Dear brothers and sisters in Christ –
Last week, Kara and I were doing our weekly Friday grocery shopping. We usually hit the shopping “Bermuda Triangle” of Aldi’s, Costco, and Wal-Mart. It is the triangle where my money goes missing. And quickly too!
Anyway, we were shopping and there was hand sanitizer on the shelf. The person in front of me grabbed four giant bottles. I, then, grabbed the last two bottles. I looked at Kara to ask whether we really needed both of these. Immediately, she said you should put one back. So I did.
Again, at Hy-Vee there were three gallons of 2% milk on the shelf. I only took two. For the third gallon, I took 1% milk. With everyone home all day, we have gone through seven gallons of milk this week alone.
The hoarding that we hear about on the news and that we are warned against by signs posted in stores is truly happening in an exorbitant way. This isn’t a fast shopping burst before a snow storm or a hurricane. The sustained rate of hoarding among some people produces empty aisles and barren shelves which are a visible manifestation of our societies materialism.
Materialism is the love of money and possession and that love of material stuff causes us to find our identity, meaning, and purpose outside of God. It is allowing money and possessions to become the center and the control of our lives.
God created us to love people and use things, but our hearts have changed to loving things and using people. The love of material things will destroy our relationship with Jesus because the blessings that God has provided become more important than the giver Himself.
When we focus on material things, we become independent and self-sufficient. We become very prideful in what we’ve accomplished and own, and our purpose in life is to gain more and more stuff of this world.
Instead, let us focus on Christ.
“looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith,
who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame,
and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:2).
At this time, when each of us seems to have more spare time than before, use it to connect to family and friends through phone calls and social media. Yes, practice hospitality. And let us use this time to connect with Christ. Spend time reading the Word of God. Spend time in prayer. Maybe even, “Be still, and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10a)
Blessings,
Pastor Hartwig