In the SSTS text compiled with my lifelong friend Paul Estabrooks, we said: “Materialism is the attitude that says money, property, possessions, physical comforts, as well as worldly fame and honor, are the most important things in life. Not to say, “There is no God,” but to say, “We don’t have any need for God!”
Materialism is the subtlest trap of Satan. We can have all the Christian externals and yet be complete materialists in our hearts. For Christians, materialism is much like the frog in a pan of water that is slowly heated. He boils to death because he does not realize the danger quickly enough to jump out of the pot before it is too late.
In Matthew’s Gospel (Chapter 6) Jesus teaches us to give to the needy. “Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 3 But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you” – (Matthew 6:1-4 ESV).
There are two opposing masters on Earth: God and Money. You are a slave to the one you obey.
To compare down—with those who have less—creates one of two attitudes: The positive view is compassion and justice thinking: “How can I help?” The negative view is to ignore without mercy thinking: “How can I avoid helping?” The opposite of love is not always hated…it is also to ignore!
To compare up—with those who have more—generates one of two attitudes: The positive view is to rejoice and learn thinking: “How can I improve? Teach me.” The negative view is enviousness thinking: “How can I get (or take) what they have?” And who of us has never envied?
This graphic gets an amazing variety of responses depending on where I show it.
It helps some who tend to think of themselves as poor to see that when they step off the plane in another country with a) eyeglasses worth $500 and b) a laptop worth $1,000 and c) a return airline ticket worth over two grand they have instantly identified themselves as part of the “upper-10%” — just to get there! Many in North America are currently (may change soon) among the world’s rich just by virtue of birth! Am I complaining? No. Am I rejoicing? Yes.
Do I know what to do about it? Follow my own chart I guess!
“When you give…when you pray…(and) when you fast…” is the expectation of our Lord’s teaching in Matthew 6. Not “if you give…if you pray…and if you fast.” Giving, praying and fasting are among the most private, secret and personal of spiritual practices…and the most misunderstood. Those who fail to practice these delights in secret with a humble attitude can become like pharisaical sounding brass and legalistic tinkling cymbal