Consumed Pt 1

Here's the first part of a new series on worship called Consumed. This week we're taking a look at the things that we replace God with.
Abs

Consumed Pt 1
Worship Objects

Probably the most frustrating thing for many of us is the crowd that exists in our lives. Now I’m not talking about people this morning, I’m talking about stuff. I walked into Panera this morning with two bags containing 4 books, an ipod, 2 notebooks, numerous pens and papers, a laptop, and a thumb drive. I had to put it all down before I could even order. It’s crazy how stuffed with stuff, and the stuff we use to get that stuff, our lives can become. I’ve often wondered what God thinks of our stuff. Does it really hold no value to Him at all? Can our stuff be useful to God or is it just there to crowd Him out? For the next three weeks we are going to take a look at our lives from God’s persective. What is in our lives that keeps us close to God? What consumes us to the point that it damages our relationship with Jesus? How do we maintain balance in our lives? What does that balance look like?

Luke 12:13-34
13Someone in the crowd said to him, "Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me."
14Jesus replied, "Man, who appointed me a judge or an arbiter between you?" 15Then he said to them, "Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions."
16And he told them this parable: "The ground of a certain rich man produced a good crop. 17He thought to himself, 'What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.'
18"Then he said, 'This is what I'll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. 19And I'll say to myself, "You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry." '
20"But God said to him, 'You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?'
21"This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God."

I WANT

In a land rife with consumers willing to spend, demographics matter even to farmers. That’s the message retail analyst Kenneth Gassman brought to the Virginia Farm Bureau Federation’s 78th Annual Convention on Dec. 1 in Williamsburg.
“We are a nation of consumers,” Gassman said in an afternoon educational session titled “Who’s Pushing the Shopping Cart.” Consumer spending reflects two-thirds of the U.S. gross national product, which is significantly higher than those of other industrialized nations.
- http://www.vafb.com/conv/2003/news_gassman.htm

Possessions, the driving force behind so much of what we do. We work so we can pay the bills, but what are the bills that are piling up around us? When 2/3 of the GNP in America is produced by consumer spending, I would say buying stuff is important to us. Negative savings- a people who want it now When savings in America was at -.5%- in other words spending more than we make- and according to CBS News- Consumer debt has more than doubled in the past 10 years to record levels, making it hard for many families to cope. Consumer debt hit a record $1.98 trillion in October 2003, according to the most recent figures from the Federal Reserve. That debt — which includes credit cards and car loans, but not mortgages — translates to some $18,700 per U.S. household.- We know we are a nation that wants our stuff and sooner rather than later.

So what is the effect of all this stuff?

It has some pretty chilling effects on our national morals and habits. We have become a nation of 2 income families- which means we are a nation of day cares, nannies, and latch key kids. This breeds a generation that is growing up without the benefit of nurture and care from anyone they are blood related to. And this is a problem.

It’s a problem for our marriages as well. In fact, in the church as well as outside the church, debt, financial stress, and 2 people working, is negatively affecting marriages. The “mythical 50% divorce rate” as it was called at the end of the last century, is not a myth. And divorce is as prevalent in the church as it is in those who never darken the door of the church.

All this tracks back to a principle, a truth, that Jesus himself spoke to. We have taken to defining ourselves by what we have or do not have. It’s not “keeping up with the Jones’” anymore. It’s feeding our own wants and desires. Jesus once told a crowd- “A man’s life does not consist of the abundance of his possessions.” When did He say it and why? What does it mean for us today? Let’s take a look in Luke 12.

Getting Mine

13Someone in the crowd said to him, "Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me."
14Jesus replied, "Man, who appointed me a judge or an arbiter between you?" 15Then he said to them, "Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions."
So this guy comes to Jesus, a rabbi well versed in the law, and demands justice. I’m sure he has all his data together and I’m sure he’s not trying to steal. He just wants what is his. Sound familiar? We work hard and we play by the rules, so what’s the problem in getting ours? What does having things have to do with God anyhow? Notice, this guy is not coming with a spiritual question. This is a straight business deal, a legal matter, but Jesus turns it into a spiritual matter.

