Me and My Chickens

By: Randal Myers

Home > Learning Center > Devotional Articles

The old joke goes something like this. Two old men were talking. Willey said to Joe, “Hey Joe, if you had two million dollars would give me a million?” Joe replied, “Man, as good-a friends as we've been for so long, you know I’d give you one”. After a brief silence Willey says, “Hey Joe, if you had two cars, would you give me one of ‘em?” Joe again said, “Man, as good-a friends as we’ve been all these years, if I had two cars, you know I’d give you one of ‘em”. Willey comes back a third time, “Hey Joe, if you had two chickens would you give me one?” “Awe man”, Joe said, “you know I got two chickens!”

That sharing idea sounds great as long as it’s just a theory. But where the rubber meets the road is not what we would do if we won the lottery (I know none of you buy lottery tickets!) or if Ed McMahon showed up at my door. The rubber meets the road in the question, “What are you doing with what we already have in our possession.

"Is it possible that materialism might sneak its way into our lives without our noticing?"

The bible does not say that money is the root of all evil. There is nothing wrong with having been blessed with financial bounty. But the Bible does say that the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Next we must ask ourselves about the role money plays in our minds and lives. Is it possible that materialism might sneak its way into our lives without our noticing?

Does our thinking parallel some of the thoughts on this list?

My car is running pretty good, but a new one sure would be nice.
I wonder if I could figure out a way to swing a pool?
Everybody else takes nice vacations…why can’t we?
Maybe I could join the country club.
Those shoes are very expensive, but I sure would look good in them.

Let me hasten to say that there is absolutely nothing wrong with any of the above items. Those whose income allows for such things are no more guilty of materialism than someone who makes far less money spending everything on less expensive non-essentials. In fact, sometimes it’s nice to see Christians whom the Lord has blessed financially. It sends numerous positive messages to the world around.

But we must remember why God blesses us with material wealth. Think of the words of 1 Timothy 6:18 Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.

There are those who can’t spend their time wishing for pools and cars…they are concerned with something to eat and a place to sleep. Those of us who have more than the basic necessities of life must be sure we are providing for them adequately.

I may not have two million dollars, or multiple cars (thought most of us do) but I certainly do figuratively have two chickens. One of those could be shared. Don’t let the materialism bug get you.

Home | Search | Welcome Center | Learning Center