Consumer in the rush of the times

“Piety with contentment is great gain.” (1 Timothy 6:6)

Abel is murdered and Seth is born. He names his son Enoch, which means "weak" or "mortal" man. The awareness of their own weakness and dependence drives believers to prayer: "At that time they began to call on the name of the Lord" (Gen 4:26). The story of the descendants of Cain, on the other hand, is quite different: Pride and self-confidence dominate the world. They build cities for themselves and increase their possessions without seeking the will of God (see Gen 4:17-22).

We are all in danger of making our lives as pleasant as possible in the world where the Son of God became poor and had no place to lay His head (see Matt 8:20). Does that fit together? Nowadays before you know it, with just a few clicks, you can spend a lot of money shopping online to buy attractive things that make life easier. Do you really take the time to check whether it might be God's will? How easily it happens to us that we don't seek God's will and simply adopt the lifestyle of the world! Do we still admit this even to ourselves? The exhortation: "Be not conformed to this world" (Rom 12:2) is a hot topic in our fast-moving consumerist times!

After 4000 years of human history, the Son of God came to earth to dwell or tabernacle among the people (see John 1:14 footnote). As each one went to his home, He went to the Mount of Olives (see John 8:1). There the heavenly Stranger spent many nights, while during the day He devotedly served the people (see Luke 21:37). It was far from His intention to accumulate property in this world. On the contrary, He lived a very modest life, yet He was always satisfied because He had God as His inheritance (see Ps 16:6).

At the feeding of the 4000, the Lord gave thanks both for the seven loaves of bread and for the small fish that were brought to Him (see Mark 8:6-7). Another time He took five loaves and two fish, looked up to heaven, dependent and trusting, gave thanks and handed them to His disciples (see Mark 6:41). Although He gave generously in grace, so that there was abundance, He was at the same time careful that nothing was lost and asked His disciples to gather up the remaining leftovers (see John 6:12).

Questions

How does your life show that you're not of the descendants of Cain? To what extent does your consumerism reflect your heavenly disposition/spirit/attitude/nature? Be grateful and satisfied for that, which God gives you daily and abundantly to be enjoyed (see 1 Tim 6:17)!

J.P.S.