JimmyH
Puritan Board Senior
In the thread 'Study Bibles and Reading Bibles' found here Jonah has posted a topic (post 13) that I feel deserves a stand alone thread on this topic, which I see as "love not the world, nor the things of the world."
15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions—is not from the Father but is from the world. 17 And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides for ever. (ESV)
I 'love' a lot of 'things'. Bicycles, firearms, straight razors and old pocket knives, books. Particularly Bibles with goatskin, or calfskin bindings and I have quite a few. Commentaries and collections of expository sermons. I peruse ebay and, though I'd never be so extravagant, I see people paying five and six hundred dollars for an Allan limited edition and wonder if that is not a form of idolatry ?
OTOH (on the other hand) at 65 years old I realize that I am only a custodian for these things.
Job 1:20-22 ; Naked came I out of my mother’s womb,
and naked shall I return thither:
the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away;
blessed be the name of the Lord.
I've spoken to more than one pastor on this topic and the explanation was that God has provided things for us to use and enjoy. When these things become more important than our love of God then idolatry is an issue. Any thoughts on this would be appreciated.
I have thought of bringing up the topic, quoted in Jonah's post above, many times, because I wrestle with the distinction as well. The particular verse that convicts me is found in 1John 2:15-17 ;I am a big tool worshiper. I love kitchen knives, expensive screwdrivers and wrenches, wood planes (yes wood planes in particular!). And I never really even used my wood-planes anymore than for just very basic tasks, and in rather an amateurish way. I think this is idolatry, even as far as woodworking is considered - I put the plane before the woodwork. I also love books, and methods. I love charts a lot. And dictionaries. I have a beautiful Kind James Cambridge Bible, and I have special library pens that I can use on its thin dainty paper without defiling it. I even did it at one time quite extensively. Now there is nothing wrong with my planes, tools, bibles, pens, and methods. There is nothing wrong with asking around about the best programing language to start with, the best course on biblical Greek, the most scholarly and deeply reformed commentary on Micah. Boy do I love it! But just as well I am also quite bothered by it, and can't find a simple answer.
"Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth."
15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions—is not from the Father but is from the world. 17 And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides for ever. (ESV)
I 'love' a lot of 'things'. Bicycles, firearms, straight razors and old pocket knives, books. Particularly Bibles with goatskin, or calfskin bindings and I have quite a few. Commentaries and collections of expository sermons. I peruse ebay and, though I'd never be so extravagant, I see people paying five and six hundred dollars for an Allan limited edition and wonder if that is not a form of idolatry ?
OTOH (on the other hand) at 65 years old I realize that I am only a custodian for these things.
Job 1:20-22 ; Naked came I out of my mother’s womb,
and naked shall I return thither:
the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away;
blessed be the name of the Lord.
I've spoken to more than one pastor on this topic and the explanation was that God has provided things for us to use and enjoy. When these things become more important than our love of God then idolatry is an issue. Any thoughts on this would be appreciated.