The Movement from Indulgence to Sacrifice
“Every generous act of giving, with every perfect gift, is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.” James 1:17 NRSV
Series: Learning Simplicity in an Age of Consumerism
Devotional: 3 of 5
As we seek to take small steps towards a life of simplicity, the movement from ownership to stewardship challenges us to hold our earthly possessions with open hands. In this posture, the Holy Spirit empowers us to receive, care for, and release the good gifts the Lord has entrusted to us without becoming entangled in the web of today's consumeristic mentality.
Today, we will consider a second movement: Indulgence to Sacrifice.
In His kindness and grace, the Lord has given each of us so many good gifts to enjoy and take pleasure in. However, the enemy of our souls is constantly on the prowl, working to disfigure and distort every good gift we have received from above. Our enemy wants nothing more than to shift our gaze away from the Giver, causing us to become overly fixated on the gift. It is here that the trap of indulgence is set.
A life of indulgence is fed by the lie perpetuated by our consumer-driven culture: just one more (_______ you fill in the blank), and we will finally be satisfied. The more we give in to the temptation of "just one more," the more numb and dissatisfied we become. In time, a lifestyle characterized by regular indulgence leaves us trapped in a cycle of our own sin.
James 1:14-15 NRSV paints a sobering picture of the consequences of a lifestyle of indulgence. "But one is tempted by one's own desire, being lured and enticed by it; then, when desire has conceived, it engenders sin, and sin, when it is fully grown, gives birth to death."
So how do we fight back against the cultural norm of indulgence that leads to sin and death?
Practicing the spiritual discipline of sacrifice is one way for you and me to stand firm against our own tendency to say yes to a life of indulgence. Richard Foster wrote that, "Through sacrifice we show our obedience to God. When we give of ourselves, when we offer to God things we need or want, we are recognizing that God is the one who provides for all of our needs." It is this recognition of God's provision that turns our gaze back to the One who is the author of every good and perfect gift. (See James 1:17 NRSV).
But what does it practically look like for us to begin to take even a few small steps away from indulgence towards sacrifice? Perhaps one first step could be to sit quietly with the Lord, allowing Him to reveal the places in your life where you are most prone to fall into the temptation of "just one more."
OnThe3rdDay Devotionals
Devotionals that illustrate Biblical principles in a simple and short format that can be applied to your everyday life.
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