Identity

         Why is one of our first responses to cling to our wallet or purse, when we hear the word "Sacrifice"? Are the times that tough? I think their is a bit more to it than that, & like many things it's merely a symptom of the underlying ailment, and whenever we want to get to the root of things per se we'll have to ask a few digging questions. Such as; What power does money have over us? Is Money evil? The Real issue?
    Throughout the ages we (Human Race) have fought, died, robbed, and murdered for it. Whats the draw, why is their such a desire for it? Money throughout history has had many faces, be it the all familiar gold coin, the Euro, the U.S. dollar, the Yen, the Peso, to the carton of smokes or postage stamps in the "Penitentiary". They may not have the same purchasing power, but the function or purpose is the same. To be able to purchase what is not yours, it's not necessarily a bad thing. But the potential to wrap it into the identity of who we are is the snare that captures so many of us.What we posses or own is not who we are, yet we cling so strongly to that view. The man who runs into his burning house and is overcome, simply to grab one more thing. The man who dies fighting for his wallet as though he were fighting for a loved one. The one who decides to end it all because all he has worked for in this life is gone through one bad investment.  Jesus confronted this issue 2000 years ago "Mar 8:35-36  For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it. For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?" Solomon commented on this as well when he said "Ecclesiastes 5:15 Naked a man comes from his mother's womb, and as he comes, so he departs. He takes nothing from his labor that he can carry in his hand."  Webster defines Identity: 1 a : sameness of essential or generic character in different instances b : sameness in all that constitutes the objective reality of a thing : oneness
2 a : the distinguishing character or personality of an individual : individuality b : the relation established by psychological identification
    We identify ourselves with where we live, what we drive, what we wear, and so much more, but Christ said it should not be, "Mat. 6:24 No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money."  Our identity needs to be found in Christ. Who we are is not material, but spiritual our (Christians) identity is found in our new found relationship with the Father through and by Christ. "Gal 2:20  I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me."
  Money is not  inherently evil of itself, "WE ARE" except as we die to ourselves and are changed. The doctrine of Regeneration speaks to that (1 Pet. 2:9),  (John 3:3), (2 Cor. 5:17) . As we begin to identify with ourselves in Christ, the former desires of this world begin to fall off of us, as an old tattered garment . So we begin to be clothed with robes of righteousness unsullied by the desires of this world. Unweighted by desires that hinder us from accomplishing Gods' will on earth, we are able to easily loose our worldly possessions in exchange for heavenly riches ( Mat. 6:20-21) ....Just a Thought