"Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions."1
Many years ago Sadhu Sundar Singh (1889-1929) said: "While sitting on the bank of a river one day, I picked up a solid round stone from the water and broke it open. It was perfectly dry in spite of the fact that it had been immersed in water for centuries. The same is true of many people in the Western world. For centuries they have been surrounded by Christianity; they live immersed in the waters of its benefits. And yet it has not penetrated their hearts; they do not love it. The fault is not in Christianity, but in men's hearts, which have been hardened by materialism and intellectualism."
Intellectualism (this does not mean being intellectual) can be and often is a defense against facing one's reality, and used as a means to rationalize the belief system we want and choose to believe. If we intellectualize or rationalize away God, then we can deceive ourselves into believing that we are ultimately only responsible to ourselves. In so doing we harden our hearts against truth and reality.
Materialism is often a symptom of buried emotions, especially the emotion of wonder. Instead of finding fulfillment in the wonder and beauty of creation and nature, we get wrapped up in things. As the saying goes, instead of loving people and using things we end up unhappily loving things and using people. Another way to harden our hearts and a dangerous way to live.
Suggested prayer: "Dear God, please help me to be totally honest with myself and with you and learn how to enjoy the beauty of your creation and the simple things of life and therein protect my heart from becoming hardened. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully in Jesus' name, amen."
1. Jesus (Luke 12:15, NIV).
2007-10-23 15:16:23 · 9 answers · asked by ♪♥ ginger spice ♥♪ 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
It has a lot of good points. I question someone being able to pick up a stone and break it open. Do you know how hard a stone is and how much strength that would take? Who is this guy, Chuck Norris?
2007-10-23 15:23:38 · answer #1 · answered by going postal 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The symbol of the immersed stone can be taken either way. For a Theist, it would represent the presence of religion and those who denounce it. For an Atheist, it would represent the presence of logic/science and those who denounce it in favor of religion.
And if rationalization is a bad thing, what would be the point of THINKING? If one can't rationalize a situation, they're doomed to be a slave to their problems.
As for Materialism, we're all materialists. But I know what my 'buried emotion' is. It's my emotional attachement to living and being comfortable.
Those who tend towards actually LOVING these materials are those who have some issues, typically psychological. It's called a compulsion.
Intellectualism and Materialism are keys to life. Without some extent of either, you WILL die. If surviving through rationalization and resources is a 'hardening of heart against truth and reality' or a 'dangerous way to live', then let me be a stone-hearted daredevil. I'm not giving up free thought or food/shelter.
2007-10-23 15:35:47 · answer #2 · answered by {fiyerae}rox.my.world. 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think it is right on. All of us have our hearts set on what is in front of our eyes. We love material things, rather than the spiritual and the natural things that we should. This sums up the scripture that we should not put any other God in front of our God. By any other God, I am referring to material possesions and worldly things.
Good point!
2007-10-23 15:26:19 · answer #3 · answered by kim 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Singh is making the oft-made mistake of rationalization.
2007-10-23 15:22:29 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Has anyone seen another phony me?
Some of you know that a fake Catholic Crusader has been spreading negativity, using my name. If you see anything blatently stupid posted by my name and avatar, please be aware. I found their profile at:
http://answers.yahoo.com/my/profile;_ylt=AsP2XGrO20vJhDLPRuitgQoAAAAA;_ylv=3?show=fba7MSLeaa
I suggest you block this person so you can tell the difference between me and them. Two phoney accounts have already been deleted by Yahoo, but this is a new one.
People often disagree with my posts: That is no secret. But I never post the kind of stupidities that this provacatur posts.
Thanks a lot. Sorry to interupt the fun. Please resume your arguing. :)
2007-10-23 15:19:13 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 3⤋
amen
2007-10-23 15:20:43 · answer #6 · answered by 777 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
So true it is scary.
2007-10-23 15:21:53 · answer #7 · answered by Robert S 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
that's too much to read.
2007-10-23 15:25:43 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
AMEN!
2007-10-23 15:21:39 · answer #9 · answered by Thomas E 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