Daily Devotion March 7, 2023
“Your gold and silver have corroded, and their corrosion will be evidence against you and will
eat your flesh like fire. You have laid up treasure in the last days” (James 5:3, ESV).
eat your flesh like fire. You have laid up treasure in the last days” (James 5:3, ESV).
For the better part of three decades, the National Park service has been battling the
deterioration of the Lincoln Memorial. Much of the problem is due to midges. Midges are small,
winged insects that breed along the banks of the Potomac River. They swarm at dusk and are
drawn by the lights that illuminate the memorial.
As the midges die, their bodies become a smorgasbord for sparrows and starlings. The birds
subsequently leave droppings that must be cleaned by the park service daily. The water eventually
seeps into cracks within the marble structure causing erosion. What began as a minor distraction
has become a major threat to a national treasure.
James, the brother of Jesus, was the leader of the church in Jerusalem. He warned the early
Christian community of the deteriorating effects greed and materialism were having on individuals
and families. Though many Christians struggled to make ends meet, a number of others were better
off. These more affluent individuals were becoming progressively preoccupied with material
wealth.
Across my travels to third-world countries, most underdeveloped societies suffer from
diseases like tuberculosis, malnutrition, typhoid, cholera, typhus, and others. By contrast, affluent
Americans have established an entirely different set of diseases to include obesity, heart disease,
stroke, drug addiction, divorce, battered children, murder, and suicide. The technology that is
designed to save us time and effort has led to the deterioration of the human body, the deepening
divide of society, and the unprecedented demand being placed on our country’s prison and mental
health institutions.
Though issued almost two millennial ago, James’ warning to the early church is equally
valid for our day and time. The corrosive effects of our consumer-driven world is devouring this
present generation. Yet life need not be this way. There is still time to reverse the curse of
materialism.
Jesus asserted that one’s heart is tied to what that person treasures most. Ultimately, greed
poses for each of us some pivotal questions:
Whose approval do I seek most often?
Is pride pressing me to be concerned with how others view me?
Or do I place a greater emphasis as to what God thinks of me?
Your authentic response to these questions will divulge Who or what your heart loves most. And
what or Who you love most will determine the wellbeing of your hearttps://us19.admin.mailchimp.com/campaigns/finished-sent?id=15805269
deterioration of the Lincoln Memorial. Much of the problem is due to midges. Midges are small,
winged insects that breed along the banks of the Potomac River. They swarm at dusk and are
drawn by the lights that illuminate the memorial.
As the midges die, their bodies become a smorgasbord for sparrows and starlings. The birds
subsequently leave droppings that must be cleaned by the park service daily. The water eventually
seeps into cracks within the marble structure causing erosion. What began as a minor distraction
has become a major threat to a national treasure.
James, the brother of Jesus, was the leader of the church in Jerusalem. He warned the early
Christian community of the deteriorating effects greed and materialism were having on individuals
and families. Though many Christians struggled to make ends meet, a number of others were better
off. These more affluent individuals were becoming progressively preoccupied with material
wealth.
Across my travels to third-world countries, most underdeveloped societies suffer from
diseases like tuberculosis, malnutrition, typhoid, cholera, typhus, and others. By contrast, affluent
Americans have established an entirely different set of diseases to include obesity, heart disease,
stroke, drug addiction, divorce, battered children, murder, and suicide. The technology that is
designed to save us time and effort has led to the deterioration of the human body, the deepening
divide of society, and the unprecedented demand being placed on our country’s prison and mental
health institutions.
Though issued almost two millennial ago, James’ warning to the early church is equally
valid for our day and time. The corrosive effects of our consumer-driven world is devouring this
present generation. Yet life need not be this way. There is still time to reverse the curse of
materialism.
Jesus asserted that one’s heart is tied to what that person treasures most. Ultimately, greed
poses for each of us some pivotal questions:
Whose approval do I seek most often?
Is pride pressing me to be concerned with how others view me?
Or do I place a greater emphasis as to what God thinks of me?
Your authentic response to these questions will divulge Who or what your heart loves most. And
what or Who you love most will determine the wellbeing of your hearttps://us19.admin.mailchimp.com/campaigns/finished-sent?id=15805269