Devices and desires
A vivid childhood memory of church is learning the bible verse on Golden Syrup : Judges 14:14! I did learn more than that. Recently a beautiful and perceptive phrase from the Book of Common Prayer came back to me: we have followed too much the devices and desires of our own hearts.
1 Tim 6:8 tells us that if we have food, clothes and shelter we should be content but Scripture also says we have other needs: relationships because it is not good to be alone; expressing God-given creativity (Ex 35-36) and security (Lev 25:18-19) to name a few. The difficulty is that our wants and desires can get in the way of satisfying our real needs. Affluence, with its promise of new experiences, possessions and opportunities creates discontent with what we have and what we are.
The first words of Jesus in John’s Gospel are a direct and penetrating question: what do you want?, literally What are you looking for? (John 1:38). I love the way Jesus asks this open question, asks about the desires of their hearts. We see it again when Mary is weeping at the empty tomb: Why are you weeping? Tell me about your tears. Jesus’ question is an invitation to grace, to real life, to discipleship from the heart.
Jesus warned us that we cannot serve God and mammon. The devices and desires of our hearts around money can cut us off from what we really need to live. Around money and possessions perhaps more than any other area of life we must hear the question: What are you looking for?
- How can I practice awareness; how can I discern between needs and wants?
- Am I drained of time and energy by pressures of work or personal debt?
- Have I set personal and/or family goals that shape my/our financial choices?
- Do I need a soul friend, a mentor to explore these issues?
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Random Links |
Viewpoint: Minimal Income standard Rebuttal comment: Bill Carmichael (these are just for fun & don't imply our commendation) |
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