Your Daily Devotional for November 6, 2007

 

November 6,  2007

 

 

A Passion to Possess

by Dr. Paul Chappell

 

 

"And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth."

 

Luke 12:15

 

 

Marketing researchers spend their lives catering and appealing to our checkbooks. They devise strategic approaches using words, commercials, signs, and billboards to demand our attention. Below are some of the most powerful and effective taglines ever propagated:

 

Fly the friendly skies—United Airlines

Don't leave home without it—American Express

It does a body good—Milk

Have it your way—Burger King

Just do it—Nike

Reach out and touch someone—AT&T

Snap, crackle, pop—Kellogg's Rice Krispies

 

Along with others, these taglines appeal to the common man for a simple reason. They were designed to catch our attention and to create a desire within us to buy their product. Realizing the universal want of man, marketing researchers focus on possessions—why we need them and what they can do for us.

 

The passion to posses was incontestably proven when the PlayStation 3 became available in November of 2006. The following USA Today article reports: "Nationwide, short supplies of the PS3 and strong demand led to long lines of buyers, some waiting for days outside stores. Once the doors opened Friday, they pushed and shoved their way to the shelves in several cities to get at the limited supply. Two people were arrested in Fresno, California, after a crowd trampled people in a parking lot." Two people were arrested because their passion to possess a PlayStation 3 consumed them!

 

The world's view of possessions completely contradicts the Bible's view of possessions. A man made the following request to Jesus in Luke 12:13: "Master, speak to my brother, that he divide the inheritance with me." Jesus answered him, "Man, who made me a judge or a divider over you? ...Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth" (Luke 12:14–15).

 

Beware comes from the Greek word phulasso which means to be on guard. We are to be on guard and protect ourselves from our passions being misdirected. You may not care as much for possessions, but you may have a passion for a certain position at work or in your church. Do you desire the position more than you desire Christ? Do you have a passion for things more than you have a passion to serve, witness, and know Christ? Remember, God does not look at the outfit you are wearing, the car you are driving, or the title outside your office door, but "…the LORD looketh on the heart" (1 Samuel 16:7). Choose to have a heart of gratitude and contentment, as you grow closer to the Lord today!

 

 

Daily Bible Reading

Jeremiah 37-39 • Hebrews 3

 

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