“Do not love the world nor the
things in the world” (1 John 2:15).
The
past couple articles have served as an introduction to our main topics we will now discuss. We saw Satan as a snake, poised
and ready to attack. His divided tongue is set to separate us from God as he clings tightly to us, like dirty moss on a tree.
We now turn our attention to the venom that comes from the devil’s mouth.
The Serpent’s Poisons
One of the ways certain snakes kill their prey is by injecting poisonous venom into their enemy.
Sometimes the effects are immediate and obvious, while other times they are more subtle and deliberate. The Devil works in
much the same way; his tactics are varied and numerous. He attacks in obvious ways which bring immediate destruction, while
other times stealth is his chosen method.
The
particular poisons that are going to be discussed are not particular sins of action, such as lying, stealing, etc. Rather,
they are philosophies which represent the thoughts that lie behind our actions. These philosophies are some of the most dangerous
to be found in our society today. The devil has injected this toxin into the veins of our culture, and it would be wise for
all Christian to be aware of these, whether or not they represent something with which you have personally struggled.
In the following months we are going to examine seven poisonous
philosophies which can sometimes be subtle, but always dangerous. These poisons include Materialism, Hedonism, Rationalism,
Relativism, Pluralism, Universalism, and Postmodernism. This month we look at Materialism.
Materialism
Materialism
is much larger than how we find this word commonly used today. We often think of someone as materialistic when they only concern
themselves with nice houses, fast cars, and beautiful jewelry. While this is true, materialism goes much deeper than being
interested solely in things money can buy.
The philosophical term represents a belief where only the matter we see, or the physical world around us,
exists. It leaves out the possibility of God, as He is a Spirit being. Materialism says that death is the end, so we should
“eat, drink, and be merry.”
Materialism
find its roots in such cultures as early Greek philosophers, Chinese Confucianism, 18th Century French Enlightenment, and
other times and places. A notable materialist was Karl Marx, who incorporated class struggle into his form of materialism.
Materialism continues today among the majority of people in Western civilization.
Though most people may admit to believing in some kind of God, I do not think it is much more than
wishful thinking. If many of these people searched their hearts, I’m certain that they would find that their beliefs
actually center on the physical—what they can experience through their five senses. When they die they do not really
expect to go to any place beyond the grave itself. I know that this is presumptuous of me, but this is what appears to be
the case, especially when a person’s actions give a clue to his heart’s beliefs. When I look at the actions of
the majority, it screams materialism.
I
chose this philosophy first because it is the foundation for many other beliefs. The danger of materialism is that it explains
away the existence of God. It robs people of true hope for an afterlife, and as a result, they are encouraged to live only
for the now. A simple look around will show countless people concentrating only on the physical part of their being.
Out of this neglect of the spiritual and adherence to the
physical flows our contemporary use of materialism. So often, even as Christians, we turn most of our attention to material
things like having the best clothes for church or the nicest car with the most updated features.
This is especially the case in American suburbia. We seem to always
want more and more, and are satisfied with far less. Jesus asked, “For what is a man profited if he gains the whole
world, and loses or forfeits himself?” (Luke 9:25).
The hazard for believers is for us to place so much attention on the physical that we leave no room
for God to work in the spiritual. We snuff out God in order to look good, feel good, and have temporary enjoyment. The Great
Commission becomes an impossibility because we cannot get out of our own way to even see the lost world. In essence, we are
no better than the French philosophers who declared only the material world exists.
1 John 2:15-17 tells us,
Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not
in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not
from the Father, but is from the world. The world is passing away and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God
lives forever.”
So what
do we do, throw away all earthly goods and become desert monks? The key is to make sure God has a larger hold than the world.
If any area of our lives is controlling us, to the exclusion of God, then we need to adjust that area. Sometimes it means
a complete overhaul of our finances, our jobs, or whatever is tying down our affections.
This is so important, for we are talking about our spiritual vitality here. We are talking about
our relationship with the most important being in the universe who gave us life. We’re talking about our duty to reach
loved ones who could spend their eternity separated from God and us.
The solution is the same as with our other problems—prayer and Scripture. God has given these
to us to build our relationship with Him. The more we pray and read the Bible regularly, the more frequently the Lord is in
our thoughts. When our concentration is on the spiritual, there is a good chance that the physical will not be erroneously
elevated.
Now, I’m certainly
not saying that our physical side of our being is wrong; I’m not a Platonist. God created us to be spiritual and physical
beings. We usually err on the side of the physical though. So, I believe a little cutting back on material things and thoughts
can only benefit us. The less distractions in our lives, the easier it will be for us to hear the whisperings of the Holy
Spirit.
Materialism is a venom straight
from Satan’s mouth. It is a method he will use to lead many people astray, and keep others in the dark. But God is light,
and believers are bearers of this light. So, let’s shine that light to the world and expose that poison which aims to
undermine the Creator of all life.
