“I have the strength for everything through him who empowers me.” (Philippians 4:13)
Ifollow this fairly wellknown pastor on Instagram. He’s a youngish guy with a great story. He serves at a larger church, has written a book and gets asked to speak at big conferences. He’s the real deal. But I also see what looks like a nod to “worldliness (1st John 2:15).”
Worldliness can show up in a lot of ways but with this guy it seems like he is struggling with material things. He has just built a house that is in a really nice neighborhood, big homes, his back deck overlooks a canyon that would make the Grand Canyon jealous. The reason I know all of this is he posts videos of his new home and asks viewers to vote on the furnishings (silly). I think about the person in this pastor’s church that is giving his offering but barely making ends meet, would like new furniture and a better place to live himself.
I can struggle with these optics in my own life. I was told not too long ago by a church member that helps with the financial end of things that, “I don’t make much money.” To be honest it kind of hurt my feelings and he was right but still I’m concerned that my lifestyle does not look extravagant.
We have never been on vacation, we have one car, we live in the Polly Pocket house, we rarely eat out, we just got the internet, we have one TV, I don’t own a full suit and we do not have a 401k. Still John the Baptist said if you have two coats you have one too many (Luke 3:11). Ken, what are you trying to say? I’m saying, are we the suffering servant Jesus was? Is our money our money, could we all be better managers of it, do we live a better life than Christ or the Apostle Paul? What consumes us, what do we worship (I really enjoy my plush L. L. Bean bath towels), what do we dream about, shop for and think that after we click to purchase we will finally be happy - just to find out out that clicking did not make us happy, it did not satisfy and so we continue on the journey of greed (just one more pair of running shoes or for you it might be one more trip).
What’s our perspective on our possessions, on our material things? I wonder how many Christians on Martha’s Vineyard even thought about hospitality and inviting someone from another country looking for a better life into their home (Hebrews 13:2)? I’m just asking and there is a lot to unpack there but I think you get my point.
I’m trying to get the Blonde to sell the house and live in an Airstream but she says it has to have two bathrooms. Obviously, Airstream is unaware of the engineering failure in their 7 x 16-foot Basecamp design. Jesus talked about treasure (Matthew 6:1921) and the cares of this world (Mark 4:18-19). This homeless Savior (Matthew 8:20) encouraged us to find satisfaction and joy in seeking the Kingdom first (Matthew 6:33), to be more concerned about giving than getting. I’m struggling but every Christian is a struggling Christian. He told me to tell you
that.
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