Materialism And Idolatry

Habakkuk 2:9) Woe to him that coveteth an evil covetousness to his house, that he may set his nest on high, that he may be delivered from the power of evil!Can covetousness and lustfulness after the temporal things really benefit a person? A person can have all the material things in the world, that the world can offer and yet (Proverbs 11:4) states that “Riches profit not in the day of wrath: but righteousness delivereth from death.” One can have all the cars, the clothing, the remnant, and food to eat in huge quantities, but what will deliver?Luke 1218) And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. 19) And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. 20) But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? Everything that this man had was made into nothing the day God came to collect his soul and shall we be any different? Job 1:21) ..“Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.” Notice “the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away”. We are entitled right to claim possessions, or so we think, but it is all God’s, every single thing is God’s. Ezekiel 18:4) “Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine” And David acknowledges all things were God’s when he said in 1 Chronicles 29:16) “O LORD our God, all this store that we have prepared to build thee an house for thine holy name cometh of thine hand, and is all thine own.” And do we think that we stand in a different light of comparison than David? All on this earth is God’s and is a potential distraction when we do not keep this in mind. When our mind fancies after the temporal substance, the non-spiritual things, what will not rust, what will not degenerate and break over time? Matthew 6:20) “But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal”, why, Matthew 6:21) “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” Notice this, one cannot have their heart on earth and in heaven, meaning the heart longing for both and being successful, because an overcharge of the earthly possessions and riches and pleasures act as idols, which will result in one’s heart being taken from God and its affections placed off eternal direction.Proverbs 17:24) Wisdom is before him that hath understanding; but the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth.Luke 21:34) And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.1 John 5:21) Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.All things that get more affection and priority than God are idols and we know that idolaters will not inherit the kingdom of God.1 Corinthians 6:9) Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, 1 Corinthians 6:10) Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.Revelation 21:27) And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life.And who are they that “defileth” and show their nakedness and shame, but of course they that submit to idolatry.