Too Much Love Can Kill You*

*Disclaimer: I was thinking of a title for this post that will be catchy or related to the approaching Valentine's day but sorry to disappoint you guys, this post ain't about romantic LOVE per se but about our love for material things. It was written by one of our church member who wanted to share her thoughts regarding this topic. Here it is:

As humans, it is inevitable to us to constantly want things that we think will make us happy or satisfied. We want to feel pampered and loved. Do you know someone who doesn't like something nice once in a while? It can be as simple as a new pair of shoes or it can be as extravagant as an opulent real estate. Also, as humans, we are still living in our flesh which also makes us vulnerable to deeds which are not pleasing to God.

I, myself, have a long long long list of material and ideal things that I want to attain in my life. I have been writing it down since time immemorial to compare the things that others have and the things that I don't. Haha!

But, most of these things are just luxuries and are worth more than what I can earn or afford. Nowadays, we are offered numerous ways on how to conveniently and easily acquire things. One way is the use of a credit card. Once you've got the hang of using it, you don't want to stop. With the help of it, you can buy anything you want with the amount of money you are not even sure you will earn. You can ask your parents or Google on how this works.

Yes, I have a stable job with good pay, but this doesn't mean that I should be spending it on things that I wanted others to notice, or what others think as "socially acceptable or fashionable". I want to acquire things that looks stylish but in reality I just wanted to brag, to intentionally/unintentionally tell others that "Yes, I CAN have fancy things, too. Sucks on you."

I am not saying that buying expensive things is bad or wanting to achieve wealth. Even God wants us to be prosperous, as this will let other people know about His greatness and power. Material things and money can also be used in serving God.

What is bad is our intention on why we desire such "whatchamacallits". We can call it selfish if we desire to be wealthy for ourselves alone and to please the desires of our flesh. The Bible, in Romans 8:5, tells us that "For those who live according to the flesh have their outlook shaped by the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit have their outlook shaped by the things of the Spirit (New English Translation)."

This simply tells us that if our view in life is with accordance to the world's, then we are not living in the Spirit, which is of God, through our Savior, Jesus Christ.

Galatians 1:10 tells us that if we are really for Christ and offered our lives to serve Him and follow His commandments, then we should live not to please men or seek the approval of men, but only to please God.

When I was going home after work, around 7 PM today, the jeepney that I rode was about to leave the terminal, when suddenly a man standing outside grabbed a passenger's mobile phone and tried to snatch it from her. Some of the other passengers helped the lady, but still the man got away with what he targeted to steal. This made me think about the man's intention on stealing the phone. Does he need to have instant and huge sum of money to pay/ buy his necessities like food, bills or tuition fees? Or was he just mesmerized by the gadget and felt greedy or envious?

Matthew 6:19 informs us the truth about these material/ideal things on earth that we keep on desiring/collecting. These are just temporary and will be easily destroyed or taken away from us. So let us not focus on such things, but let's concentrate on the real treasures we can have and collect, those that are kept in Heaven. We can have these through our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Matthew 6: 19-21

19 Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (New International Version)

Too much desire for worldly things up to the point that God is not the center of our lives anymore is dangerous. Indeed, too much love for material things can kill us--financially and spiritually.

I am wondering if you also want the treasures in Heaven? If yes, like I do, then we should start on living our lives according to what is pleasing and acceptable to God, and not forgetting that He is ABLE to provide our needs, and more than what we need, if only we ask Him too.