Synthetic Goods and Gods

We've all probably heard this: "Clothes make the man," (or woman). It is a creed that lacks credence, yet many strongly believe in its truth! People spend inordinate amounts of money following this philosophy - this "theology." Malls seem to be the great, high temples where those who follow the faith congregate. Their offerings are often placed on Master Card! So, who is their master? What is their god? Scripture says, "where your money is, there shall your heart be also." The obvious corollary to that: Where your heart is, there shall your money be also! Could we be spending more time and money on outerware, than on inner riches? The scary thing is that sometimes we do feel better about ourselves, perhaps more confident and commanding, when decked out in expensive outfits. So, in some sense this means we are actually assigning power and strength to the "threads" hanging from our frame. This comes fearfully close to making them a "god!" Imagine putting our faith in fabric! Threads get tattered, torn, worn, outdated. What a sad and shabby "god" indeed, one with no "guarantee" against shrinkage.

Luke 12.34 - Wherever your treasure is, there your heart and thoughts will be also.

Acts 19.25-26 - Gentlemen this business is our income. As you know so well from what you have seen and heard, this man Paul has persuaded many, many, people that handmade gods are not gods at all. As a result our sales volume is going down. And this trend is evident not only here in Ephesus, but throughout the entire province!

Isaiah 2.8 - They are man-made and yet you worship them!

Jeremiah 16.20 - Can men make God? The gods they make are not real gods at all.

Jeremiah 2.25 - Why don't you turn from all the weary running after other gods?

Colossians 3.5 - Don't worship the good things of life, for that is idolatry.

Colossians 3.2 - Set your affections on things above, not on things of the earth.

Luke 16.11,13 - If you are untrustworthy about worldly wealth, who will trust you with the true riches of heaven? Neither you nor anyone else can serve two masters. You will hate one and show loyalty to the other, or else the other way around - you will be enthusiastic about one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.

Ephesians 5.5 - The King of Glory will never belong to anyone who is impure or greedy, for a greedy person is really an idol worshipper - he loves and worships the good things of this life more than God.

1 John 2.15-17 - Stop loving this evil world and all that it offers you, for when you love these things, you show that you do not really love God; for all these worldly things, the ambition to buy everything that appeals to you, and the pride that comes from wealth and importance - these are not from God. This world is fading away, and these things will go with it, but whoever keeps doing the will of God will live forever.

James 5.2 - Your wealth is even now rotting away, and your fine clothes are becoming mere moth-eaten rags.

Isaiah 45.16 - All who worship idols shall be disappointed and ashamed.

1 Corinthians 8.2 - Well, we all know that an idol is not really a god, and that there is only one God and no other.

Isaiah 48.12 - Listen to me, my people, my chosen ones! I alone am God.

Isaiah 26.13 - O Lord God, once we worshipped other gods; but now we worship you alone.

Isaiah 2.17 - All the glory of mankind will bow low; the pride of men will lie in the dust, and the Lord alone will be exalted. And all the idols will be utterly destroyed.