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Wednesday, October 2, 2013

Materialism in The Church: Do We Really Pray for Needs or Wants?


The American church {side note: if you are saved you are part of the body of Christ, therefore when I refer to the "church" I am referring to you and me} is materialistically and spiritually obese. 

We pray earnestly for what we think we need but our lifestyle is one of careless spending and impulsive purchases. Could it be that we have lost the understanding of the drastic difference between a genuine need and a frivolous want? 

I've been guilty of praying for God's provision while simultaneously sipping on my Starbucks latte. How hypocritically is that!


In my series of blog posts on The Lord's prayer, we've covered the topics of God being our Father, God's Holiness, having a Kingdom mindset and praying the will of God. I've been meditating on the fifth aspect of the Lord's prayer found in Matthew 6, "give us this day our daily bread". 

I'm embarrassed to say that the idea of praying for my immediate need for food is quite foreign to me. My pantry is full of food. In fact, every week we have to throw out spoiled leftovers! Why should I pray for my "daily bread" when I have more than I need? Perhaps we need to look at this from a different perspective.

If we have what we really need, we don't have the urgency to pray, "give us this day our daily bread". What if we looked at this prayer through the eyes of our persecuted brothers and sisters in Christ. 

What if we understood this need through the eyes of those who are starving around the world. What if you and I are the answer to their prayers but we aren't doing anything about it?

Our possessions have become our security blanket. We don't want to be in the shoes of those who are suffering for Christ. We don't want to be living off of rice and water in some forsaken land. We want the latest clothing fad, iPhone, iPad, etc. We live for the next big craze that is "coming to a theater near you" or the next Christian rock concert that aims to give you that adrenaline high and deceptively tells your heart that you've been worshipping God. 

The reality is this: we worship what we love. We sacrifice and work hard for what we really want. Materialism has stripped us of praying for what we need while motivating us to pray for what we want. It's called greed.

David Platt shares in His book called Radical, "A materialistic world won't be won to Christ by a materialistic Church". Can we really pray, "Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven" while at the same time becoming a slave to our money and possessions? Can we further the kingdom of Christ with the gospel if we are worshipping a false gospel; a gospel of materialism and self?

Further on in Matthew 6 Jesus continues to share about trusting Him with our needs:

 "No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money. "So I tell you, don't worry about everyday life -- whether you have enough food, drink, and clothes. Doesn't life consist of more than food and clothing? Look at the birds. They don't need to plant or harvest or put food in barns because your heavenly Father feeds them. And you are far more valuable to him than they are. Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? Of course not. "And why worry about your clothes? Look at the lilies and how they grow. They don't work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. And if God cares so wonderfully for flowers that are here today and gone tomorrow, won't he more surely care for you? You have so little faith!"

If this is to be our mindset, you and I will have to make decision much like the rich young ruler. Sell all that you have, come and follow Me.


Have you thought about the fact that because we are the body of Christ we must rise up to answer the prayer needs around the world. God answers prayers through a heart that is in tune with His. He will prompt you to give, to serve and to go.

To be a world changer for Jesus Christ requires radical actions. These actions require us to become dependent on the Lord and take the "security blanket" of materialism and lay it at the cross. God clothes the lilies of the field, he feeds the birds and He will definitely take care of you if you are willing to give everything over to Him. Are you willing?

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