MATERIALISM: ONE OF THE BIGGEST ENEMIES OF THE GOSPEL

The gospel [of Greek origin, meaning “good message or news”] is a specific message in the Holy Scriptures. This message is the good news about the free gift of salvation that is in Jesus (John 3:16-18, Romans 6:23). And in fact, Paul clearly says that this gospel of the grace of Christ is the only gospel (Galatians 1:6-9).

Biblically, the gospel talks about the free and permanent solution God has provided for sin (the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross). The message presents no financial implication whatsoever.

This is the message: Christ died for the sin of the world, was buried, and was brought back to life by God after three days.

1 Corinthians 15:1-5 (BSB).
Now, brothers, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, and in which you stand firm. By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain. For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He appeared to Cephas and then to the Twelve.

The offer of the gospel is that while those who don’t believe will perish, those who believe will have everlasting (eternal, immortal) life. That’s what the popular but rarely understood John 3:16 is saying.

I don’t believe: I perish.
I believe: I live again after this present life (an immortal, eternal, everlasting life).

This immortality would be achieved through the believers’ resurrection from the dead.

The gospel tells us that although unbelievers will perish, we who have believed this gospel will be raised from the dead after this present life, to live a pain-free endless life with God in the paradise which he has prepared for us.

So while we are here in this present earth, there is no promise from God that we will receive wealth. We can be wealthy here on Earth, but that depends on factors like how wise we are, how creative and idealistic we are, how hardworking, how diligent and committed we are to our work, etc.

But there’s no financial privilege specially for believers here on earth. In fact, it is easier for unbelievers to get rich here on Earth through certain ‘short cuts’ that our faith hinders us from taking.

Any body can get rich in this world. God hasn’t promised any one that specially. The only promise of God to believers is eternal life (Titus 1:2, 2 Timothy 1:10).

Materialism must be off the list for us.

First off, many unbelievers agree that materialism is a dangerous attitude. The Qur’an teaches Muslims to focus on paradise, that’s why they can do anything that would profit them in paradise even if it means the end of their life here.

Even atheists and other sects globally understand materialism to be completely pointless. Materialism is the attitude of being overly concerned with the things of the world (possessions like money, mansions, cars, jets, and other vanities). Many non-religious folks frown at materialism because they agree that we are all going to die in this world.

They also agree that those who have achieved these things find no satisfaction In them because they’re vanities.

Back to the Scriptures…

We are clearly instructed to not love the world (the lust of the eyes (admirable possessions), the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life – 1 John 2:15-17). All of it would be destroyed. Only believers will abide forever.

Jesus asks us to not keep our goodies to ourselves, but to give out to the work of the gospel, as a way of investing them in heaven where thieves can’t break in to steal, where moth or rust can’t corrupt (Matthew 6:19-21). Paul instructed Timothy to teach the rich in the church to not put their hope in their money, but to give it out duly, hence storing up for themselves treasures that would benefit them in the life that is truly life (heaven) – 1 Timothy 6:17-19.

We can go on and on, but we should stop here for now..

Materialism is an enemy of the gospel. The gospel tells us to look forward to the life after this one, but materialism says “NO!” It says, “grab everything you can grab in this world. What if there won’t be another life after this one?”

The gospel says, “be contented. You will have the perfect life you want in paradise.” Materialism says, “leave heaven for later, I must enjoy this life. Who knows whether any other life even exists?”

Materialism wants this Earth to last forever because it reminds you of how sweet your earthly fame, money, achievements, etc are. But the gospel says, “NO! Fix your gaze on heaven!”

Materialism is the reason many men have not believed the gospel. Many would rather gain the whole world and lose their soul!

But the gospel asks you to let go of the world and gain your soul.

Materialism frowns at the gospel bitterly, and the gospel frowns back!