Catalogues in me eyes!

An elderly lady awaiting a cataract operation said to me, “I’ve got catalogues in me eyes!” but there was a hidden truth in her words. Catalogues can be useful, but many have them in their eyes. They spend hours devouring the glossy pages until they order things out of greed rather than need.

Jesus said, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed, for a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of things he possesses.” [ Luke 12:15 ]. God has put eternity in our hearts, so only a loving relationship with the eternal God can satisfy our deepest longings. [ Ecclesiastes 3:11 ] St. Augustine expressed this in the following way: “O Lord we are restless until we find our rest in Thee.”

Many of the world’s happiest Christians live in underdeveloped countries and have few possessions but they are rich in faith! [ James 2:5 ]. They are grateful Jesus has died so that they can be forgiven and they daily experience His love, joy and peace. Sadly many affluent Christians do not experience “the joy of the Lord as their strength” [ Nehemiah 8:10 ] because they rely upon their earthly possessions more than God.

Finally here are some wise words from the Apostle Paul written about AD60, “Godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition.

For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.” [ 1 Timothy 6:6-10 ] Remember it’s the love of money, not money which causes problems.