James 5:1- 6 “And a final word to you arrogant rich: Take some lessons in lament. You’ll need buckets for the tears when the crash comes upon you. Your money is corrupt and your fine clothes stink. Your greedy luxuries are a cancer in your gut, destroying your life from within. You thought you were piling up wealth. What you’ve piled up is judgment. All the workers you’ve exploited and cheated cry out for judgment. The groans of the workers you used and abused are a roar in the ears of the Master Avenger. You’ve looted the earth and lived it up. But all you’ll have to show for it is a fatter than usual corpse. In fact, what you’ve done is condemn and murder perfectly good persons, who stand there and take it.”
Pop-culture has been such a dominant force in America especially for the last 20 years or more. I’ve watched this influence grow over the course of my adulthood. Hollywood has always been attractive, but not necessarily influential. Personally, i think a lot of this shift occurred when “reality tv” 👀 became the rage. It gave us a glimpse into the lives (real or not) of Hollywood’s Elite. Their mansions, glam-squads, personal assistants, private jets, yacht parties, designer clothes…all look really appealing and satisfying – but stuff is just that…stuff. Here is what I believe they have taught us, that is of course, if you are paying attention. You can’t buy wholeness-health-happiness. I’m about to make an interest analogy – you ready? Having a lot of money is kinda like having children (although when you have children, you definitely have less money 😂). What I mean is, over the years I have counseled couples whose marriages are rocky at best, who for some reason think that having a baby will fix things. Honey, children only magnify existing problems, not magically solve them. And it’s the same with money. Just because you have a lot of it, doesn’t make you better. It may solve SOME problems temporarily, but it will never dissolve them. It’s so important that we walk worthy in all that we do. That we value what has value. If we are gonna be THIRSTY, let it not be for money or riches or fame, but for righteousness. Because righteousness is a FULL COURSE MEAL!
Consecration: Excess
Today, our consecration is going to serve as a gentle sisterly nudge to have that yard sale, clean out that closet, purge the excess in your life – wherever you have it. Give, donate, bless the kingdom of God in some way. He says in His word that when we’ve done it to the least of these, we have done it unto Him. Let your overflow overflow into someone else’s life today. Maybe you don’t have the time to get to it today, but in the near future, make it happen. What we can do is be thankful today for what we have been given, for all things come from the Lord. So today, try not to make any purchases-pack your lunch, skip Starbucks, cook dinner instead of dining out, let your Prime cart wait until tomorrow 😉 and when you would typically be spending, spend that time in appreciation and thankfulness to God.
Declaration
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