01/02/2023
As believers we are not to boast or to be greedy because those who boast are succumbing to wickedness, and the greedy place themselves beyond God by likewise renouncing Him. When man denies God’s rightful place, and begins to boast of his own possessions, and place in the earth, he becomes wicked in his heart. And, when he becomes greedy the love for his neighbors gives itself over to his desire to increase himself by preying on the weak and defenseless. The greedy are convinced that God does not see their transgressions towards these vulnerable souls, and those who boast pretend He doesn’t exist. Are we one of these wicked creatures, or do we find ourselves to be standing dangerously close to this precipice of self-gratification and enrichment? Are we putting ourselves above God or convincing ourselves that God is not omniscient and does not see our every move, or hear the whispers we seek to keep secret and thoughts we attempt to conceal in our hearts?
“For the wicked boasts of the desires of his soul, and the one greedy for gain curses and renounces the Lord.”
Psalm 10:3 ESV
When Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden the first thing they did was hide themselves. They didn’t do this because the were cold or wanted to protect their bodies, no, they did this because they were afraid to face their sin, and realized that their innocence was stripped away; they were naked. For the first time they realized that God saw them for who they were. In that moment of realization they concealed themselves with in the bushes, but God, understanding their awareness made them clothes of skins…
“And he said, “I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked, and I hid myself.” And the Lord God made for Adam and for his wife garments of skins and clothed them.”
Genesis 3:10, 21 ESV
Even today we feel this need to cover ourselves. Those who boast and suffer greed try to convince themselves that God doesn’t see their nakedness, and that by denying Him they have nothing to fear. They think that by closing their eyes to His presence that they are alone, and can do as they wish without judgement, but much like in the forest, and by wearing the clothes of skin, this is an illusion. God sees us in our triumphs of faith, and in the decrepit nature of our sinfulness alike… we are naked in His eyes.
“In the pride of his face the wicked does not seek him; all his thoughts are, “There is no God.” His ways prosper at all times; your judgments are on high, out of his sight; as for all his foes, he puffs at them.”
Psalm 10:4-5 ESV
Does the fact that God sees us, and knows our hearts, frighten us? Do we clothe ourselves by imagining that He is not there, or that we can somehow escape His sight? Are we ashamed of our nakedness as we prey on the weak, or boast of how mighty we believe ourselves to be? If so we are doomed. Only when we are clothed in the righteousness of Jesus Christ, and see God clearly as He does, can our nakedness be overcome. When we become humble before God, and meek in our nature then we will be able to throw off the skins we have been wearing, and return once more to innocence.
So let’s ask ourselves about these two sinful traits. Are we boastful and thus arrogant? Are we greedy and wickedly desirous? Have these behaviors driven us to deny God as we have sought to clothe ourselves?
Prayer:
Father, thank you for your Son Jesus who clothes us in humility, meekness and righteousness. Thank you for revealing to us your omnipotence, and our complete nakedness in your presence. Help us Lord to place you high above us and to give ourselves over to you by walking naked with you until at last we find that we are comfortable in your sight. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you our God who created us to be innocent before you, and comfortable in our own skin. Praised be your name for those times when we can stand naked before you without shame, and call out “God, oh my God! Great is your name above all other names!” Merciful are you who opens our eyes to the sin of boasting and greed, and by doing so offers to transform us in Christ, forgiving us by His cleansing blood, and allowing us to worship and praise you in perfect righteousness as we should. Wash away our greed and make us mute in our boasting. Return us to the understanding that we are never alone, and that you truly do know our hearts… then judge us worthy of eternity with you; not for ourselves, but for ourselves in Jesus Christ who abides in us, and we in Him.
“Arise, O Lord; O God, lift up your hand; forget not the afflicted. The Lord is king forever and ever; the nations perish from his land. O Lord, you hear the desire of the afflicted; you will strengthen their heart; you will incline your ear to do justice to the fatherless and the oppressed, so that man who is of the earth may strike terror no more.”
Psalm 10:12, 16-18 ESV
Rich Forbes