Many Christians who identify themselves as 'conservatives' often think that they could never be under the spirit of mammon, for they give much money, are active in fighting abortion, and care for their families. While these things are good, however, they are no substitute for repentance from serving mammon. The unsaved could easily do the same - fight abortion, give money to the poor and provide for one's family.
These Christians also claim that because they are not secular, liberal 'yuppies', the typical young urban professional who is politically and socially 'progressive', they are more moral, and have a far greater chance of being able to repent of trying to serve mammon. They think that because they are loyal to the families, and love their families, they could never be under the spirit of mammon They point the finger and compare themselves to the unsaved. This is an extremely foolish thing to do.
For a Christian to compare oneself with the unsaved regarding earthliness is like comparing the ability of bird to fly with that of an elephant. Just as the elephant cannot fly, no matter how hard it tries, the unsaved cannot, but live in an earthly way because it is their nature. Such is absurdity.
Many professing 'conservative' Christians love to express great thanks for their families, children or husbands. While it is good to give thanks, and one should give thanks (1 Thessalonians 5:18), most of the thankfulness expressed by such people is given in the spirit of earthliness. Whether it be professing Christian women giving thanks for God giving them a kind husband online in response to an article about kind husbands, or thanking Supreme Court judges for caring for women by not supporting abortion, which exploits women, it is often, if not almost always, done with a spirit of earthliness. This is the manifestation of the spirit of mammon operating through these people.
"How", you may ask "is this the spirit of mammon?" The thanks expressed is of a selfish, self-serving spirit, rather than a humble one that desires good for others. It is proud, arrogant and self-centred, thinking one deserves to have a kind spouse, or to be cared for by judges. Many professing Christian women, in particular, seem to have this problem, thinking they are entitled to have a kind spouse or government officials who care for their needs. The root of this is the desire for earthly affection, which leads to one believing that is one entitled to earthly care.
The very thought of accepting another caring for oneself as one that is warranted is extremely selfish. This is what it meant by 'earthly' for it cares only for earthly things which do not last. Legal protection is earthly. Affection from husbands is earthly. While these things may not be bad, the desire for such things and the belief that one "deserves" such things is earthly, sensual and demonic.
It is because many women in general think they "deserve" kind affection from their husbands and pampering, that the battle of the sexes has arose. It is not because men failed to be loving, kind husbands as God commanded (Ephesians 5:25) that the battle of the sexes arose. To believe that caring affection shown by others to oneself is deserved is to have "bitter envying" and "strife" in one's heart (James 3:14). This leads to earthly, demonic, and sensual "wisdom" which is foolishness to God, and confusion and every evil work:
These Christians also claim that because they are not secular, liberal 'yuppies', the typical young urban professional who is politically and socially 'progressive', they are more moral, and have a far greater chance of being able to repent of trying to serve mammon. They think that because they are loyal to the families, and love their families, they could never be under the spirit of mammon They point the finger and compare themselves to the unsaved. This is an extremely foolish thing to do.
For a Christian to compare oneself with the unsaved regarding earthliness is like comparing the ability of bird to fly with that of an elephant. Just as the elephant cannot fly, no matter how hard it tries, the unsaved cannot, but live in an earthly way because it is their nature. Such is absurdity.
Many professing 'conservative' Christians love to express great thanks for their families, children or husbands. While it is good to give thanks, and one should give thanks (1 Thessalonians 5:18), most of the thankfulness expressed by such people is given in the spirit of earthliness. Whether it be professing Christian women giving thanks for God giving them a kind husband online in response to an article about kind husbands, or thanking Supreme Court judges for caring for women by not supporting abortion, which exploits women, it is often, if not almost always, done with a spirit of earthliness. This is the manifestation of the spirit of mammon operating through these people.
"How", you may ask "is this the spirit of mammon?" The thanks expressed is of a selfish, self-serving spirit, rather than a humble one that desires good for others. It is proud, arrogant and self-centred, thinking one deserves to have a kind spouse, or to be cared for by judges. Many professing Christian women, in particular, seem to have this problem, thinking they are entitled to have a kind spouse or government officials who care for their needs. The root of this is the desire for earthly affection, which leads to one believing that is one entitled to earthly care.
The very thought of accepting another caring for oneself as one that is warranted is extremely selfish. This is what it meant by 'earthly' for it cares only for earthly things which do not last. Legal protection is earthly. Affection from husbands is earthly. While these things may not be bad, the desire for such things and the belief that one "deserves" such things is earthly, sensual and demonic.
It is because many women in general think they "deserve" kind affection from their husbands and pampering, that the battle of the sexes has arose. It is not because men failed to be loving, kind husbands as God commanded (Ephesians 5:25) that the battle of the sexes arose. To believe that caring affection shown by others to oneself is deserved is to have "bitter envying" and "strife" in one's heart (James 3:14). This leads to earthly, demonic, and sensual "wisdom" which is foolishness to God, and confusion and every evil work:
But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy (James 3:14-17).
The spirit of mammon feeds on bitter envying and strife in the human heart. He blinds people who are willfully serving him (the unsaved), or those who may be trying to serve God but yield to his temptations, in the case of the truly saved, into thinking that the good things they received are somewhat warranted and deserved.
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