The other day I saw a flyer advertising the new Mitsubishi Eclipse. It's one sweet looking car. I sat on my couch and dreamed about owning it. I thought about what it would feel like to drive it down the road or be seen in it by others. I went to the Web site to see more details. It only costs $19,500 give or take a few bucks. That's not unreasonable for a car...right? I could afford the monthly payments. I have had my car for 7 years. God wouldn't mind if I trade up...right? God wants me to have nice things...right?
I'm not even a car nut compared to most guys. But I sure thought about taking a test drive. Do I really need a new car? No! I could probably drive my current car for another 5-7 years. It's not a matter of need but of desire.
Frequently, the guys at the teen Bible study that meets at my house talk about their favorite cars. I have kind gotten interested in cars lately thanks to their enthusiasm. Not that there is anything wrong with nice cars. But I am starting to see how much of a consumer I have really become. And I don't like it. How can I find the middle ground between enjoying stuff and being consumed by it?
I read the other day about a Christian movement/ministry that serves the poor in urban areas. People who join the ministry have to agree to live near the people they serve and live at or around the poverty line. You can earn extra money but you have to give it way for kingdom purposes. Does God want me to do something like that? Or is that an extreme that God doesn't call most people to do? This particular Christian ministry calls its staff to live a life without lots of stuff in order to better relate with the people it serves. It's not about proving anything to God as much as it is setting aside distractions and things that can tie you down.
Part of me wants to get stuff. Part of me wants to give everything away. What is going on here? Jesus never really amassed a lot of earthly wealth. He had better things to focus on. Jesus frequently didn't have a place to lay His head. He encouraged His disciples to pack light and stay with other people when they went out to minister. Jesus didn't even have a nice horse. He did lots of walking. Why would I ever think that He would drive a nice car if He physically lived on the earth today?
I'm not saying go out and sell everything tomorrow. I certainly don't have the faith to do that. But I am starting to wonder if every financial obligation I make carries with it a greater weight that I at first realize. The more stuff we get, the more we can become mastered by it. Jesus has called us to be free men. And I certainly don't want to be weighed down by any more stuff than is absolutely necessary.
Lord, may I be consumed by passion for You and a heart to love those who need to hear about Your life. Keep me free from unnecessary financial pressures or burdens. May I be a good steward of all things that You have given me. May I never find my identity in stuff or seek fulfillment in idols. Cause me to enjoy things without being consumed by stuff. I want to be free from consumerism. I desire to serve. Help me to live in such a radical way. May I never become proud of any measure I take to fulfill this sense of self abandonment. Make me who You want me to be. Amen!
