests were not allowed to own land and had their needs provided for by Law. There were poor folks and what we might call middle class, but the poor were in greater number and Jesus said we would have poor with us always. He never talked about sowing seed money or to just name and claim it to manifest it. Indeed, he said the foxes and birds had what He did not have on this earth.
We need to preach and live a gospel of contentment.
Luke 3:14 And the soldiers likewise demanded of him, saying, And what shall we do? And he said unto them, Do violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely; and be content with your wages.
Of all the things John the Baptist could have instructed the soldiers to do being content with your wages seems a bit light. Soldiers of the day were usually brutal and many were rapists. We know they could legally make you carry their belongings for a mile as Jesus said to go two miles. From this we speak of going the extra mile when we do more than what is required. It is a good way to get promotions.
Do no violence did not mean as an act of war. They could and often did hurt people if they got in their way or did not give them want they wanted. Indeed, they could falsely accuse you of a crime and their word was law. Being they had so much authority and generated a great deal of fear it is likely they would either just take whatever they wanted and even demand money from individuals. Thus to be content with their wages or to live within their means would be a major impact on their lives as well as the populace. Cornelius was an exception to the rule. Indeed, his faith got his prayers heard and a visit from Peter leading to him and all present to salvation.
Philippians 4:11 Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.
Really, Paul? Paul chained to two guards in a nasty prison and yet he was content. He had his bare minimum needs met by the government. Food was not provided by a five-star Michelin chef and the accommodations would have made living on our streets an upgrade.
Yet, he is content. Indeed, The Holy Spirit had him pen an epistle of joy in those conditions. Our prisons would seem like a country club. He is not in anxiety. He considers suffering for Jesus as part of the faith and would write all that live godly will suffer persecution as it is given to all not only to believe, but to suffer.
That does not sound like any of the prosperity gospel that abounds today. That does not sound like the American dream. No one is going to pray for that in their lives, but Paul is content.
1Timothy 6:8 And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.
Wow! He does not even mention shelter! Hard to comprehend in our culture. Depending on where you were, I suspect you could find a cave as long as it was not occupied by some critter you did not want to mess with. You could get some shelter from a tree.
I suspect the only fat people were the extremely rich. Not everyone got three meals a day. There are folks today saying we only need one meal a day and most of that should be meat. Back then, fish, bread, lentils, locusts, lamb, sheep milk and such were the common menu items. The poor we know were allow to work the gleanings of the field and could go fishing. Not exactly an all you can eat buffet with a hundred items including dessert. They were probably not afflicted with many of the problems we have with the standard American Diet. (SAD)
Many places in Asia, the poor eat rice and fish three times a day and may snack on rice balls. What could you eat three times a day for the rest of your life? If it is not healthy, you may have a shorter life.
Hebrews 13:5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
Paul was obviously not an American or 1st World person. We tend to want everything and get jealous of those who have want we want. Often we do not have it because we do not want to do the work it took for the other person to get it.
Our whole life is based on wanting more and wanting updates of what we have. Commercials tell us we have to have it and six months later tell us we need the new and improved. We want bigger and better.
I am not immune from this, but I have learned from my frugal wife that we do not necessarily need some things. She is the reason that I was able to retire from secular work early and free of debt. I owe a little bit on the house because we just moved to be closer to my youngest granddaughter and four great-grands. That should be taken care of in a few months. It is adequate. Not fancy at all. Real Estate agents always wanted us to buy bigger because we could afford it. We chose to live in a house, not live for it and have a mortgage when we are in our eighties.
I drive a 2005 GMC pickup that I inherited from my son. My two KIAs are paid for and we will run them into the ground before we seek another vehicle. I have suits that are years old. If I get back to my fighting weight of 200, I will have to look into at least a basic black suit for funerals. I don’t need any for preaching anymore since that is not a thing in most circles albeit I am not a skinny jeans guy. If something breaks then the replacement will be an upgrade, but we are if it isn’t broken we do not fix it.
The American dream is a nightmare for many. We need to practice a gospel of contentment. Knowing Jesus will not forsake us and having our true needs met should be enough. When we die or are Raptured we take nothing with us.
Some things we should never be content with are our worship, apathy, laziness, hatred, injustice, church attendance, our service, our relationships to God and others. These we should always being willing to seek new levels of alignment with God and His will. These things we are allowed to have godly discontentment.
May we always be willing to be content in a godly way and reject contentment with ungodliness in us, our family, our church, our community, our state and our nation. Maranatha!
