The Joy of Generous Living
Putting to Death What is Earthly: Finding True Treasure in Christ
In our culture of constant wanting and accumulation, we often find ourselves caught in a cycle of "never enough." We're bombarded with messages that success is all about personal achievement, advancement, and accumulation. But what does true success look like through God's eyes?
The Danger of Covetousness and Idolatry
In Colossians 3:5, Paul gives us a sobering command: "Put to death, therefore, what is earthly in you…" Specifically, he mentions “covetousness”, which is simply wanting what others have. In today's social media-saturated world, this takes on new dimensions as we scroll through feeds thinking, "I want what they have."
Paul calls covetousness idolatry - and idolatry is putting something and even worshiping (even if we don’t realize we are worshiping) ahead of God's proper place as number one in our lives. Sports teams, jobs, families… anyone? It happens all the time.
These things are not “bad” —they are good gifts of God, and Idolatry might not look like bowing to statues, but it reveals itself in how we spend our time, money, and what occupies our thoughts. Who or what is #1?
Why Do We Always Want More?
Our culture constantly whispers (and sometimes shouts) that we don't have enough—(leading us toward covetousness). It also shouts that “success” is all about us (idolatry, pride). We're encouraged to accumulate achievements, advancements, and possessions, aren’t we?? —and to beat our own chests about it. Just look at how many storage facilities exist around us - filled with “stuff” we rarely, if ever use, but can't let go of!!
Is Pursuing Success Always Wrong?
Again… Success, advancement, and wealth/achievement in life are not inherently bad. They can be good if pursued in the right order and for the right PURPOSE… glorifying God rather than exalting ourselves. Otherwise, we're just hoarding stuff upon stuff…for selfish gain! And that pursuit always leaves us just wanting more. It is never enough! So…
What Does Solomon Warn Us About With Empty Pursuits?
In Ecclesiastes 1, King Solomon - who had “everything” and even went so far as to try to pursue all that his heart could possibly desire (just to see if it brought pleasure) in the end, discovered that it didn’t. Solomon (in all his wisdom), concluded that pursuing wealth, fame, pleasure…without God , everything was "vanity" and "chasing the wind." This is a sobering reality: if God is not number one in our lives, we'll always have a hole in our soul that nothing else can fill. Put to “death” that old pursuit and strive for something “new”!!
Putting on the New Self
Paul tells us in Colossians 3:10 to "put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator." This is hugely important!! As baptized followers of Jesus, we are image-bearers of Christ by our lives, through the power of the Holy Spirit. We cannot do this on our own. We need God's grace and the Holy Spirit's power every hour to radically reorient our hearts from worldly things toward godly things. This is when we truly begin to have the mind of Christ - a mind rewired from empty, worldly passions that do not last toward eternal things.
Speaking of: What Happens When Our Earthly Treasures Fail?
Many people invest everything they have into earthly treasures - jobs, possessions, status, even families. Again, not bad things… But what happens when it all crashes down with a single phone call, a medical diagnosis, or unexpected loss? The devastation is profound. Therefore, Jesus tells us to invest in eternal treasures instead - things that last forever and never leave us empty or bitter.
Because: What Will Matter 100 Years From Now?
How important will our little empires be? How much will your 401k, promotion, or social media following matter? As Paul David Tripp notes, “Pursuing earthly treasure is "little kingdom living" - an endless search for earthly treasure and focus on personal needs. Grace, however, calls us to a bigger kingdom - God's kingdom.”
Another profound thought: "The only thing you take with you into the life to come is what you have given away in this life."
So… How Do We Live with Eternal Perspective?
It's all about grace. We must surrender daily (and sometimes moment by moment) and ask God for the grace to live as Jesus lived. God does not force himself on us. We need to ASK for the Holy Spirit and for God’s grace to change us, because our natural inclination is to grasp and claim things as our own! But God's grace changes us —day by day... moment by moment. When grace takes hold, we realize that Jesus is all that matters, and we begin to love and give as He loves and gives. Make sense?
God calls us to believe the gospel and live generously because “Generosity is the gateway to intimacy with God”, and “Generous living is joyful living.
Anyone who practices generosity knows this to be true.
Whether it's giving time to prison ministry or financial resources to provide homes for those in need, or countess other things … Kingdom investments bring joy that temporary possessions never can.
Life Application
We all have a choice to make: invest in things that won't matter in eternity or invest in things that last forever. Here are some questions to consider this week:
What am I currently treasuring most in my life? Does it have eternal value?
Where might covetousness or idolatry be creeping into my heart?
How can I take one step toward being "rich toward God" this week?
What would it look like to live a Colossians 3:17 kind of life - doing everything in word and deed in the name of Jesus giving thanks to God the Father through him? What difference would that make in your life? In the life of your church here at Harvest? And EVERYONE around you?
Challenge yourself to give something away this week - whether time, money, or possessions. Take that first step, and your heart will often follow. Remember: the only thing that truly matters in this life and the next is your relationship with Jesus and how you've loved others in His name. When we stand before the Lord, He won't be impressed by our little empires —-if they weren't about Him. He won't ask about congregation size or capital campaigns or other “worldly achievement” . Instead, He'll already know whether we:
Loved like Jesus
Gave of ourselves like Jesus
Glorified Him by our lives
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