Where Did It All Go?

Ever say that? I have - mostly near the end of the month when money gets tight. I was reading in Isaiah recently and came across something that gave me pause. In chp. 55 vs. 2 the Lord asks "Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy?"

What a vivid description of our world today. We are a nation that loves to spend our money and we have all kinds of gadgets to spend it on. I have a perfectly fine 32 in. flat screen tv. It only has 720p and 60hz but it works great and is way better than the one I used to have. Lately every time I go to Walmart or Best Buy I drift over to the tv area to look at the new tv's with 1080p and 120hz and 48 in. or larger screens. You can buy one of those today for what I paid for mine a few years ago or less. I catch myself talking to self about how I can afford to get a new one especially with no interest for 12 months. I tell myself how it would make my tv experience more enjoyable. I have come close to convincing myself to buy one. Truth is it won't help me draw closer to the Lord or be more like Jesus. It wont help me be a better person. There is nothing eternal about it. It is one of those things in fact that could cause my love for the Lord to weaken.

We hear a lot today about the low quality of Christian life in America. I'm thinking that Isaiah speaks to the problem. We are too busy spending our money and labor on things that do not satisfy rather than laying up treasures in heaven. A christian author recently observed that when he was a child a sermon on the dangers of affluence was common. In today's church you rarely ever hear one. In fact you will more likely hear just the opposite. This may be one of those times when going back to the good old days would be wise.

If you read on you hear the Lord calling out to his people "Listen, listen to me...your soul will delight in the richest of fare. Give ear..hear me that your soul may live".

If only we would.