Eld Chew Chong Kiat

Are material things sinful? How should Christians relate to this material world? What is the remedy for covetousness?

Are material things sinful?

Is man regarded as sinful because he possesses material things? Should he separate himself from them so that he can be holy and nearer to God as suggested by many sages?

The word of God prophesied that man shall depart from the faith; “forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.” (1Timothy 4:3) Man should acknowledge God the gracious Giver and receive these things with thanksgiving. And only those who believe and know the truth will do so, which means that only Christians can rightly relate to this material world. “For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving”. (v4)

The problem does not lie with the material things, the problem lies in man’s relationship with them. We fail to acknowledge God the Giver and to thankfully use them to glorify Him. (1Co 10:31) Instead, we abuse them, are consumed or addicted by their use, and we covet and lust for more (1Cor 7:31).

Man’s relationship with the material world.

In the beginning, God spoke and brought forth, out of nothing, this material world and made man out of the dust of this earth and breathed into him so that he became a living soul. God provided for the first man’s needs and made Eve to be his helper and provided every pleasant food for him to enjoy (Gen 2:9).  But Eve sinned when she coveted and disobeyed God in the eating of the forbidden fruit. “And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.” (Gen 3:6)

She had more than she needed; the world was a perfect world, something beyond our imagination, she was very blessed. But her relationship with material things was wrong. She should have been contented with such things as she had, for she had perfect fellowship with God, and dwelt in His presence. She gave that up and coveted to satisfy her desire to take of the fruit of the knowledge of good and evil.

What is a remedy for covetousness?

Heb 13:5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. 6 So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.

Remedy 1: “Be content with such things as ye have.”

Paul exhorts Christians to live their lives here without covetousness and the first instruction is to be content. When you are content, you will not covet; when you covet, you are not content. So, be content, and be content now in this present state, ‘with such things as ye have’, and not when you attain your desired state. Many promised that they will be content when they reach their goals. This is a fallacy. If you cannot be content in your present state, neither will you be when you arrive at your desired state. Solomon had all he desired and pursued after (see Ecclesiastes 2:9-10) and he concluded in Ecclesiastes 1:8b that “…the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing.” He added “…all was vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was no profit under the sun.” (2:11b) 

Remember that God is our good Shepherd and our wise Provider. He that spared not His only begotten Son for us to save us from sin, will He withhold any good things that are profitable for us? (Roman 8:32). What we do not have presently, is not because of God’s oversight. And what we have now is wisely appointed by God, it is what is convenient for us (Proverbs 30:8b). Too much may spoil us and tempt us to deny God; too little may tempt us to steal. The portion that God has appointed to us now is the best. Beware that we do not lust exceedingly after that which we do not have; otherwise, God may give it to us and send leanness into our soul. (Ps 106:14-15) That is a miserable and poor exchange!  

Remedy 2: God is with you. “…for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. 6 So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.” (Heb 13:5b-6).

What more do you need when you have God?

Consider these…

• He “will never leave thee nor forsake thee”. He will not lose thee to fend for yourself or abandon you and leave you helpless and alone.
• He is “my helper”. When you cry out to God, He will help. Should you not be content when you have the greatest help anyone could wish for? If God be for you, who can be against you?
• You need “not fear what man shall do to you”. God knows it all and will be your helper. All anxiety and worries should instantly be lifted.

What more do you need if God is with you? Joseph was bereft of all things except the abiding presence of God, who was His help. God was with Daniel all his life and what a godly life he lived. These contented and godly lives were written for our emulation. Christ’s gospel commission to us comes with a promise that He will be with us alway even unto the end of the world (Matthew 28:20). Should we not be content too? When we are tempted to murmur and complain because we lose something dear to our hearts, or we have not what we think we should have, let us remember that the Giver is with us still. We have no lack as long as God our Shepherd is with us. Amen.