The World of Flesh or Desire for Christ 1

The vanquishing, suppressing, and uprooting of Christians in North America, is not the result of bullets, or swords, nor hatred and beatings, but because of the pride we take in having our simple pleasures or fears and fulfilling our selfish desires. Now to be sure society does compel everyone to participate in these things. Whether in the society of the world or the "church," all too often Christ’s followers are encouraged to enjoy themselves and live a life devoted to ease, comfort, and well being. We are constantly taught by those around us to focus on number one "El Numero Uno" (that’s M-E in case you didn’t catch it).
So I ask myself "What is "well being" in the life of a Christian or their family?" Christ Jesus taught us that God our Father has promised to supply our every need just as He did for His Son, but then what are our true needs? I think our problems arise from our perception of neediness. We are caught up in our own fancies, yearnings and the needs the world as a whole indicates to us. Is happiness or fulfilment a need? Is need a quality of life issue? When God supplies our every need is it for this temporal life or for our eternal life or both? I find the answers to these questions difficult because simply, I’m not God, I don’t see the big picture and I don’t understand "need" like He does. But I do indeed believe that when following Christ we will be "well-off", but in what regard, that of western society or the transcendent Word of God? "But godliness is a means of great gain, when accompanied by contentment. For we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it either. And if we have food and covering, with these we shall be content. But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction.1 Tim.6:6-9." Now I’m not saying it is not wrong to desire good things, but I do believe that it is wrong to be filled with the desire of worldly temporal things in the place of Christ. As long as our eyes are focussed on Jesus and we are living according to His Spirit, the pleasures of this world its lusts, worries, and fears will have no control over us. "The fruits of the Spirit are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. And because we belong to Christ Jesus, we have killed our selfish feelings and desires. Galations 5:22-24." Have we killed our selfish feelings and desires? It says that because we belong to Christ Jesus we have. He who began a good work in me will be faithful to complete it.

NOTE: I wrote this and the others in this series about two years ago but it was the best way to quicly write a blog.