Beware You Rich Man: The Covetousness Of Consumerism

"Neither shalt thou… covet any thing that is thy neighbour's." - Deuteronomy 5:21

Today, especially in the developed countries the rampant consumerism is overwhelming. We buy all types of things, electronics, various motorized vehicles, and all sorts of useless things (example: conversation pieces).

To me the word consumerism means two things. It means the placing of (too much) value on material things, and it stands for the idea that we have to “keep up” with those around us when it comes to buying new gadgets, cloths, cars, larger houses, gaming systems and so on.

Consumerism as I’ve just described it is nothing other than covetousness in action. Is not covetousness also accompanied by either lust or pride, or rebellion and idolatry? Who has not been guilty of this at some point? This sin is vastly overlooked by the “Church.”

"And they come unto thee as the people cometh, and they sit before thee as my people, and they hear thy words, but they will not do them: for with their mouth they shew much love, but their heart goeth after their covetousness." - Ezekiel 33:31

Christians have no part in this lifestyle of Consumerism which the world embraces. People waste incredible amounts of money buying new cars every few years, just to “keep pace” with the world around them. As Christians we are to have a different value system then the world. We must desire the praises of God rather than the praises of men. If fact, we should be very cautious to appreciate at all the praises of a man.

Consider the chief rulers who did not confess the Christ on whom they believed, so that they would not be put out of the synagogue. But if they had believed and knew that they were doing the right thing why would it matter if they were put out of the synagogue? The reason is because they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God (John 12:42-43, Romans 2:29). This situation also happens today in the case of many who accept false doctrine just so they can be accepted by the “Church” or by their family or friends (peer pressure).

This is also why many today buy cloths, cars and things they do not benefit from spiritually (or even physically). - Because they love the praise of men more than the praise of God. O how they bite the hand that feeds them.

We must beware of the praise of men because they may merely speak to flatter or deceive us. The wicked hypocrites do this to God himself, would they hesitate to do this to us also if it may benefit their body of sin! (Romans 6:6, Psalm 5:9, Psalm 78:36)

If we too much desire the praise of men, it may be because we ourselves are rebelling against the Lord, and we want some one to tell us that we are not rebelling, and that we will see no judgment against us. (Isaiah 30:10, 2 Timothy 4:3)

But we are to Exhort one another often, which is more appropriate than praise (praise signifying worship, which is reserved for God alone). Exhorting is encouraging, and giving strength to another, cheering them up.

In Luke 12:15-21 we see the judgment against a man for storing wealth and using it to party and live at ease - rather than being rich toward God. Note that being rich was not his error, his error was how he used his wealth for his pleasure.

In Deuteronomy 8:10-20 we read the warning against trusting in the flesh and forgetting Jehovah.

"When thou hast eaten and art full, then thou shalt bless the LORD thy God for the good land which he hath given thee. Beware that thou forget not the LORD thy God, in not keeping his commandments, and his judgments, and his statutes, which I command thee this day: Lest when thou hast eaten and art full, and hast built goodly houses, and dwelt therein; And when thy herds and thy flocks multiply, and thy silver and thy gold is multiplied, and all that thou hast is multiplied; Then thine heart be lifted up, and thou forget the LORD thy God, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage; Who led thee through that great and terrible wilderness, wherein were fiery serpents, and scorpions, and drought, where there was no water; who brought thee forth water out of the rock of flint; Who fed thee in the wilderness with manna, which thy fathers knew not, that he might humble thee, and that he might prove thee, to do thee good at thy latter end; And thou say in thine heart, My power and the might of mine hand hath gotten me this wealth. But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day. And it shall be, if thou do at all forget the LORD thy God, and walk after other gods, and serve them, and worship them, I testify against you this day that ye shall surely perish. As the nations which the LORD destroyeth before your face, so shall ye perish; because ye would not be obedient unto the voice of the LORD your God." - Deuteronomy 8:10-20 (also see Deuteronomy 6:11-13)

Below we read the warning against “heaping treasure together for the last days.”

"Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you. Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are motheaten. Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days. Behold, the hire of the labourers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth: and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of sabaoth. Ye have lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton; ye have nourished your hearts, as in a day of slaughter. Ye have condemned and killed the just; and he doth not resist you." - James 5:1-6

"If riches increase, set not your heart upon them". - Psalm 62:10b

See the related post All We Have Belongs To God

The Company of Korah, Sheep Among Wolves

Korah, Dathan, Abiram and all the other men of the company of Korah were destroyed for their wickedness. The earth opened and swallowed them up, because of their sin in rebelling against Moses and Aaron. Moses warned the people to depart from Korah so that they would not be consumed in all their sins (see Numbers 16:1-33 and Numbers 26:9-10)

“And he spake unto the congregation, saying, Depart, I pray you, from the tents of these wicked men, and touch nothing of theirs, lest ye be consumed in all their sins.” - Numbers 16:26

Are we so naïve as to think that we can keep company with the wicked and not be consumed in their sins?

In Numbers 22:9 God asked Balaam the son of Beor “What men are these with thee?”

What would God say of the company we keep?

But first and foremost what would God say of us?

In Numbers 22:1-41 we can see the story of Balaam, and that God allowed him (I say allowed because God’s original instructions were for Balaam not to go with them) to go with them, but only on the condition that he only do and say what God would tell him to.

This may also be the case for us. God may allow us to keep company with the wicked, but he would only allow us this if we only do and say what he wants us to do and say (that is if we do not take part in their sins).

But we must also beware that we be not as the Pharisees. For they criticized Christ for keeping company with sinners. But we, as followers of Christ are called to lead sinners to salvation. We cannot do that without keeping company with sinners sometimes. But we must never partake of their sins, this limits where we can go.

“And it came to pass, as Jesus sat at meat in the house, behold, many publicans and sinners came and sat down with him and his disciples. And when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto his disciples, Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners? But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick. But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” - Matthew 9:10-13

And so it is concluded by the words of our Master and Lord (John 13:13) “Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.” - Matthew 10:16