A big house with a white picket fence, 2 cars, and a garage. They call it the “American Dream” and many Americans have been deceived by the race to the top. We’re told by advertising everywhere we go that we’re not content, but if we just get this next “big thing” we will be happier. The thing is, no matter how many times I read the Bible I can’t find this attitude encouraged. American Capitalism doesn’t line up with what Jesus preached.
What did He teach? Your treasure equals your heart.
Jesus said in Matthew 6:19-21, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and dust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven...For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
If your treasure is in material things your heart will be wrapped up in the things of this world, but if your treasure is in God your heart will long for the things of the Kingdom. Servanthood equals greatness.
In Matthew 20:26-27 Jesus said, “Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave.” The only time Jesus talked about setting an example in the Bible was when He did the job of a servant and washed His disciples’ feet. Sacrifice equals eternal glory.
In Matthew 19:29-30 Jesus says to His disciples, “Everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first.” Many people sought after Jesus - He was constantly surrounded by crowds, but few stayed with Him as followers because that meant taking what He said seriously. It meant making sacrifices.
Will you choose to live in a way that goes against the grain of our society? Will you choose to be radical?
- This blog was written by Chris Zeigler for the Radical Series. Chris serves on the staff of BASIC College Ministries.
2 comments:
Great stuff ! I really appreciate the challenge to the American church to come back to the priority of the kingdom! I would just want to challenge whether it's accurate to say that capitalism goes against the grain of Jesus' teaching? I would suggest that materialism (what you so eloquently and correctly described in the blog) is, but capitalism -- as a political philosophy that provides a way for the creation of wealth within society without the control of governments -- rather can actually serve to advance Kingdom priorities more than any other political system on the planet! The alternatives (socialism, communism, etc...), have abysmal track records.
Matt, Thanks for your thoughts. My wife actually just brought this up the other day regarding using the term materialism instead of capitalism. Thanks for reading and sorry about the mixup of terms!
- Chris Zeigler
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