THE AMERICAN DREAM!
Materialism? Consumerism?
We have accepted the American Dream without questioning it.
We have gone beyond the original American Dream, earning a descent living to pay for the necessaries of life: food, shelter, and clothing.
Many Christians have been trapped into bondage, the physical realm.
THE AMERICAN DREAM HAS CAUSED INDEBTEDNESS
But we have been bombarded with advertisements, pressuring us to purchase things we can’t afford, not within our budget, and don’t need: larger more expensive houses, the latest appliances, electronics, and clothing styles which changes with the blowing of the wind. Purchasing these things usually put you over your financial ability to pay for them; this may lead you to financial ruin.
Because of our degenerating health, we spend a large portion our income on medicine. Doctors don’t want you to be cured because of their financial lost, the fees they receive for their serves.
Parents and their children get deep into debt to pay for their college education. The children then spend most of their life paying off their loans.
QUESTIONS TO PONDER
We have accepted the American Dream without questioning it.
We have gone beyond the original American Dream, earning a descent living to pay for the necessaries of life: food, shelter, and clothing.
Many Christians have been trapped into bondage, the physical realm.
THE AMERICAN DREAM HAS CAUSED INDEBTEDNESS
But we have been bombarded with advertisements, pressuring us to purchase things we can’t afford, not within our budget, and don’t need: larger more expensive houses, the latest appliances, electronics, and clothing styles which changes with the blowing of the wind. Purchasing these things usually put you over your financial ability to pay for them; this may lead you to financial ruin.
Because of our degenerating health, we spend a large portion our income on medicine. Doctors don’t want you to be cured because of their financial lost, the fees they receive for their serves.
Parents and their children get deep into debt to pay for their college education. The children then spend most of their life paying off their loans.
QUESTIONS TO PONDER
- What happen if you lose your job and you are not able to pay your mortgage note or credit card bills?
- Are you force to continue working in a job you dislike but remain there because of indebtedness?
Consider yourself living as a hamster living in a cage which circles continually.
FOCUSING YOUR MIND ON MATERIAL THINGS:
GOD’S RESPONSE
Stop Feeding the Flesh!
Are you feeding the flesh by (1) seeking after physical things first: a bigger house; a more expensive car; etc., (2) watching TV programs that promote fornication, adultery and murder?
How Do You Stop Feeding the Flesh?
The American Dream isn’t God’s dream for His church. It’s Satan’s Dream; it’s his way of keeping you away from serving God. HOW? Because the majority of our time is spent pursuing the physical, working to acquire the American Dream, we have very little time left in developing a spiritual relationship with Father God.
GOD’S RESPONSE
- "...they are the enemies of the cross of Christ, whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly...who set their mind on earthly things" (Philippians 3:18,19).
- “Set your mind on things above, not on things that are on earth” (Colossians 3:2).
- “No soldier in active service entangles himself in the affairs of everyday life” (II Timothy 2:4).
- Demas, who loved this present world, left Paul (II Timothy 4:10).
- “What shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?” (Mark 8:36).
- “Do not love the world or the things in the world… For all that is in the world - the lush of the flesh, the lush of the eyes, and the pride of life…is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever” (I John 2:15-16,17).
Stop Feeding the Flesh!
Are you feeding the flesh by (1) seeking after physical things first: a bigger house; a more expensive car; etc., (2) watching TV programs that promote fornication, adultery and murder?
How Do You Stop Feeding the Flesh?
- Seek God and His righteousness first; if you don't, you will be trapped into the physical realm.
- Meditate and apply God's Word.
- Pray to God continually and seek His wisdom.
The American Dream isn’t God’s dream for His church. It’s Satan’s Dream; it’s his way of keeping you away from serving God. HOW? Because the majority of our time is spent pursuing the physical, working to acquire the American Dream, we have very little time left in developing a spiritual relationship with Father God.
