materialism, idolatry. tomato, tomahto.

Isaiah 2

 This chapter goes more in depth what will happen towards the last days. Isaiah emphasizes how all the things man built and put his pride upon will come to mean nothing. All of the idols that have been accumulated and worshiped will all disappear, and only God will be lifted up. People will run and hide from God’s splendor and wrath, while the proud men will be “brought low”. Verses 12-18 mentions the things that are considered high and majestic when seen through our eyes, but none match to the glory of God. 

Despite all the evil that’s happening on earth, God your righteousness will still prevail. So many people refuse to open their eyes and see the truth that’s in front of them. Thank you that you've opened my eyes to your truth. Thank you for enabling me to see a minuscule glimpse of what you are probably seeing.

 God you know my struggles with materialism. There are those people around me who are so immersed in their things, I can't help but follow suit. Help me not to want more things, but instead a deeper relationship with you. Help me then to minister to others about the poison they are spreading around in their hearts.

 I admit that I partly want a job so that I can buy more things. Even though I know that the more I have, the emptier I feel, but that still does not deter my attention from online shopping sites. It’s not that I have an unhealthy compulsion or have been accumulating debt from endless shopping; it’s nowhere near that. But I feel that pull towards that temptation in my heart every so often, especially when it’s late at night and I’m mindlessly clicking around on the internet. Verse 8 talks about a society that’s lost in materialism, which is virtually a form of idolatry. That’s our society today. I can’t check my email without seeing an advertisement of some sort, telling me of a 50% discount on a pair of boots. “How do I make myself not want” is a meaningless wonderment, because trying to make something right cannot be done on my own willpower but only with the help of God. At some point, I need to let go of trying to control myself (even if it’s for good) and let God take the reins.