“Free To Utilize — Forbidden To Idolize”
Categories: Church of Christ Bulletin ArticlesIn the book of Exodus, we read where God seized the attention of Pharaoh and the Egyptians with a series of plagues (Exodus 7-11). They motivated the monarch to want to rid his country of the Hebrew slaves under their supervision. But God didn’t want the Israelites to leave Egypt empty handed, because they had 400 years of wages due them. So they asked their former masters for articles of silver, gold, and clothing, and they received them (Exodus 12:31-36; cf. Exodus 3:19-22).
It wasn’t long, however, until God’s people fell into idolatry. They used their gold to make a golden calf, which they worshiped while Moses was on Mount Sinai receiving the law (Exodus 32:1-4).
This tragic experience highlights the high level of responsibility that Christians are to maintain with regard to our possessions. There are many material things in our world that God has abundantly blessed us with that we may enjoy. However, material things can also pose grave dangers when we use them uncritically.
With regard to our possessions, one preacher was heard to say that we are “free to utilize but forbidden to idolize.”
The Hebrew writer tells us that we are merely “strangers and pilgrims on the earth” (Hebrews 11:13), and thus, we should never become so enamored with “the riches of Egypt” that we grow complacent and forget our true calling (Matthew 28:19-20; Mark 16:15-16; cf. 2 Thessalonians 2:13-15).
A question we need ask ourselves from time to time is, “are we using our material blessings to help others, or have we become slaves to them?” (Luke 12:13-15; cf. Luke 12:16-21; 1 Timothy 6:17-19).
Brethren, let us remember that the brightness of all the gold in the world, can never serve as a lamp for a true disciple’s feet (Psalm 119:105).
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