Materialism roots itself in the undervalue of God's worth and, as Jay puts it, choosing crap over God. As Professor McDevitt reviewed the concept of value of economics with the class, he said something that hit me: "How much (opportunity cost) are you willing to give up to get this". Materialism is simply this: Not willing to give up what you have to obtain Christ. Surely this is not a requirement to gain Christ, but if God calls you to give up all that you have, are you willing? Where does this materialism thing come from? As I said earlier, it's really the undervalue of God. Think about this: If you are found guilty of robbing a 7-11, and the penalty was a fine of $100,000. The law in this place is that if you cannot pay this fine, the pentaly will be death. You have no way of paying this fine, because you are a college student already in debt. Now someone comes to you and tells you to turn from your ways and that they will pay your fine for you, plus all the debt that you have from being a student, and promise to provide for you like his own child for the rest of your life. All you have to do is accept this offer and give up being a college student, give up pursuing a career, give up your own "life" and old ways. Would you be willing to give up your own goals so someone can save your life? What's better?
Now how about this. What if this person isn't just anyone? What if this person isn't just a stranger? What if this person was the Great King of that nation, and being in his house means wonders beyond all you can ever imagine, not because of the grand things in it, but because the King himself the ultimate pleasure of the Kingdom? Are you willing to give up everything for it?
So back to the point. It would be foolish to hang on to our own life above accepting the King's offer. Even if we were able to pay the debt somehow, which we can't, we will be in the career world, no security, no guarantee, no way of being sure that you will have enough to eat the next day. It would be wise to accept the offer of the King. Look at the difference of values. Our own lives have no value. The King is where all the value is at.
When we are not willing to give up whatever thing we have in this world (College Education, Career, Money, Materal Goods, Worldly things, Sin), we are undervaluing God because we are really choosing crap over God. Oh how great of a lie it is, that crap is better than God. Beware, brothers and sisters, of the lie that Satan tells us, that crap is better than God. When you are not willing to give up our all for God, beware of Satan who is near who is decieving you. When you are not willing to give up our all for God, ask yourself: Do I really value God as the greatest treasure?.
"Be appalled, O heavens, at this; be shocked, be utterly desolate, declares the LORD, for my people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters, and hewed out cisterns for themselves, broken cisterns that can hold no water."
Jeremaiah 2:12-13
Oh God, my father, I pray that you will give us grace, allowing us to see you for your true value. Let us always remember what precious thing you did on the cross and what you are going to do for us. But ultimately, let your suprassing greatness be in the center of our minds, for our good and ultimately for your glory, forever and ever, Amen.
