COLOURATING WORLDLINESS/MATERIALISM WITH SPIRITUALITY
By Lanre Ojolo
“For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other….” Gal. 5:17 COLOURATING WORLDLINESS/MATERIALISM WITH SPIRITUALITY
Many a times Christians make and take some actions that are in most cases ungodly, wordly, unrighteous and unholy yet on the facial appearance look commonsensical, morally pleasant and good, but underneath they are grievous offences against the word of the Lord. In the account of 1Samuel 15: 1-20, we saw how King Saul was sent on an errand to go and utterly destroy the Amalekites. Yes, he went to deliver God’s message in the land of Amalek. But unfortunately in verses 11 and 12 the Lord regretted he ever made him King in the first place not to even talk of sending him there in the first place. Why? That was not because he did not go on to carry out that assignment but because he allowed materialism to becloud his decision to spare King Agag of Amalek as against the instruction of Jehovah El-Shaddai.COLOURATING WORLDLINESS/MATERIALISM WITH SPIRITUALITY
According to King Saul, he claimed to have done well according to the instruction of the Lord, verse 13 … “Saul said to him, Blessed be thou of the Lord: I have performed the commandment of the Lord”. What an irony? King Saul did not stop there at trying to justify colouring his disillusionment, disobedience, materialism and the spirit of worldliness but continued to claim he obeyed the voice of the Lord when Prophet Samuel asked him; ‘…What meaneth then this bleating of the sheep in mine ears, and the lowing of the oxen which I hear?’ He continued by defending his action that they only brought those animals to sacrifice to the Lord thy God and that he obeyed the Lord.COLOURATING WORLDLINESS/MATERIALISM WITH SPIRITUALITY
What an effrontery? How could King Saul have done that? How could he have seen the need for sacrifice than obedience to the word of the Lord? Could it mean that sacrificing is more important than obeying the Almighty? Could it mean that giving offering/tithing, prophet’s offering, spending one’s financial resources for God’s work, etc are more important than salvation – soul of the man? Is it right for someone to tend to spend and care about people’s welfare through his or her finances when s/he is not saved or when s/he is not doing the right things? COLOURATING WORLDLINESS/MATERIALISM WITH SPIRITUALITY
These and many more questions cross ones heart when we place more emphasis on materialism and worldliness at the detriment of the Spirit of holiness. We tend to give attention to materialism and be utterly involved in worldliness right there in the church, only to cover it up by toning it up in the name of “Sacrifice to the Lord” and “Service to Humanity”.
“…Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offering and sacrifices, as obeying the voice of Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the Lord, he hath also rejected thee from being king” 1Samuel 15:22-23
We cover up materialism and worldliness by indulging in worldliness and materialism and claim we are serving God. King Saul claimed service and sacrifice but that could not stop God from rejecting him as King over Israel. COLOURATING WORLDLINESS/MATERIALISM WITH SPIRITUALITY
One important notion emphasized in Galatians 5:17 is that no matter how pleasant the flesh may sound, no matter how sweet it may taste, no matter how colourful it may look, the fact remains that flesh always war against the Spirit and the two are contrary to each other. It means that they cannot agree. It is therefore necessary for us as believers that we obey the word of the Lord and not reject the word. Disobedience to God’s word is rejecting Him and to reject Him attracts serious penalty from the Lord. Jesus therefore in Matthew 23:23 warned us that we should not “…omit the weightier matters of the law which are judgement, mercy and faith: these ye ought to have done, and not to leave the other undone.”
Hiding under “unguided spirituality” (materialism and worldliness) could be detrimental to a Christian life. Check out the spirit behind your actions. Are they in tandem with the word of God? If not drop it for your own good.
Be guided.
