Carnal Chameleon

Martin Luther once wrote:

"That is the proof of a spiritual and wise man. He knows that he is carnal and is displeased with himself; Indeed he hates himself and praises the Law of God which he recognizes because he is spiritual. But the proof of a foolish carnal man is this, that he regards himself as spiritual and is not."

Now more than ever, in this civilization that embraces materialism, greed and self, some may find themselves on a slippery slope: having to balance their desire to bless their kids, family and friends with material things with the very real threat of descending into outright greed. Now some might say "There's nothing wrong with having nice things and giving nice things to the people you love." Well, that's right to a point. However, at some point, it stops being about the person and becomes about the things. Thus, people stop having things and the things begin having them. And then the gifting goes too far and stops being about the person receiving the gifts, and becomes about the person giving it. That they would be appreciated, valued...loved.

That the World engages in this behavior is expected. That Christians partake of it is sad. A tragic state that is abeted by the belief that because we are God's children, by virtue of that relationship, we are free to take whatever our flesh, our eyes and our pride desire (1John 2:15-17). Millions are spent on advertisements every holiday season (and indeed, year-round) to make viewers equate goods and services with love and worth. And we lose our perspective, feeling bad when we can't "keep up with the Joneses" because we are surrounded by consumerism, covetousness and excess. Or we become "the Joneses", pouring our time and resources into trying to convey our feelings for the ones we love through things.

Jesus said: "...Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions." (Luke 12:15)

We must keep the counsel of Christ and not let money or posessions posess us. We must be as Luther described, knowing that we are carnal and being displeased with our state. When we, as believers, deal honestly with ourselves, confess our sins to Christ and allow the Holy Spirit to minister to us, to hold us up to the example of Christ and the Word of God, then and only then do we truly see who we are in Christ: Sinners saved by grace, once dead but now alive (Ephesians 2:4-9), content with who we are in Him and responsible stewards of all He has blessed us with (Phil 4:10-13)

Pastor Mike