20 ¶ Hell and destruction are never full; so the eyes of man are never satisfied.
So perfectly true in the consumer age. Ever since the powers that be decided back in the 1930’s that we must be a nation of consumers and ever since Sigmund Freud’s nephew, Ed Bernays, created modern advertising and got us buying things we didn’t need, eating things we didn’t eat before, and never satisfied with anything we had we’ve just wanted NEW STUFF.
The lust of the eyes is one of the world’s ways of drawing you away from the Lord.
1 John 2:15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
Christians should reject consumerism because it makes us unthankful and we never have enough. But we learn it at a young age. We teach our children to covet things at Christmas and on their birthdays. It gives us great joy to spend money on them for things that teach them nothing about nothing. I know children who have so many toys that they don’t even open some of the ones they get at Christmas and they get packed away. I know adults with sheds and attics full of the latest whosiewhatsits, much of which they’ll never use. The eyes of man are never satisfied.
Hell and destruction are never full. There is never a time when the Bible says, “Enough. Hell is full.” And so men and women never say, “I’ve had enough. I’ve got everything I need.” We need to learn to be happy with what we have and to focus on only what we need.
1 Timothy 6:6 ¶ But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. 8 And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.
Adam and Eve could have whatever they wanted but one thing and that’s what they wanted. We inherited that. We have a problem with our eyes. They see, they want. Job had to make an agreement, so to speak, with his eyes.
Job 31:1 I made a covenant with mine eyes; why then should I think upon a maid?
Jesus warned men in those days;
Matthew 5:27 ¶ Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: 28 But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.
King David had an eye problem.
2Samuel 11:2 And it came to pass in an eveningtide, that David arose from off his bed, and walked upon the roof of the king’s house: and from the roof he saw a woman washing herself; and the woman was very beautiful to look upon.
And yet, God had warned the Hebrews about this very thing.
Deuteronomy 5:21 Neither shalt thou desire thy neighbour’s wife, neither shalt thou covet thy neighbour’s house, his field, or his manservant, or his maidservant, his ox, or his ass, or any thing that is thy neighbour’s.
While men use pornography to generate that dissatisfaction with their spouse, women have romance novels to make them feel unsettled, as if maybe they could get more than the hardworking yutz they have who isn’t clever, funny, and dashing like the guy in the Harlequin books.
And let me tell you something. If you live in a constant state of dissatisfaction with what you have, your social status, your possessions, or your spouse you have a sin problem. You’re not focused on Christ. You’re focused on your SELF. I refer you to the Proverb before this one. God is not pleased with your attitude, Christian. It’s all through His Bible.
Genesis 3:6 And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.
For the descendants of Adam and Eve that scene plays itself out a thousand times in a lifetime. It is the shame of American Christianity along with pride, self righteousness, a desire for revenge, no compassion for lost souls, etc. etc.. It is akin to envy.
Be content. Be satisfied. Fill your eyes with God’s word.
Psalm 119:16 I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word.
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