On May 10, 2000, the lead news story on WBEZ (Chicago public radio) at 7:00 a.m. was: two winning tickets for the record $366 million lottery jackpot had been sold. On May 12 the top headline story on CNN.com was that Larry Ross of Michigan had won $181 million in the lottery—there he was in the picture, smiling and holding the check. That was the news; it wasn’t supposed to be a cute human interest feature, it was headline news.
I could huff and moan about irresponsible public officials who “tax” bad habits by running a lottery, or complain about short-sighted voters who think gambling will yield a net gain for state coffers, but I have a simpler point: you can tell what we value by the things considered newsworthy. Today’s lottery-mania speaks volumes about the vision, values and dreams of our neighbors (and ourselves?): nothing is more important—and more newsworthy—than the prospect of getting REALLY rich (even if the odds are eighty million to one).
Of course, knowing Jesus has a “payoff” of infinite, eternal joy. But that joy only comes to those who love Christ now, follow him now, confess their pride and greed to him now, and find true security in him now. “Lord, spare us from falling in love with riches. Help us always to see our wealth as your property to be used to advance your church and bless the poor. And help us to love our neighbors who love money so much—in the hope that they might find the true riches of your grace! Amen.”
Monday, April 18, 2005
IMAGE IS EVERYTHING
An ad on TV for a hair replacement product makes this closing pitch: “Whatever your age, invest in your image.” Not a subtle appeal!
Now before I take aim and fire at this demonic message, I’ll admit that there’s a measure of simple realism in it: almost all of us pay at least a little attention to our image; we brush (or otherwise organize) our hair, use deodorant, and follow some notion of style when choosing clothes. Who can object to that?
But it’s profoundly different to be caught up in “image,” to feel that your identity and self-worth are somehow on the line when it comes to looking good. Andre Agassi says (for Canon cameras), “Image is everything,” but the humble Christian cries out, “NO.” Substance is MUCH more important than image!
In fact, a preoccupation with image is opposition to God: “The Lord sees not as man sees; man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7). Outward beauty is but deception if the heart is not pure and right before God (Matthew 23:27-28). This earthly body we long to keep looking young is but a fading flower (Psalm 103:15-16); it’s just a “tent” for our very short stay in this life (2 Corinthians 5:1).
“Search me, O God, and know my heart!” Am I caught up in externals? Are you preoccupied with your image, with how others look? Do you “measure” the people around you by outward appearance or inner beauty? Remember that the Lord looks upon the heart.
Now before I take aim and fire at this demonic message, I’ll admit that there’s a measure of simple realism in it: almost all of us pay at least a little attention to our image; we brush (or otherwise organize) our hair, use deodorant, and follow some notion of style when choosing clothes. Who can object to that?
But it’s profoundly different to be caught up in “image,” to feel that your identity and self-worth are somehow on the line when it comes to looking good. Andre Agassi says (for Canon cameras), “Image is everything,” but the humble Christian cries out, “NO.” Substance is MUCH more important than image!
In fact, a preoccupation with image is opposition to God: “The Lord sees not as man sees; man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7). Outward beauty is but deception if the heart is not pure and right before God (Matthew 23:27-28). This earthly body we long to keep looking young is but a fading flower (Psalm 103:15-16); it’s just a “tent” for our very short stay in this life (2 Corinthians 5:1).
“Search me, O God, and know my heart!” Am I caught up in externals? Are you preoccupied with your image, with how others look? Do you “measure” the people around you by outward appearance or inner beauty? Remember that the Lord looks upon the heart.
HOW SATAN RUINS PRAYER
C. S. Lewis offers some round-about wisdom in his book, The Screwtape Letters. Allow me to extend the devious counsel of the senior demon to his apprentice about how to ruin a Christian’s prayers:
· Get him to pray from selfish motives (James 4:3).
· Make him doubt that God is willing and able to grant his request (James 1:5-8; Mark 11:24).
· Get a man to treat his wife disrespectfully or harshly—that will block his prayers in no time (1 Peter 3:7).
· Sell him the idea that God never refuses the prayer of “faith,” and just watch him flounder when he doesn’t get his way (2 Corinthians 12:8-9).
· Send him into prayer feeling pretty good about himself and looking down others (Luke 18:9-14).
· Urge him to bury that unconfessed sin—to pretend it will just go away (James 5:16).
· Help him dwell on how much others have wronged him, and then withhold forgiveness (Matt 6:12, 14-15).
· Tell him he’s the master of his destiny and answers to no one. That’ll lead to rebellion soon enough, and then God will leave him alone (2 Sam 21:14; Ps 66:18).
· Persuade him to give up quickly if he doesn’t get results—that way he’ll never see God’s blessing (Luke 11:5-8; 18:1-8).
· Get him to pray from selfish motives (James 4:3).
· Make him doubt that God is willing and able to grant his request (James 1:5-8; Mark 11:24).
· Get a man to treat his wife disrespectfully or harshly—that will block his prayers in no time (1 Peter 3:7).
· Sell him the idea that God never refuses the prayer of “faith,” and just watch him flounder when he doesn’t get his way (2 Corinthians 12:8-9).
· Send him into prayer feeling pretty good about himself and looking down others (Luke 18:9-14).
· Urge him to bury that unconfessed sin—to pretend it will just go away (James 5:16).
· Help him dwell on how much others have wronged him, and then withhold forgiveness (Matt 6:12, 14-15).
· Tell him he’s the master of his destiny and answers to no one. That’ll lead to rebellion soon enough, and then God will leave him alone (2 Sam 21:14; Ps 66:18).
· Persuade him to give up quickly if he doesn’t get results—that way he’ll never see God’s blessing (Luke 11:5-8; 18:1-8).
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