I have referenced the American philosopher Thoreau several times recently as a springboard to begin a spiritual discussion. This is the final quote in that series.
Most of the luxuries, and many of the so called comforts of life, are not only not indispensable, but positive hindrances to the elevation of mankind. With respect to luxuries and comforts, the wisest have ever lived a more simple and meager life than the poor.
Thoreau, Economy
Now, I am sure that Thoreau’s statement was counter-cultural when he wrote it. The statement is decidedly counter-cultural today. Our own government routinely encourages American citizens to spend themselves into debt in order to spur on the economy. We are a culture obsessed with the acquisition and accumulation of stuff. We pursue comfort and convenience as the chief end of man and worship at the feet of the god the Scripture calls greed (though we prefer more polite terms like consumerism or maybe materialism).
A very good argument could be made that Thoreau is correct, that most luxuries and comforts are not only unnecessary but detrimental. Those who travel widely (and away from the tourist traps) report that many cultures live quite contentedly in conditions that would be considered appalling by the standards of any developed nation. However, my concern is not with the social implications of this but the spiritual.
Allow me a paraphrase of Thoreau’s comments to illustrate the spiritual connection to which I refer.
Most of the luxuries, and many of the so called comforts of life, are not only not indispensable, but positive hindrances to the
elevation of mankindspiritual growth and vitality of Christians. With respect to luxuries and comforts, thewisestmost spiritual have ever lived a more simple and meager life than the poor.
Have you ever noticed that the more stuff we have the more it gets in the way?
- I realize that some people have been financially blessed by God and they truly do not cling to what they know is not theirs. These people are the exception.
- I realize that some people live in abject poverty all of their lives and yet never come close to God. Poverty does not guarantee spirituality.
Regardless of these exceptions most people struggle to balance stuff and spiritual vitality. Our money and possessions get in the way far more often and to a far greater extent than we would care to admit.
I will leave you with this thought:
“No slave can serve two masters; for a slave will either hate the one and love the other, or be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.”
The Pharisees, who were lovers of money, heard all this, and they ridiculed him.
So he said to them, “You are those who justify yourselves in the sight of others; but God knows your hearts; for what is prized by human beings is an abomination in the sight of God.Luke 16:13-15
{ 2 } Comments
Upon searching for related information to link to a daily devotional I was composing I found your blog site. I am happy to have found it and I will make it one of my favorites until I have had time to read all the articles I find interesting to me. Thank you for posting godly articles and backing them with Scripture for our information.
One quick suggestion for your site:
Try changing the “font” to Veranda size 12 for greater legibility. I use it with all my daily devotionals as my own eye site has begun to fade as of late. Sometimes getting older has its advantages but eyesite isn’t one of them!!! LOL!!!
Be blessed,
Mitch Porter
East Texas Church of the Way
Kilgore, TX
Daily Devotional
Givers or Enablers?
Every day I remind myself that my inner and outer life are based
on the labors of other men, living and dead, and that I must exert myself in order to give in the same measure as I have received
and am still receiving.
___Albert Einstein
Sometimes generous giving is a hindrance to those you are giving to. We love so deeply at times that all we want is to keep giving to prevent suffering. We can sometimes cause handicaps to those recipients of our gifts. Have you ever watched a butterfly struggle against the cocoon to get out? I heard the story of a man that was watching a butterfly try to escape her cocoon and in mercy he helped it by cutting away some of the mouth, thereby making a larger hole to escape through. The butterfly did manage to get out but in the process the wings were malformed and never allowed flight. Consequently the butterfly never flew and was eaten by a bird. What the man did not know was that it is the struggle to escape that forces the wings to fill out and pre-form for flight. Without that struggle the butterfly becomes severely handicapped, incapable of self-preservation.
Have you ever met someone who resembles the story of the butterfly? Sadly I’ve known many men who resemble this story. Today they are severely handicapped in their every day lives, incapable of doing things for themselves. Holding a respectable job is next to impossible because it is so easy to just quit and walk away. There are no consequences for them so why should they have to hold down jobs? As long as their sources of supply continue to produce for them with little or at no personal costs there is no reason to get out and do for themselves…or their families. Sadder still is the suffering that their families are forced to endure. Their dreams are almost never realized and thus life becomes one day of drudgery after another.
You think I’m speaking strictly of men but no. Many housewives force their families to live in squalor due to their lack of wisdom with credit. And if their credit cards are removed from them they turn to their husbands paychecks and destroy their abilities to pay the bills of necessity due to selfish pursuits and unwise purchases. They keep the roads hot, cell phones busy, friends gossiping, their families in poverty, and their homes in disarray. Dirty clothes, miscellaneous clutter, and trash cover every article of flooring and furnishing. Their personal appearance is usually dirty and their hair disheveled, body overweight, and personal hygiene can also suffer in their laziness. What is sad is that there are husbands who contribute to these delinquent women and become *enablers* rather than loving givers.
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