I agree with fishon. Although, that idolatrous bag of cash in the passenger seat could just as well be the wife that he adores, or a child, or a briefcase full of the work that he has placed above everything else.
It’s a perfect picture of the self-obsessed idolatrous sinner that is a part, maybe just a small part, of all of us. The money and the mercedes could be easily be exchanged for any of the items or ideals that we place (from time to time) above, or in front of the Living God.
Jesus has a sad look on His face, and rightly so. But His forgiveness trumps the demand of the Law that we love Him and our neighbors as ourselves. He will never leave us nor forsake us.
It sure is the hardest thing to realize that “the one earthly thing that would really make me happy” is really an idol that would displace God in my life, just like Topol asked, “Would it spoil some vast eternal plan if I was a wealthy man?” The answer often is “Yes, it would, and that plan is to have a relationship with you that has nothing to do with what stuff you have or how rich you are, in fact poor can be better if you really want to enter into all I have for you.”
Having said all that, am I still tempted to buy a lottery ticket this weekend just to give God an opportunity to “bless(?)” me? I mean if you are not in , you can’t win can you?
David Hayward is an artist trapped in a pastor's body, stripping to the essential.
David,
I have this saying in the church bulletin from, Max Anders:
“God wants us to have wealth. We must be careful NOT to settle for moneyâ€
fishon
I agree with fishon. Although, that idolatrous bag of cash in the passenger seat could just as well be the wife that he adores, or a child, or a briefcase full of the work that he has placed above everything else.
It’s a perfect picture of the self-obsessed idolatrous sinner that is a part, maybe just a small part, of all of us. The money and the mercedes could be easily be exchanged for any of the items or ideals that we place (from time to time) above, or in front of the Living God.
Jesus has a sad look on His face, and rightly so. But His forgiveness trumps the demand of the Law that we love Him and our neighbors as ourselves. He will never leave us nor forsake us.
Thanks Pastor, for that great insight!
You’re really making me laugh today NP
It sure is the hardest thing to realize that “the one earthly thing that would really make me happy” is really an idol that would displace God in my life, just like Topol asked, “Would it spoil some vast eternal plan if I was a wealthy man?” The answer often is “Yes, it would, and that plan is to have a relationship with you that has nothing to do with what stuff you have or how rich you are, in fact poor can be better if you really want to enter into all I have for you.”
Having said all that, am I still tempted to buy a lottery ticket this weekend just to give God an opportunity to “bless(?)” me? I mean if you are not in , you can’t win can you?