The Case of the Materialist


All that is in the world, the desire of the flesh and the desire of the eyes and the proud glory of life. . .--I John 2: 16 (Moffatt).

Here you have the case of the materialist. He is one who seeks his satisfactions in the things of the world--“the desire of the flesh, the desire of the eyes, the proud glory of life.” He believes that the things of the world, if not sufficient to satisfy fully, are the only things we have to look to for satisfaction. So he surrenders himself to cravings after worldly things.

The cravings of the flesh are for what one can eat and drink and for what will give physical pleasure. These things have their place, they are a part of life. The desire of the eyes is for beautiful things, such as human faces, art, architecture. All these are delightful, and may be uplifting, but they are only for a time. The pride of life takes in fashionable appearances, wealth of gold and glitter, pomp and power. Men make much over these, but they can be possessed for only a short while; at best, they afford only a passing pleasure and satisfaction.

What, then, of the materialist? We have his true picture in the parable of the "rich fool.” This man was a materialist. He lived for “the things that are in the world”--the things that answered to the desire of the flesh, the desire of the eyes, the pride of life. His cravings were for things he could taste and see and feel, for the things he could accumulate and own. He was never satisfied; he was always wanting more and more. In the end he leaves all, passes out into eternity with nothing in his possession that he could take with him.

Is this all that life means? Is “all that is in the world” all that is in life?

The mystic apostle answers: “The world passeth away, and the lust thereof; but he that doeth the will of God abideth forever”(v. 17).

The things of the world may please us for a while, as toys please a child for a while. Earthly things are meant to bless and enrich our earthly life. We need to learn how rightly to use them without abusing them (I Cor. 7: 31). But earthly things only partially answer our need. To have ample provision, we must have God and the life and love of God within; we must have provision for the endless life that lies beyond. We are immortal beings, and we should live as immortals.