“CARES OF THE WORLD”

Like 8:14   “And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.”

The challenge of such cares of the world was always real enough, even in the so-called Christian world in decades past. Today, though, these worldly cares comprise particularly profound challenges in a secular setting: they make no apologetic intrusion, but instead present themselves as if they were all of life itself.

For one reason, it is unfashionable to be spiritual. A genius possessed of religious faith is sometimes tolerated among colleagues in the business, academic, or political world. His bilingual ability to converse in the language of his professional realm and in the realm of faith is noted but not often applauded.

Unsurprisingly, when life is seen solely by the natural eye and not at all by the eye of faith, the framework for living is, at once, shifted markedly, if not irrevocably. And the natural eye is so naturally attuned for viewing the cares of the world.

It is useful at times, therefore, for the Christian beset with the cares of the world to be reminded of some of those good individuals who have lost that precious perspective of faith for a season.

What of that mess of pottage now, for which Esau was willing to sell his birthright? (SeeGenesis 25:29-34.) Not understanding his birthright, Esau “despised” it. Later he despised Jacob too, and thought to murder him when Jacob officially received the birthright blessing (see Genesis 27:26-41). But, my, how gracious Esau grew to be, as evidenced when his and Jacob’s caravans met in the desert many years later!

And the messengers returned to Jacob, saying, We came to thy brother Esau, and also he cometh to meet thee, and four hundred men with him.

Then Jacob was greatly afraid and distressed: and he divided the people that was with him, and the flocks, and herds, and the camels, into two bands. (Genesis 32:6-7.)

As a present for Esau, Jacob sent on ahead several hundred of his domestic animals. Finally the two brothers met.

And [Esau] said, What meanest thou by all this drove which I met? And he said, These are to find grace in the sight of my lord.

And Esau said, I have enough, my brother; keep that thou hast unto thyself.

And Jacob said, Nay, I pray thee, if now I have found grace in thy sight, then receive my present at my hand: for therefore I have seen thy face, as though I had seen the face of God, and thou was pleased with me. (Genesis 33:8-10.)

Where are those synagogues now in which it was once so desperately important for some to maintain their place rather than to confess publicly their belief in Jesus? (See John 12:42-43.) Later, some of those who hesitated may have acquired the necessary courage.

And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith (Acts 6:7).

The list of such bracing and reminding questions could be multiplied almost indefinitely.

If, over the decades, one could have been agelessly situated on a space platform and could have thus watched the recurring human drama from a distance, among the strongest impressions he would have acquired would be the dull repetitiveness of human folly. He would see the almost childish intensity with which each new set of players on this planet pursues the cares of the world.

The age-old drama goes on, with each group pursuing the cares of the world as if they were pioneers in the process instead of constituting just another legion of lemmings marching to the secular sea.

How does the adversary get away with it? Mostly by darkening the human mind. Who, after all, would purchase his wares in the bright light of day, when their shoddiness and pale imitativeness could be more clearly seen—to say nothing of the appalling consumer consequences flowing from use of his wares?

Among other things, the adversary also induces new jargon to describe old sins. He also provides new rationalizations to justify old vices. Mostly, however, he can count on new crops of greenies!

The adversary cleverly uses the tight time frame of mortality against morality to undercut the purposes of mortality. Thus he is able in a variety of ways to persuade many mortals to believe of this life, “This is it! This is all there is!” “Go for the praise and honor of men, because that is all there is!” “Seek sensations while they last, to verify that you are really alive.”

By cleverly steering people away from the reality of immortality and accountability, he uses endless variations in the same, basic, recurring theme: “Eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we die. Hence each new generation not only acts out the drama but does so with a prideful provincialism—as if there were nothing to be learned from the past. Moreover, if the permissive generation still prefers to believe at all in a God, they will believe in a permissive God.

May 17, 2013 | Categories: Bible, Christ, Christianity | Tags: parables of Jesus | Leave A Comment »