the spoil of the poor is in your houses

I began to weep this morning as read Isaiah 3:14 . . .

“The LORD will enter into judgment with the ancients of his people, and the princes thereof: for ye have eaten up the vineyard; the spoil of the poor is in your houses.”

. . . these images, that I had viewed earlier this week, flooded into my mind:

Zimbabwe, a nation in decline (Slideshow)
http://www.msnbc.com/modules/interactive.aspx?type=ss&launch=18298169,3036014&pg=1

Crises in Congo (Multimedia - Slideshow with Audio)
http://www.msnbc.com/modules/interactive.aspx?type=ss&launch=22715466,0022.htm&pg=1
Slide #3 “At the root of much of the death and displacement in Congo is tribal infighting over the country’s immense mineral wealth. Congo has the blessing, and the curse, of natural resources such as diamonds, gold, coltran (a mineral used in cell phones and computer chips), cobalt and uranium. In the race to plunder natural resources, rebels have engaged in brutal warfare over control of the land – often displacing, injuring, or even killing local people in their wake.”

and just now I ran into this:

A Diamonds Journey (Multimedia – Slideshow with Audio)
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15842529/1

Our Lord has warned us again and again of the perils of greed – yet we do not listen. We take unto ourselves pretty baubles and covet them as if they were our very life. How is it that we are so very blind that we do not see that these things are put before us as a test? Will we choose the pretty things or will we choose God? Will we choose to love our brother or instead chose the things that will kill him? Our Lord knew that our infatuation would blind us – that is why He warned us against the coveting of such things.

We say we have not murdered – but if something we buy for our own fancy has resulted in the death of another - - well, is that not murder? In order for something to be sold, there must be a buyer. Is this what Jesus was throwing out of the temple?

God will not be mocked, for what we sow, that also shall we reap.

O God, have mercy upon us, your foolish, foolish people.

(If for some reason the links do not work, all three of these can be found on this page - http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3036014 )

Christ is the jewel by which we are to adorn our self.

We....are to adorn ourselves with his love, and righteousness. Sing to him a new song.

Hello HeartSong,

I have serious doubts that the majority of American Christians will change their fascination with things that glitter, no matter what the cost. When the attitude is such that they deserve these things and it is confirmed from a majority of pulpits that these things are blessings from the Lord; who will listen. What a sad commentary and future awaits such as these.

Rev. 18:23
And the light of a candle shall shine no more at all in thee; and the voice of the bridegroom and of the bride shall be heard no more at all in thee: for thy merchants were the great men of the earth; for by thy sorceries were all nations deceived.

This thread could go hand by hand with this one:

[url=https://www.sermonindex.net/modules/newbb/viewtopic.php?mode=viewtopic&topic_id=21042&forum=45&start=0&viewmode=flat&order=0]she that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth.[/url]

Quote
"I have serious doubts that the majority of American Christians will change their fascination with things that glitter, no matter what the cost"

There seems to be a consensus that certain Christians have "crossed the lines" in the materialism arena.

Now,the ones crying fowl ,apparently think of themselves as being within the boundaries of their self imposed law of limited possessions.

What i would like to know,is, what exactly are those boundaries? Can i own a rolex? Or is a timex more biblical?
What if a pastor from Haiti came to one of these watchmen's "modest" homes and was instructed how to live "modestly"?
He might not say it, but the whole time he sat through the Americana's teaching on Modesty,he would have one word dominating his mind.....Hypo.......

David

Now,the ones crying fowl ,apparently think of themselves as being within the boundaries of their self imposed law of limited possessions.

Right after I posted this thread, I went to put on my diamond stud earrings that I have worn practically every day for the last 20 years - and the Lord said "No" - and I put them down.

If I am not willing to obey (which is contained within the word "believe") then I am indeed a hypocrite, and useless for the work of the kingdom.

What i would like to know,is, what exactly are those boundaries? Can i own a rolex? Or is a timex more biblical?

The problem is not in what you own, but in what owns you.