Friday, March 20, 2009

eBAY


As another Sunday quickly approaches, I'm thinking about our view of God. As our Romans series continues, there has been so much talk about 'sin' and 'disobedience,' as well as revering GOD for who He is. We seem to appreciate God for what He can DO for us - and though He has done MOUNTAINS for us - including undeserved grace and mercy - we still seem to treat Him something like 'prized stock' so often.

Did you know on eBay you can buy somebody's toenail clippings? Yeah. What would you pay for that? How about a jar of crickets? Or someone's shaved eyebrows glued to a piece of paper? Besides these items, the history of eBay has documented things on it such as potatoes shaped like Elvis Presley or the Nike 'swoosh.' Every single one of those items have found a buyer on the internet. If the success of eBay has taught us anything, it's that people will pay for anything -- and often they'll pay for nothing. Several auctioners on eBay have listed "NOTHING" for sale and inscrutably, people have bid on it. Just like the company's ad boasts - whatever you're looking for, you can find 'it' on eBay, even if 'it' is nothing.

In our culture, we have been conditioned to believe nothing carries value unless it can be proven useful to us in some way. Tragically, this has become applicable to human beings as well. Marraige becomes disposable, so divorce skyrockets. When a spouse is no longer considered useful, they are abandoned or traded. Abortion, pornography, prostitution and a host of other societal ills have, at their root, the fact that something or someone is no longer useful to us.

This concept does not escape our relationship with God either. Many view God as a 'device' to be used rather than an all-powerful Creator to be revered. Why would we revere a glorified butler, since that is what many have reduced God to? God does not inspire awe and wonder because He is seen as nothing more than an asset to be used for personal satisfaction. Essentially, He has become an eBay 'nothing' to us.

How are you revering God? By examing His value to your personal life? By acknowledging who He really IS?

And be blessed.

2 comments:

Unknown said...

Wow, great post, very thought provoking. Toenails - gross.

Anonymous said...

I have been so blessed since I've been saved, I went through a hard time for three months, but I kept seeking God's face and praying for Him to help me. I got past it, thanks to the Lord and good friends...like you , PK. I wonder if I would see His magnificence if I wasn't so fortunate and blessed in my life. I am sure I would be desperately seeking Him. That is what I did before, but I never want to lose sight of the fact that he is EVERYTHING. I always feel so filled with gratitude for all He has done for me. He is so amazing!! Jesus, I LOVE you...you are the man of my life and always will be. :)