1 Peter 4

“Therefore, since Christ [Messiah] suffered in the flesh, equip yourselves also with the same resolve – because the one who suffered in the flesh has finished with sin – in order to live the remaining time in the flesh, no longer for human desires, but for God’s will. For there has already been enough time spent in doing what the pagans choose to do: carrying on in unrestrained behavior, evil desires, drunkenness, orgies, carousing, and lawless idolatry.” 1 Peter 4:1-3 (HCSB)

Let’s admit it: we are selfish. We live in an “i” culture, complete with “iTunes,” “iMovie,” “iChat”…. “iYaiYai”! Those are all useful programs on my Mac computer, but they are also icons that remind me of our self-centered society. Burger King advertises, “Have it your way.” We have all seen “YouTube,” “Myspace,” and the list goes on. Corporate America has our number, and they are targeting our selfish nature to sell us products.

I don’t blame these vendors and manufacturers for my selfishness. They are just responding to market research that identifies the personality and buying traits of the average consumer. What I should do is blame myself for being the “average consumer”!

By convincing us the world should revolve around us, advertisers condition us to consume without accountability. Have you ever seen a car commercial that said, “This is the most elegant automobile, but remember…you have a mortgage to think about?”  Merchants don’t care about our personal well-being. They just want us to buy their wares. They’re feeding our egos, and we are devouring every morsel they serve.  

What happens if we resist the trends? We may become out of style or out of step with the culture, but I bet we’d also be out of debt! America has more credit card debt per household than any country in the world. Statistically, you are at least $2000 in the hole right now. Why? We simply won’t say “NO!” to our flesh.

Peter tells us there has already been enough time spent feeding the flesh, “doing the will of pagans.” It is time that we resolve ourselves, by the power of God’s Spirit, to starve the flesh, making it meek (submissive) to the Lord’s will. Of course, there will be pain, and the flesh will howl! But let us spend our remaining time on earth denying the flesh, obeying the Word of the Lord, and sharing the liberty freely offered through faith in Messiah Jesus.