That’s the first thing I want you to hear this morning- Everything is a spiritual matter. Whether it’s a financial decision, a parenting decision, a relationship decision- it’s all a spiritual matter. Every decision has spiritual ramifications- that’s why Paul tells us to pray continually (1 Thess 5:17) - b/c God has an interest in our lives.

So when this guy comes up to Jesus and wants his rightful inheritance Jesus asks the questions- What is the reason behind the request? He does not ask this out loud but in His warning- be on your guard against all kinds of greed- I other words “why do you need the money?”

I know nothing about this guy, but I’m going to assume something for a moment- based on Jesus’ ministry and reaction to the poor and downtrodden and His commands to love mercy and justice- I’m going to assume the guy asking for his portion was not hurting. He wasn’t in need- just in want. I think this is even more justified when Jesus follows up with the phrase “a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”

Now maybe I’m selling this guy short. Maybe he needed the cash- but his attitude is a lot like ours- I want mine.
Now remember earlier when we talked about having stuff and how much we have? Well Jesus goes even further in discussing this by telling a story- a parable- following His warning. 16And he told them this parable: "The ground of a certain rich man produced a good crop. 17He thought to himself, 'What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.'
18"Then he said, 'This is what I'll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. 19And I'll say to myself, "You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry." '
20"But God said to him, 'You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?'
21"This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God."
Ouch, spiritual truth #2- having stuff does not indicate God’s favor any more than not having stuff indicates God’s disfavor. We are not followers of the great ATM in the sky. God’s desire is not for us to get a bunch of stuff and keep it for ourselves. In fact, it sounds from the story as if stuff can get in the way of God.

How can this happen? Well think about it for a minute. Stuff requires our attention. The car requires a wash and wax, the ipod requires new music and a charge, the computer needs updates, the toys must be played with, the monster must be fed. The more stuff you have the more time it takes to deal with all of it- and there is one thing you cannot earn, buy or make more of- TIME. And since you have a limited amount of time- God’s time gets less and less and storing up stuff lowers the amount of space for things of God.

And God needs space in your life- because everything is a spiritual issue- remember truth #1? So here’s the deal- if something is going to further cut into your time do you really need it? It’s an economic decision- will I have to work more to have this. A time management decision- how much more time will come out of my day to use this item? And ultimately a spiritual decision- how will the greater need for finances and time impact my spiritual life- my time with God. And I’m not just talking about a personal devotional life- I’m talking about time to listen to, learn from, serve, be loved and touched by- God. Jesus seems to be saying- the more we clutter up our lives with earthly treasure the less space we have to be given spiritual treasures that will last.

Fighting the I Want

In order to overcome this desire to consume- to our own spiritual detriment- we must go to war. In a war, there are objectives- we are fighting for something. In this case we are fighting to rid our lives of things that prevent us from pursuing and receiving God’s best. When Jesus discusses this battle following this parable He seems to take a scorched earth policy towards stuff. Listen to this…
22Then Jesus said to his disciples: "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. 23Life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. 24Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! 25Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life[b]? 26Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?
27"Consider how the lilies grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 28If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith! 29And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. 30For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. 31But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.
32"Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. 33Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. 34For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Jesus gets right to the heart of the battle with stuff. We want stuff because we do not trust God to give us what is best. God is going to provide for you. So you do not need to store up a bunch of stuff to get you through when God fails. We often accumulate stuff to comfort us as life takes a nosedive- who has ever gone shopping- for a new dress or a new toy- when feeling depressed or upset at life? Instead, Jesus tells us to trust God, not our ability to provide when it seems things are going bad.

Going further, Jesus tells us to overcome our love of stuff by putting it to use for the kingdom. Notice He does not say throw it away. He tells us to sell it and give what we receive to those who do not have. Now the question is, what do we sell? The answer is whatever has taken you hostage. And my friends, you are not the best judge of this answer. Ask someone who loves God and loves you what has taken you hostage. What is keeping you from doing the things God asks you to do? Start with the basics and work outward. What keeps you from being a part of the gathering of God’s people? What keeps you from being with your family? What keeps you from spending time with God? What creates the inability to tithe? What prevents you from serving others? What keeps you from being able to give freely to others? As you work through, you will find many things that are not necessary. Sell them. Give the proceeds away. As your life becomes simplified, you will be more free than you have ever realized.