What is Lukewarmness? -- Part 7

SO, here in August of 2009 we find ourselves in the church exactly where the Laodiceans were - rich, increased with goods, and in need of nothing. And every listener and reader is clear that the reference to "in need of nothing" is about temporal possessions. We do not need outside assistance from other persons or agencies in or out of the church. "Self sufficient" and "self dependent" and "self supporting" are the terms that come to our minds at this point. Most of us would consider this not only a good thing, but pleasing to the Lord, for there are plenty of scriptures that require Christians to care for their own needs as well as have resources so that we are able to help others who are in need.

"Why then, Pastor, should the condition of being "rich, increased with goods, and in need of nothing" concern us? Why should it present a problem to believers today?ilBecause built right into it are dangerous tendencies that inherently lead to lukewarmness. Here are some examples of dangers that we face each day, and have been so much a part of our lives that we rarely think of them as "dangerous". Fire. Electricity. Water. Medicines. Vehicles and air travel. The list is endless, but you follow along in the reasoning. All that have been listed, and much more, are potential dangers to our lives, health and well being. They will kill us if they are not correctly used! If properly used, they are great blessings, and if not, they will kill or harm us.

According to Jesus' teaching when He was here on earth talking to us, worldly wealth is probably the paramount trap for us humans, including us believers. Jesus repeatedly warned His hearers of the extreme danger of worldly possessions, and the adjective "extreme" is not too extreme a word. (Little intended pun there) Think with me now on this. In Jesus'life, in the lives of the apostles, and in the lives of every saint of God from their days until our time, those persons who are most in step with the mind and will of God, are persons whose daily lives and happiness are not built around material possessions. They are persons who habitually ... characteristically, make choices, and take actions that lean towards the "spiritual" qualitiesk.¬in their lives and not the material ones. The biggest issues of their lives are not what they have ¬or do not have when it comes to earthly possessions. Their daily lives are regulated, directed, and in reality, consumed, with the work of God, the kingdom of God, the will of God. Such Christians, who I will quickly identify as "fervent", do not consider anything they have their own, but honestly (I mean by that, that they do not just say it, but down in their hearts is real) ... they honestly view the material possessions God has trusted them with as a stewardship. Again let me repeat that to view ones earthly possessions as a stewardship, and not something that belongs to us, it must be genuine and not merely a claim for how it looks or sounds to other Christians.