Lie #1: You Have a Right to a Comfortable Life
I came to see this lie through a simple comment made offhandedly by a missionary friend a few years ago. “God did not save us just so we could live comfortable little lives,” he said. The statement seared me like a branding iron upon my heart.
According to the U.S. Federal Reserve, more than 40 percent of U.S. families spend more than they earn each year. The typical American in the U.S. currently maintains around $8,400 of credit card debt.
God’s Word promises us many things—wonderful things, things to be treasured, beliefs to cling to when times grow difficult in our lives. But He never promised any of us that He would give us a comfortable life. That’s not a right that we as Christians can claim. Yet many of us do, demanding it as naturally as if the edict for our comfort came down from heaven itself. Many of our choices and priorities are founded on the belief that we deserve a comfortable lifestyle, home, job, and even (dare I say it) church life.
The message of our culture—that you deserve to be comfortable—isn’t the message of the gospel. “God does not promise to make us middle class,” says Robert L. Hubbard, professor at North Park Theological Seminary in Chicago. “While there’s nothing excessive with wanting to have a nice house, new car, three meals a day, and full cable service, these are not biblical ‘needs.’ The kingdom of God and the middle class are not the same thing. He blesses some of his people with wealth; still, He guarantees only that we’ll have food and clothing.”
The Apostle Paul reflected the attitude we should embrace with respect to physical comforts. “For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with these” (1 Tim. 6:7-8).
God promises to provide. But as the Scriptures clearly point out, He didn’t save us just so we could live comfortable, little lives.
2 comments:
Once again, I agree but it is so hard not to be hypocritical when it comes to this subject. No I don't view myself as greedy but I do think that I live more comfortable than some. As Christians, it is important to remember that everything that we own is allowed by God and if it is not furthering His kingdom, then I believe that He could very well take it away.
I do consider my self as a selfish person. I consider probably all Americans as selfish. We have our homes, cars, nice clothes, ect. However, the moment we lose one of these things or even see something better we want it, and we want it asap. Its only a matter of time before God calls us as his children back to him, and calls us to stop living in such selfish ways. How will he do this? I don't know; maybe take it away. He has the power to do so. Like Danielle said it's all His.
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